TYPO Talks » Blog Archiv » Five Questions to … Petz Scholtus

Five Questions to … Petz Scholtus

Petz Scholtus left Luxembourg in 2000 to study eco-design in London, trying to figure out what it’s really all about and how green she could make things. Her work took her from London to the small Tanzanian island Pemba, the Catalan capital Barcelona, the Netherlands and back to Barcelona where she is working as a freelance eco designer since 2004. Convinced that the world has enough chairs, she has s set out to designing services and experiences. Petz believes in design for people, planet and profit, connecting people and eating local food. She loves simplicity, good design and fairness, making practical and fun things, bringing people together (the more the better), travelling, speaking 5.5 languages, scuba diving, the Eden Project in Cornwall, open air parties, and her vermicompost on the balcony. She also writes for TreeHugger, lectures and organises creative events.

1. Which work are you particularly proud of? Which work best represents your style or approach?

I guess my style could be defined as holistic problem solving; design that’s good for People, Planet and Profit (or at least that’s my objective!). The project that was most satisfying for me was the R3project; an eco-friendly renovation of my apartment with its online blog. It allowed me to rethink and find solutions for anything related to interior and product design, as well as lifestyle decisions and communication. The challenge was to keep it real, local, fun and inspiring. This project then inspired me to create a small lifestyle hotel, based on Good Design, in Barcelona, which is what I am working on now.

R3project Kitchen

R3project kitchen

2. What inspires you?

Common sense, simplicity, tradition, nature and travel journeys.

3. The theme of this year’s TYPO Berlin is »Sustain«. Sustainability seems to have evolved into a »buzzword« in the last couple of years, with which agencies and companies aim to fulfill a desire for stability and values. Can you name a project in which this ambition has led to concrete, exemplary design solutions?

I am very impressed about what Patagonia is still coming up with. Their latest project, the Footprint Chronicles, is an excellent example that companies can and should be honest and transparent. Their goal is to »use transparency about our supply chain to help us reduce our adverse social and environmental impacts – and on an industrial scale. We’ve been in business long enough to know that when we can reduce or eliminate a harm, other businesses will be eager to follow suit.« I wish all brands were that open and shared information this freely. It would eliminate any greenwashing at the speed of light and allow us to find to solutions towards a more sustainable consumption much faster.

4. TYPO Berlin 2012: What are you especially looking forward to?

This will be my first time at TYPO and I am very excited about the various presentations, especially since the speakers come from so many different backgrounds. For now, the presentation that intrigues me most is Michael Hardt’s »Sustainability what?«… I think him and me could have an interesting discussion and I am looking forward to it. I consider this a great opportunity to meet new people and see new things, get different points of view and share information.

Petz Scholtus

Petz is an eco-designer working from Barcelona. Equipped with iPhone and solar bag she fits into the category of »eco-urbanista«, and believes that living sustainable is fun, sexy and possible through good design. Petz delights in designing products but believes that the world has enough chairs and so has set out to designing services and experiences. She also writes for TreeHugger, lectures and organises creative events.

Speaker page

5. Required reading/watching: What are currently your favorite interesting/beautiful publications, books, movies and/or links?