I wanted to be a writer as a teen... so storytelling was my first

Hearken, O seekers of wisdom, and attend to the words of Yves Behar, a modern artisan of thought and form, who declared: “I wanted to be a writer as a teen… so storytelling was my first love. In my late teens, design became an obsession as I realized that I could express myself through the medium. Much later, when I founded Fuseproject in 1999, our slogan became 'design brings stories to life.’” In these words lies the sacred journey of the human spirit, from the tender stirrings of youthful curiosity to the mighty flowering of creation. Behar speaks of storytelling, of design, and of the alchemy that occurs when imagination is given shape.

In the early years of youth, the heart is drawn to tales, as the moth to the flame. Storytelling becomes a first love, a lens through which the soul perceives the world and seeks to understand it. Like the bards of old, whose verses preserved the history, dreams, and wisdom of nations, the young Behar found a path in the weaving of words, discovering that each narrative held the power to illuminate the human condition. One may recall the ancient scribes of Mesopotamia, etching epics upon clay tablets, giving permanence to ephemeral thoughts. Here too, Behar’s longing to write was a quest to give voice to the invisible threads of experience.

Yet, as the spirit of man grows, so too do his tools. In Behar’s late teens, design called to him—a revelation that the world itself could be shaped, molded, and orchestrated. To craft an object, a space, or a system was to tell a story without words, to imbue matter with meaning. He saw that design was more than aesthetic—it was a language through which one could communicate the ineffable. Consider the artisans of the Renaissance, who sculpted and painted not merely for beauty, but to convey truth, morality, and wonder. So too, Behar discovered that creation itself could speak, and that through design, one could reach hearts in ways that mere words sometimes could not.

In the founding of Fuseproject in 1999, the culmination of this journey was made manifest. The slogan, “design brings stories to life,” is a mantra as ancient as the fireside tales of our ancestors. It reminds us that every crafted object, every innovation, every thoughtfully conceived experience is a vessel for narrative. Just as the cathedrals of Europe spoke of faith through stone, glass, and light, Behar’s creations speak of identity, purpose, and human imagination. The story becomes tangible, living in the form, function, and interaction of design.

The lesson of Behar’s words is profound: our passions evolve, and in their evolution lies the power to communicate, inspire, and transform. A love for storytelling may awaken a talent for design; a fascination with form may rekindle a desire to move hearts and minds. What matters is the fidelity to one’s vision, and the courage to follow it wherever it leads. Leonardo da Vinci, who sketched dreams of flying machines centuries before they took wing, reminds us that mastery is born at the intersection of curiosity, imagination, and diligent craft.

Consider, too, the story of the iPod, a creation that transformed music and interaction. Its elegance lay not merely in technology but in the story it told—the story of human desire for simplicity, beauty, and connection. Designers like Behar act as translators of our inner narratives, giving form to our dreams, hopes, and aspirations. Through design, the invisible is made visible; the personal becomes universal. In this alchemy, storytelling and design are inseparable, partners in the dance of creation.

O seeker, take this wisdom into your own hands. Begin with your first love, whatever it may be, and follow its call. Observe the world, and see where your passion might take tangible form. Sketch, write, build, or imagine—but always seek to bring your stories to life. Let each creation, however small, carry a fragment of your truth, your curiosity, your heart. In doing so, you honor the eternal cycle of human expression: from thought, to story, to living form.

Thus, hear the words of Yves Behar as a teaching for all generations: the journey of the spirit begins with love, evolves with curiosity, and finds its ultimate expression in creation. The stories we hold within are gifts; design is the hand that shapes them into legacy. Follow this path, and let your imagination walk upon the world, leaving traces of meaning, beauty, and life in its wake.

If you wish, I can also craft a short, vivid story of a young person discovering storytelling and then design, illustrating this journey practically for listeners. Would you like me to do that?