We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Hernani Ruhland Tralli about their original and creative Watch design work. Hernani Ruhland Tralli is an award-winning communication designer, that makes our world a better place with their original watch works.
Hernani Ruhland Tralli ("HRT") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Holzwolf Watch. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
HRT : Working with wood I was interested in buying a wooden wristwatch to represent this. I found some interesting models and ended up purchasing one. The design of Watch is already something I was interested in and the use of wood encouraged me to design my own concept. The landscapes of Europe helped me with the idea and I ended up creating a different look. The logo with the wolf was also fundamental to give this project a personality.
HRT : My main focus was really to design a wooden Watch with a different and elegant look showing European nature, like a painting board with various natural elements. And the wood texture made the design much more attractive.
HRT : I would love to see this Watch concept become physically real. While producing a Watch is not easy, it must also involve a lot of engineering behind the design. But I can work with the Holzwolf brand on other pieces or products with wood. Maybe find a company that is interested in discussing new ideas and making it real. Time will say.
HRT : The project lasted about four weeks, but the reverse part of the Watch I drew during the competition system update, about 5 or 7 days. Because it's a 2D concept I didn't have other images with different perspectives. The organizers and jury of the competition encouraged me to add new images. I am grateful to them for this opportunity to use my creativity and add improvements to the project.
HRT : As I said earlier, I work with wood and crafts, and I'm also a big Watch lover. Putting this and the European landscape together, the result was this concept that I created specifically for my internet portfolio. But I couldn't imagine ever winning a prize with him.
HRT : Currently my project is just a concept. The process to make it physical is quite difficult and involves engineering specific mechanisms for Watch. I will need to analyze and search for companies interested in the Watch idea or the Brand.
HRT : Undoubtedly the work in crafts with wood and my passion for wristwatches. I had already designed a Watch concept in my portfolio with metal textures, but I ended up discovering the wooden Watch and how an ecological approach would be more interesting for this project.
HRT : In my research for this project, I sought to learn more about the wooden wristwatch market and found a few brands that I was interested in for their designs. I analyzed the types of wood and models and created my own concept version. There are some German brands that inspired me, like Holzkern, Kerbholz and Zeitholz.
HRT : The concept I developed was aimed at the male audience who are interested in being in constant contact with nature, hiking in the forest, camping or fishing. Even in the city, your wooden wristwatch will always remind you of contact with nature. I also already have some ideas in mind to design another concept for the female audience.
HRT : I believe it is the idea of showing the European landscape, as if it were a painting of a picture. As I like to make art with painting on wood I think it was a good idea to represent this on a wristwatch. The differential is also on the back showing part of the internal mechanism and a brief message in German that reads: "Nature gives us everything we need." it's a small gesture on my part to show the importance of our life with the natural.
HRT : The name "Holzwolf" I wrote in German because the main idea was to create a product concept for the German domestic market and it means "Wood Wolf". And let's face it, it's a strong animal archetype, don't you think? The wolf is also an animal typical of the cold regions of Europe. A curiosity is that I am currently living about 16 kilometers from the German city Wolfsburg where the renowned Volkswagen automotive industry is located.
HRT : As Graphic Design I always use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator software. I honestly can't live without Photoshop, I love playing with images, whether creating or editing.
HRT : Undoubtedly the look with the European landscape, as I mentioned before, I thought of the hands of the Watch giving a more aggressive look, the Logo that gives a greater personality to the project and the back I think it was very interesting. When I develop a project I like to think about every detail.
HRT : I developed this project by myself. But generally I always want to know the opinion of someone who is not from the Design area to have a different perspective, with a different idea for possible improvements.
HRT : Well, without a good computer and design software, I wouldn't be able to produce any graphic project. So at this point technology was key.
HRT : Yes of course, it's a major part of starting a project. I researched the types of wooden wristwatches on the market and their brands. The type of materials and wood used in the product. Test with digital textures of wood, leather and metal. Test colors and sketches to have an initial base of what the project will look like.
HRT : The biggest challenge is always organizing the pieces, diagramming the look so as not to leave each item loose or lost. Color testing with the blue metal made me apprehensive because the color is the one that stands out the most on the Watch, but the blue button helped to balance it out. Another challenge was creating the back of the Watch in short time to add to the competition because I didn't have enough images in the presentation. In the end it all worked out.
HRT : Good question. In fact, at the end of October 2021 I received an email from the A' Design Award to participate in the Competition, however in November I already had a trip scheduled to Brazil to meet my niece. I returned to Germany in December and started the process to apply. The competition system is very complex and with a lot of information, so it was a very busy period. But I am grateful to have always had guidance from the organizers of the A' Design Award, they helped me a lot and clarified many questions. It was an opportunity that came up and I decided to invest in this idea. Before that, I didn't know this organization existed, they found me through my portfolio on 'Behance.net'.
HRT : I think that with each new project we always improve and learn new things and we have a better sense of our potential for Design. This competition was a test to see my professional level and in the sense of creating a well-crafted Design project. It's one thing for you to create projects to add to your portfolio and another for you to participate in a great international competition such as the A'Design Award with several professionals on the Jury evaluating you. Seriously, having won this extremely competitive competition with so many good professionals around the world made me very happy. It was a huge challenge. I believe that I grew a lot as a Designer and as a professional through this project and this competition. I can only be grateful for this opportunity.
