Harry West is Vice President for Strategy and Innovation at Continuum, a design strategy, product and brand communication company. He visited FutureDesignDays 2006 and held two appreciated Breakout Sessions. Harry is our next man to be presented in the What’s up interview series.

What project are you working with right now?
Sorry, but I can’t tell you about them.

Name a designer/architect you appreciate.
Charles and Ray Eames. They were designers, thinkers and philosophers.

What is the worst design icon off all time?
The American suburb – it’s alienating, it’s ugly and an incredible waste of resources.

What is your dream project?
Actually I’m engaged in a dream project right now and it’s connected to the fact that we have to change our way of living to survive. We are looking for ways for companies to be able to earn more but produce and sell less. And at the same time we want people to desire fewer products. We have to go from wanting tangibles to intangibles.  

Who do you want to see at FutureDesignDays’ stage and why?
Al Gore – and ask him to be a designer and not to talk about the past as he does to day, but to talk about ideas for the future.

Do you have an idea to share with our blog and newsletter readers?
Designers have to decide whether they want to be recognized or be influential and have big impact (and less recognition). To have impact you have to share your ideas with other people and work in and with a team.