Published by Leonardo Calcagno
Who are you :
Veerle Van Overloop – ceramic/product designer
Your current job :
Full-time designer/part-time librarian in a high school
In which city are you located?
I live and work in Vrasene, a little village 15 minutes away from Antwerp.
A word to define what kind of worker you are :
Flexible
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..)
Clay, my hands, my eyes
What does your office space look like?
My studio is in an old barn, next to my house. It was once a space where they made clogs, now I make my ceramics. I use his old workbench and the tiles on the floor have marks from drying the clogs. Now the tiles have the marks of the clay and the plaster. It’s a space full of memories mixed with new stories. You feel the craft vibe.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ?
If I need my concentration I can’t stand any music. In other cases it’s just a Belgian radio station.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ?
I make little notes in my Iphone, mostly when I must go to bed the night/day before…. I try to be more organized but chaos sometimes takes control. The little lists helps me to focus.
What tips would you give to improve productivity ?
Stick to your list and focus! Give yourself clear deadlines. Make sure that you have all your materials that you need for making your designs, so you don’t have any surprises that some items are out of stock. If you work with other people for your designs, give them time but also a clear deadline.
You’re better than your colleagues to :
play the game of social media
What is the best advice anyone has given you ?
Think outside the box. Try to see forms from another point of view/use.
What is your best tip for saving time?
Stick to your plan! Focus to a few projects and make sure that you bring them to a good end.
What is your routine start and end of the day ?
On saturday, monday en tuesday I start my studio day with sport classes. The perfect start for a workday! I have more energy and I’m more focussed. By the end of the day I’m always very happy when my children are coming back from school. They always tick on my studio window. That is the sign for a coffee and a little talk.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without?
My Iphone is enough gadget for me!
Image in courtesy of Olivier Van Daele for Fou de Feu.
