“Everything begins with an idea.” - Earl Nightingale. Henry, a brilliant designer, had the idea of using his skills to improve everyday life for all seeded within him from his early teens. Taking inspiration from his dyslexic experiences he came up with unique Dyslexic objects, a series of household products. Henry’s talent and accomplishments can be seen in products of his numerous prestigious clients like Samsung, Foot Locker and M& C Saatchi. His innovative designs are exhibited at Creative Differences: Dyslexia and Neurodiversity in Science, Art and Design - Dyslexic Objects, Royal College of Art, London and many more. He is the proud winner of New Designer of The Year - New Designers 2013.

At what stage of life did you start taking interest in product design? How do you balance design principles and innovative ideas?H: I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember, but initially it was mostly sculptural. It was only in my late teens that I started to think about how these sculptures could improve the quality of people's lives, and how I could adapt them to maximise that function.

What has been your favorite design project so far and why?H:  Probably the Cosmic Compass. It's a machine that looks like a big aluminium arrow which calculates and points to the direction that our galaxy is moving through space. I loved working on the project, not only because it really challenged me, but also because I was really struck by the idea that you can design an object where the emotional function is more important than the practical. See more here: http://www.henryfranks.net/Mind-The-Universe

What is the process you go through once the product design proposal comes to you?H: The process is my favorite part. I go from the sketching to modeling, researching, critiquing, and refining an idea with a series of people; be it experts or potential users (not necessarily in that order). The key to the process is trying things so you have something tangible to analyze, from where you can move forward and see where the strengths and failures are before developing it again. Every time you go through this process the idea gets more refined.

What is the idea behind your creative design - Dyslexic Objects? H: Dyslexic Objects is a range of 5 household products I designed in response to my own dyslexic condition. The aim was to improve a selection of everyday objects through the incorporation of dyslexia, as if the objects actually had the condition. The purpose is to encourage people to re-engage with seemingly inanimate objects whilst highlighting the positives of being dyslexic, shown through a product which functions ‘better’ because of the addition of dyslexia. Each product possess a different characteristic of the condition. See more here: http://www.henryfranks.net/Dyslexic-Objects

Can you tell us about the challenges you faced during your school days? Do you think being dyslexic actually helped you to think outside the box?H: At school I could barely read. I mean, I could read, as in, I could just about say the words written down, but it would take all my concentration to do so, and I wouldn’t know what the words were saying. I would have to reread sections over and over again, and then there was trying to spell. This was before I had the wonder of google which is about the only tool that can understand my spelling.
I learnt fairly quickly from exams when I was slightly older that I didn’t learn from reading and hence, went on to use other formats of learning to digest information. If I could listen to something, or better still if I could draw or relay out a page as a sort of monster mind map with doodles and illustrations, then I could remember information much better than via traditional text based learning methods.
I don't know what it's like to not be dyslexic so I can’t tell you if that's what helps you think out the box. That being said, a lot of the ‘outside the box’ thinkers are dyslexic so maybe it is.

What is the best compliment you have received for your work?H: Probably winning the Designer of the Year award at the exhibition New Designers.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you like about that place?H: My family go to Devon a lot, and there is nothing better than clean air, the calm of the woods and sea. I guess you have to be in the city to work, but when you can, immersing yourself in nature is unbeatable. I’ve also had a lot of ideas on how to develop projects when I’m down in Devon because you have the mental space to think about these things.

What are your other hobbies?H: This probably won’t come as a surprise after the last answer, but I love camping. Aside than that and running (which I do a fair bit of), most of my hobbies are design related. Wood carving, hobbyist electronics tinkering, and so on. I am always thinking or working on the next design idea, sketching and testing how something might work.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who gear interest towards a design and art?H: Keep doing it! Find the time and the money for materials and keep exploring your ideas. Stay critical of the world and how we can improve it. Share those ideas and build a better world together.

Any special message for our community?H: Find the time to practice being creative. If you can think of a new idea a day, or even one a week, then you will get better at being creative. It’s the same as exercise; do a little bit often and you get better at it. Don’t compare your achievements or ideas to other people's. And above all, draw more.