FEATURED DESIGNER_ Lou de Bètoly

Where are you based_ BERLIN

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?

I have a rather glamorous approach I would say. I love the ideas of organized chaos, accumulation, and transformation. My work integrates a lot of detailed handcraft.  

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE UPCYCLING AND HOW DOES IT COME INTO PLAY IN YOUR WORK?

I would describe upcycling, as it relates to my work, as twisting, deconstructing, and recreating something existing and devalued, to give it a new life and vision.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE ROLE OF THE DESIGNER IN THESE TIMES?

I think there are different ways of being a designer. But one thing would be to rethink the process, show new possibilities, still feel free to create, but to be conscious of what you're putting into the world. To show a way out of the dead end of commerciality repeating itself over and over again and resulting in a lot of waste.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT OUR INDUSTRY WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Stop mass production.

— LOU DE BÈTOLY IS A FRENCH DESIGNER WHO WORKS AND LIVES IN BERLIN. / @loudebetoly