Tej Chauhan on emotive design, celebrating 20 years of his studio and making people feel good
From watches for Rado to Nokia phones, Nordic Quarters caught up with the Helsinki-based industrial designer to explore the inspiration and processes behind his cutting-edge work
Nordic Quarters: Your studio is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Can you tell us about the journey that led you to start your practice?
TC: Before founding my studio, I was part of the Nokia design team and had the chance to work with brands like British Airways as a freelance designer. My background is quite varied, and I have worked across many sectors and developed products for different industries. It’s been an exciting journey, and launching my practice has allowed me to bring all those experiences together in a more personal way.
NQ: Your portfolio is incredibly diverse – you’ve worked with brands like Fiskars and Samsung and have designed some of Nokia’s most iconic phones, including the Nokia 7280. What types of projects are you excited about working on at the moment?
TC: We’re currently working on many projects in the Swiss watch industry, like our recent DiaStar launch by Swiss watchmaker Rado. We also have new projects in the works – headphones, baby monitors, sunglasses, and office chairs; it’s a real mixed bag. What excites me most is the variety because each project presses a different button for me, from the initial brief to the final execution.
NQ: What part of the design process do you enjoy the most or find particularly rewarding? Is it seeing a product used in real life, the reaction of a user or something else entirely?
TC: I love the initial brainstorming phase, especially when talking with a new or existing client because those ideas are often unfiltered and unhindered. For me, it’s all about making things stand out and creating a solution that is better than what’s already out there. And that’s an instinctual reaction because those gut instinct ideas somehow become part of a final solution more often than not. And of course, seeing the client’s reaction to the finished design – I love people reacting to my work but the best part is seeing the client’s reaction to that reaction.
NQ: What’s a typical day like for you, or do you have any morning rituals that help you get into a creative space?
TC: When I still lived in London, I used to start my day by watching reruns of Frasier on Channel 4. It would always put me in a good mood. These days, I listen to podcasts on my way to the office. I don’t necessarily have a structured routine, but it’s something that helps get my mind in the right place for the day.
NQ: How has living in Helsinki influenced your approach to design?
TC: The pace of life here is slower, and there’s a lot more nature. Living in Helsinki has given me a lot of headspace and time to focus on the things I love. It’s been rejuvenating, especially after years of working in the hustle and bustle of London. I think it’s a refreshing environment to be creative in.
NQ: You talk about the importance of creating a moment of pause in your designs. Can you explain what you mean by this?
TC: There’s so much visual stimulation and noise out there – endless content and doomscrolling. My job is to create something that stops people for just a split second and makes them take notice. It all starts with how the object or design looks – it must grab attention. Then, when people interact with it, it has to feel amazing, surpassing their expectations. When you combine these elements, you create a connection with both the object and the brand behind it.
NQ: You often talk about the emotive nature of your designs. How do you incorporate emotions into the industrial design process?
TC: Emotive industrial design is all about creating a feeling. Every object or space can make us feel something, whether positive or negative. I believe that every design has the potential to evoke an emotional response, and my job is to try and control what that feeling is. It’s about creating moments of pause, and interaction and exceeding expectations with both the visual and tactile elements. I want broad audiences to enjoy what we do. It doesn’t matter to me if I am designing a soap dish, a television or a bicycle – the objective is always the same: it’s about making people feel good and creating a connection.
“It’s about making people feel good and creating a connection“
NQ: Looking ahead, are there any specific projects that you’re excited about exploring? Do you have a dream project?
TC: As a kid, I dreamed of being a transport designer. I moved into industrial design because I felt there was a broader scope of projects to be involved in. But what I haven’t done yet that I want to do and that we can bring some value to is a personal transport concept, like a passenger vehicle with two wheels or four wheels. I designed a personal public transport system for my thesis in 1995 at Central Saint Martins based around electric scooters in big cities. Seeing similar ideas come to life today has reignited that passion. I am also really interested in exploring urban clothing concepts.
NQ: And finally, when you’re not working, are there any local spots in Helsinki where you find inspiration or like to unwind? TC: I am a fan of the restaurant and bar scene here. There’s a great Spanish place where the owner, Jaime, knows how to pour a perfect draught beer, and on Thursdays or Fridays, I’ll sometimes go there to unwind. There’s also a fantastic Italian place near the studio called Viinibaari Pinocchio. The eating and drinking scene in Helsinki has changed a lot over the years, and I love the international vibe it now has. You can definitely find me in one of these local spots!
tejchauhan.com
@chauhanstudio
Photography by Juho Huttunen and Antti Angeria