One of our mantras: There’s a lot you can do with an interior design degree besides becoming an interior designer. Tobias Harris is a prime example. From studies in architecture to engineering to interiors, this multi-talented designer from Jakarta, Indonesia has hit his stride as a Director of Graphic Communication / Branding for E5 studio (the entertainment and specialty retail group within FRCH Design Worldwide) in Cincinnati, Ohio. You’ve come a long way, baby, and we want to tell you how he got there.
Before we go any further, let’s first figure out what name to call this Renaissance man. Since his Indonesian name is a bit of a tongue twister for those in the Western world (Wangsadihardja), he goes by his other given names. However, instead of Tobias as his moniker, he more commonly answers to Harris. If that works for him, then it works for us too.
Harris kicked off his design education by earning his Bachelor degree in Architecture Engineering from Parahyangan Catholic University in the lovely town of Bandung , West Java, Indonesia. He then traded in a region of exotic humidity for the land of southern hospitality, flying around the world to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design on the Georgia coast. There he pursued his Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design, though completing the ever-so-time-consuming thesis still remains between him and an official diploma. (Definition of thesis: the bane of a grad student’s existence.)
So why did Harris daringly decide to head out into the great American unknown after already having comfortably practiced as an interior designer for a couple of years in his very metropolitan hometown in Southeast Asia” Simply put, reputation and respect.
“In [the] U.S. , [the] design industry is well respected as a very important factor in the design / construction industry. In third world countries the difference [between] the design industry and construction industry is very blurry. Most of [the] designers are contractors. They tend to use U.S. based and Europe based architects to design buildings / interiors. That’s why I felt that I needed to go to [the] U.S. to become a designer.”
From both educational programs, Harris benefited greatly. He supplemented his natural artistic talent by absorbing the fundamental elements of design, which he then packed and carried with him effectively into the workplace. However, he stresses that maturation of one’s own artistic vision must grow over time: “Developing a style or styles only can be learned through experience,” sagely adding, “and so does project management.”
It’s safe to say that Harris now has enough valuable work experience to flex his personal style muscles everyday at E5 studio. His unique job is to direct any one of FRCH Design Worldwide’s high-profile clients brand-wise: “Branding is my world. Through interiors, architecture, and graphics. I am lucky to get such exposure in design industry. Quite rare.”
Though his niche is unique, he still relies on basic, across the board design technique of combining conceptual brainstorming with extreme focus to find a solution that’s best for each individual client: “As a branding designer, I think the most important thing is to be disciplined. Most of the time I need to put my hat as a designer down for a while and put my shoes [on] as a customer that will go to the place that I design.”
So how does Harris keep his creative juices flowing” He keeps in touch with all segments of the design industry by reading many and any kind of magazines. In fact, he’s rather emphatic on the point: “READ READ READ… That will keep you up to date with the trends [in the] world around you.”
Since his design interests led him down a different path from whence he came, he never sat for the NCIDQ examination – it just wasn’t a priority for the kind of work he chose to pursue. And instead of joining a professional organization catering either to architects or interior designers, Harris is a member of SEGD: the Society of Environmental Graphic Design. Due to its cross-disciplinary focus – interiors, architecture and graphic combined – the organization speaks to his talents more completely and puts him into contact with others of a like mind.
Though he has expanded his design horizons beyond interior design, Harris still feels the sting of misconceptions about creative types in general. His biggest annoyance pertaining to how not only the outside world perceives designers, but also how some designers perceive themselves: Diva-ism. “A great designer does not have to be a diva. A great designer has to listen to his/her peers and be open minded to other people’s ideas. Most good projects come as the result of team work, not from one person’s head.”
Now that’s what we’re talkin’ about.
The hard-hitting questions…
P&C: Where is your favorite place to relax”
TH: Home sweet home. In the living room, with my basset hound “Chloe”. And in stores… I LOVE TO SHOP – BAD HABIT!!! Well, it is like doing research for work… ha ha ha
P&C: Do you ever cook” If so, what’s your favorite dish to make”
TH: LOVE TO COOK! I am crazy about Martha Stewart! I love to cook and make things beautiful.
P&C: What do you wish you knew more about”
TH: WRITING… I wish I wrote better. I want to write a book.
P&C: What was your first job coming out of school and how did you get it”
TH: I worked as an account executive for Knight Frank Baillieu, a property management company. It did not last long (2 months). Then I joined International Design Consultant as a junior designer and project manager. For every job that I have so far, I got it from depth of research and getting to know the company before I send resume.
P&C: Are there any links that you would like to include for our readers”
TH: www.unicef.org, www.tobiasharris.com
Have questions for Harris” Email the man at tobias@tobiasharris.com.
