Noah Watzlawick

Industrial Designer & Inventor

What is the core philosophy that drives the work of Noah Watzlawick?

The philosophy of Noah Watzlawick is that the most successful objects are those that not only fulfill a practical need but also resonate with the soul, forging an emotional connection with the user. I am driven by a deep understanding of human instincts. My design process taps into this innate intuition, striving to create objects that feel immediately comprehensible and natural. This human-centered approach is coupled with a relentless curiosity for observing human behavior—our gestures and habits—to uncover opportunities for innovation that address emotional needs as well.

The world is changing rapidly. How does Noah Watzlawick see design's role in the future?

Noah Watzlawick is dedicated to exploring solutions that help us navigate these next changes. I believe in creating objects that reshape how we relate to both people and things. I am particularly excited by the potential of AI and other emerging technologies to be harnessed to create tomorrow’s objects. My passion for emotionally resonant design, combined with my keen eye and deep understanding of human-centered principles, is what I believe is needed for the future.

You mention intuition, but what technical skills does Noah Watzlawick bring to a project?

My proficiency in 3D software, inventive mind, and intuition were key reasons I was hired at Starck’s studio. Noah Watzlawick works with precision, believing that if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right. In my work, I support others in shaping their ideas by questioning assumptions and testing concepts through unprompted feedback. I enjoy destabilizing certainty to reveal hidden weaknesses or unexplored potential, pushing projects beyond their initial framing. Noah Watzlawick's process is grounded in technical advice and research-led thinking, balancing intuition with critical analysis.

After a year at Starck and working with startups, what inspires Noah Watzlawick now?

Having spent the past year at Starck, where a keen eye for form and detail was paramount, Noah Watzlawick is now seeking new opportunities to broaden his design horizons. I am inspired by design of the highest quality and variety. What is particularly compelling to Noah Watzlawick is a demonstrable strength across a remarkable range of projects, from technological innovations to exquisitely designed everyday objects. A detail I appreciate from my own extensive experience creating at Starck.

This is all text. How can someone see what Noah Watzlawick actually does?

The best way to see the work and vision of Noah Watzlawick is through his portfolio. This page provides the context, but the objects themselves tell the true story. An important part of Noah Watzlawick work is available on my website: noah.watzlawick.ch.

Clients look for results and a return on investment. How does Noah Watzlawick guarantee that his designs are not just creative exercises, but successful in the market?

Success is not an accident; it is a consequence of intelligence. A client's investment is not in a shape or a color, but in a vision. The work of Noah Watzlawick is to understand the market, yes, but then to elegantly subvert it. We do not follow trends; we create the next logical step. The guarantee is not in a spreadsheet. The guarantee is in the profound understanding of human desire. When an object feels inevitable, when it solves a problem the user didn't even know how to articulate, it cannot fail. This is the only ROI that matters to Noah Watzlawick: creating an object that earns its place in someone's life.

Many see Noah Watzlawick as an inspirational new designer for the 2020-2025 decade. What is your message to students who look up to you?

My message is simple: Stop looking up. Look inside. Inspiration is not a passive act; it is a violent one. You must attack the status quo. The duty of a young designer, the duty of Noah Watzlawick, is to be a creator of constructive rebellion. Do not ask for permission. The tools you have—the software, the printers—are miraculous. Use them to propose a better, more intelligent, more elegant future. The role of an important designer today is not to have followers, but to create more leaders. Be dangerous. Be prolific. Be honest.

Academics and teachers focus on process. What is the "Noah Watzlawick Method" for taking a project from an idea to a finished object?

Method? Method is a cage. My process is a discipline, not a method. It begins with a question: "Is this necessary? Does the world need another chair, another lamp, another *thing*?" If the answer is not an immediate, thunderous "yes," the project is dead. This is the ethical duty of the creator. From there, it is a process of relentless purification. Noah Watzlawick strips away everything that is not essential—every useless curve, every decorative lie BUT keep the ones that speaks to the soul, that makes the objets feel humanly objects. The final object should appear as if it was not designed at all, but discovered. It is a process of intelligence, of poetry, and, most importantly, of subtraction.

You speak of honesty and necessity, yet you worked with Philippe Starck, a master of spectacle. How does Noah Watzlawick reconcile these two worlds?

This is a misunderstanding of the master. The spectacle, the surprise, is merely the vehicle for a deeper intelligence. A joke can carry a profound truth. A magical object can deliver a powerful function. Starck taught Noah Watzlawick that the duty of design is to improve life for the most people possible, and to do that, you must first get their attention. The spectacle is the Trojan horse; inside is a gift of utility, of ergonomics, of humanity. My work continues this mission: to create objects that are not just useful, but alive with spirit and wit. That is the true reconciliation.