Interview2 | Aristides

About Frans
In collaboration with the Aristides team, Frans van Rens and Robert Bouwmeester are responsible for the design of the OIO and the O5O.

Frans van Rens is a 1992 graduate - cum laude from the Design Academy Eindhoven. His graduation project was the design of a new 2-seat city car for Volvo, several years prior to the introduction of the SMART.

Dutch Rail
Among many other projects, Frans has designed the newest double decker train for Dutch Rail (NS). Some of you probably travelled with one when you visited the Netherlands. This design is an icon in the Dutch landscape.

Nike
Frans also worked for Nike. As the Head of industrial design, he designed and developed a number of Nike store concepts. This includes elements such as apparel and footwear wall systems, seating and special product displays. The cash desks feature an integrated display for watches and sunglasses, with a glass top that is opened electrically.

Bouwmeester van Rens
Robert Bouwmeester and Frans van Rens both worked for Nike. This is where they got to know each other and each other's thoughts and ambitions. They came up with the idea to become partners and in 2006 this idea became reality.

The interview

Frans's Gear A Les Paul model, build by Anno Galama (a former guitar builder who built guitars for several great guitarists like Jan akkerman)
Semi acoustic Ibanez JS-100
Aristides OIO

What was your initial concept when you started to work on the design? Playability had the highest priority in the first two designs. Besides a perfect division of the weight and perfect ratio's the designs had to be characteristic, different and modern without losing the character of a traditional guitar. Because of the material we wanted to use organic forms. Our inspiration was based on the shape of a car a shark, and a teacup among others. A teacup? Yes a teacup. I think that's our strength. We make designs for all kind of projects (like not only industrial) so we get our inspiration out of everything. This makes us able to think “out of the box” and to create outstanding designs like the Aristides OIO and O5O.

Does de final result differs a lot from the original idea? With projects like this you have to collaborate a lot. Every person got his own expertise. Our (Robert and me) expertise is to make a stunning, creative design based on the wishes of the client. But we're not professional guitarists so we can't determine what's the best division of the weight to realize perfect playability. With the input and expertise of the Aristides Instruments team, some changes have been made. Thanks to our good collaboration we succeeded to develop the perfect design.

Is the design of the OIO and the O5O a typical example of Dutch Design? No I wouldn't call it Dutch Design. When I think of Dutch Design, I think of furniture not instruments. I mean, what is Dutch Design exactly? Yes, the Aristides guitars are designed by a Dutch designer and the design is different and outstanding but does this makes it a typical Dutch Design? People can call it Dutch Design if they want but I think this is really subjective and personal. Maybe in a few years when the guitars become more of a success than they already are and Aristides is a worldwide brand that everybody knows, we can call it Dutch Design.

If you could choose the next Aristides model. Which model would this be? I would build a semi acoustic one. The material is very suitable to build a semi acoustic guitar. I think a lot of people will be interested in this because, besides pop and rock, a semi acoustic guitar is also great to play jazz on. Nowadays many artists play on a semi acoustic guitar because of that. But that's my opinion.

How does it feel if you see someone like Adrian Vandenberg with your guitar? This feels amazing! As a young boy I was a huge fan of Adrian. I really looked up to him. So imagine that you get the chance to design a guitar which will be represented by Adrian Vandenberg. This is a boy's dream come true.

What makes the OIO so unique compared to other guitars? I know that it's mentioned a lot before by several people and in magazines, but I also have to say the great sustain, the playability and the sound are amazing. Really, you can't imagine it, you just have to experience, hear and feel it yourself. It has the roughness and de edginess of a Les Paul and the brilliance of the Fender. You can play everything with it. For me the Aristides is the 'best of both worlds!