Kenny Schachter; art dealer, design critic, car lover, collector and commissioner of culture. His various professional and personal activities give him a unique perspective on design, art and, of course, design as art.

First coming to our attention during a panel discussion on the future of the automotive designer (Kenny thinks the increasing impracticality of cars will see them elevated to objects of cultural desire), there’s little doubt that Kenny’ll provide a provocative perspective on the practical, cultural and economic value of design.

Our usual interview is below.

Kenny Schachter will be appearing at CreativeMornings/London on Friday February 24th -sponsored by Forward and Sense Worldwide- at Floor 2, Centro 4, 20 Mandela St, Camden, NW1 0DU. For more information and to reserve tickets, please go to the CreativeMornings London Eventbrite page.

Where do you go when you need to concentrate?

my garage converted into an office, though i still share the space with my cars.

Is it about what you know or who you know?

both

What’s been the most pivotal point in your life thus far?

attending the estate sale of andy warhol at sothebys in 1988

Do you think there’s enough discourse between disciplines?

there is not enough discourse in disciplines, yet between them.

Can you teach innovation?

yes

Dollar or Yuan?

swiss franc looks good to me.

Do you believe in an afterlife?

hardly in this life.

Negative or positive freedom?

freedom, yet

Ideal holiday?

sitting in my garage, see above.

Can you draw?

not a stick figure, never stopped me from trying to make art.

Can you draw us a wave?

^^^^

Individual or state (or both)?

individual but nice to be protected and have your garbage picked up.

Favourite LP?

just about anything beetles

Last book read?

more of an avid newspaper, periodical and web site reader. but that would be Marina Picasso, Picasso, My Grandfather. (New York: Riverhead Books, 2001)

The best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

there will always be a lot smarter so just work harder; don’t believe your own lies, don’t over leverage.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be where you are?

don’t worry about how you are not supposed to do things, just do them how you see fit.