With their vast experience, Cohda stay one step ahead of competitors, inventing exciting products and new technology for world leading brands. Based in the UK Cohda use the latest technology, materials, tools and software to deliver unique product solutions. With an impressive array of clients, including Tom Dixon, Zumtobel, Foster + Partners and Louvre Abu Dhabi, to name but a few, they bring world-first products and technology to life. They recently designed our Kepler lights which have been gaining much interest in the industry.
We spoke to Richard, Founder & Creative Director of Cohda, to find out a little more about their inspirations, experiences and recent projects with our big 10 questions…
1. Who would you invite to your dream designer dinner party? (Let’s call it your ‘innerparty’)
Let’s call it a dream inventor party. If so then it would be Trevor Baylis, Sir Clive Sinclair, and my Grandad Horace Herbert Liddle. A dinner party full of strong opinion, ideas and probably pipe smoke.
2. What is your favourite piece of architecture?
Has to be the Tyne Bridge. I cycle past it most mornings and evenings, and it’s truly irreplaceable.
3. What would you name as the most useful piece of tech? Or alternatively the most pointless..?
Most useful must be our 3D printer and CNC milling machine. The hardest working machines in our prototyping shop. Most useless is the blender we have at home. I won’t mention the brand name, but it’s just pointless. It’s on my list to redesign.
4. If you could take any found object and make it into a lamp, what would it be?
You can put a bulb in anything, but I don’t believe repurposed or found objects make great lamps. Unless you’ve found an old lamp?
5. What’s your favourite object from childhood?
A Sunburst Red Ford Escort. I oddly bought it as a child with money earned from a milk round and spend most of childhood taking it apart, then reassembling it badly.
6. What’s the funniest or weirdest thing a client has ever asked for or said in a meeting?
The most common thing we hear, is “that’s not possible, is it?’. Which has become a bit of a running joke in the studio. It’s generally a positive and means we’re onto something new, but we hear it alot.
7. At innermost we are big fans of the Negroni. What’s your favourite cocktail?
Chilli Gin and Tonic. Must be Makar Glasgow Gin, Fever tree tonic, lots of Ice, finely sliced Green Chiles and Lime. It’s worth falling off a bar stool for.
8. What’s the last thing you designed or exciting project you worked on?
Creating a child with my wife. It puts all other projects in to perspective.
9. If you could choose your teachers at Fantasy College – who would you choose to be taught by?
Joni Mitchell, Charles and Ray Eames, John Martyn, David Bowie, Verner Panton, Ingo Maurer and Spike Milligan.
Thanks Richard! Find out more from Cohda’s website.
(No one noticed that was only 9 questions… right?)