Interview with Kai Heuser

Hello! Please introduce yourself! And what is the history behind the LOUNGE72?
My name is Kai Heuser and I’m living in Ravensburg and Stuttgart, Germany. I’m currently spending my time by 45% studying mediadesign at the University of cooperative Education in Ravensburg, by 45% working for an advertising agency in Stuttgart and by 10% swallowing beer. LOUNGE72 was founded at the end of 2001 by myself and my friend Tonio as a non-profit online design portal, community and ezine.The aim was to get more involved in the global online design scene and give something back to the community.
LOUNGE72 started with 2 people. Meanwhile we are a core-team of 2 people (Thorsten Hayer and myself) and addionally more than 20 contributers from all over the world (Germany, China, USA, UK, Italy, Australia, Austria,
Philipines...) who daily contribute fresh design related news and other content such as interviews and reviews.
After 6 months of work the first version of LOUNGE72 went online in June 2002. Since the first days we tried to push the site further and further with daily updates and interessting content. At the moment the second version of LOUNGE72 is online but the work for version three with an improved content-management system has already begun. A launch date has not been chosen for version three. Another core element of LOUNGE72 is the PDF Calendar (http://calendar.lounge72.com). Every year we invite 12 talented artists to contribute 1 month. Artists like Karen Ingram, Jemma Gura, Upso, Fatoe, Tokidoki, Jens Karlsson, 123 Klan, Team Kitten, Peter Stemmler and Justin Fox have contributed so far. Our visitors can download the months as high resolution PDFs and print them out on their homeprinter or take them to their local printshop and pin them up on their walls.

How did you come up with the name - LOUNGE72?
Well, the idea behind LOUNGE72 was to create a virtual place where people like to hang around and to chill out a bit during their work- or free-time. Like a real lounge in a hotel.... 72 comes from 72dpi or so... I can’t really remember to be honest - we were quite drunk while thinking of the name...

How many people are behind the project?
As I said above already – We are a core-team of 2 people and addional more than 20 contributors.

Do you do commercials? If yes, then where do you work and what's your last job.
I’m not doing commercials. I work 50% in an advertising agency as a multimedia-designer, doing mostly websites. The last job I did was a trailer in Macromedia Flash for company from the north of Germany.

Favorite movies?
I absolutely dig the early Star Wars Films. But I also like “From dusk till dawn”, “Fear and loathing in Las Vegas”, “Leon, the professional”... and... and...

Whats your opinion about other web magazines?
It’s great! I’m an ezine junky... haha! I mean – in which business branch is that much online interaction and communication as in the design scene? There are some high quality zines out there such as DiK, K10K, Halfproject, Computerlove, Digitalabstracts, Digital Thread and Design made in Germany to name just a few... And there is also a lot of exchange between the people behind the zines which is great in my eyes.

Any plans for the LOUNGE72 in future?
Sure. First of all the relaunch and the integration of the new CMS that we’re currently working on.
And secondly: We tried already this year to bring out a printed version of our PDF Calendar but we didn’t make it because of a lack of sponsors... So we’re trying again for 2006.

Ever thought about print magazine? How can you imagine your online issue on the paper?
Nope. I don’t like doing print stuff. There are people who can do that better...

How many hours do you work infront of PC?
If I work in the agency it’s between 9 and 15 hours a day. If I’m at Uni it’s probably less... But it depends.

Do you relax? How? Do any sports?
Sure – I’m a snowboard instructor and love going snowboarding in the winter time... I also like Badminton. But I also like to read a good book to relax or to hang out with my friends and party...

Are you design educated?
As said already, I’m studying 50% and will hopefully have my diploma in mediadesign in 2006.

Ever been to design conferences? How was it?
While I was working in Sydney in 2003 I’ve been to the Semi-Permanent Conference organised by the local Design is Kinky folks which was absolutely a rush. So many talented and nice people like the organizers themself, Scien and Klor, Mschmid and Toke, Justin Fox, ..., in one place... an absolutely great pleace! I’ve also been to Toca Me in Munich earlier this year which was also really great with Insert Silence, Joshua Davis, Tomato Interactive and 123Klan.

Have you got a girlfriend? How did you meet each other?
Nope, I’m single and happy at the moment.

Living alone? If yes - isnt that boring?
While at Uni, I live in a house with 7 other people, so that’s absolutely not boring... haha...

Thanks. Comments?
Thank you for he interview! Good luck for DA!