Ron Arad gets audience thinking about what makes good design

What if you built a ping pong table with a belly and a reflective surface? What if you built a bicycle without wheels? What if you built a building that you would be proud to put on a postage stamp?

"Whats and ifs" was the title of Thursday's talk by renowned architect, artist and designer Ron Arad at the Business of Design Week, and it set the tone for the rest of the conference.

Designers and businessmen were tossing around ideas, specifically: what is good design and a good design process?

"I used to think that boredom was the mother of all creativity. Now I think curiosity is the mother of all creativity," said Arad. The 60-year-old, known for his whimsical designs, said many of his creations came from asking questions, from playing with materials and pushing against conventional wisdom.

"I thought: so many [car] seats are dying in scrap yards, why don't I make furniture out of it?" That was how his iconic Rover Chair was created.

While Arad is more about experience and pushing boundaries, Danes are generally more cautious and conscientious.

"We believe less is more, form has to follow function, and we try to reduce instead of blowing up," said Jacob Holm, president and CEO of The Republic of Fritz Hansen, which produces high-end utilitarian but elegant Danish furniture.