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Interview with Amarist Studio |
Home > Designer Interviews > Amarist Studio |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Amarist Studio (AS) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Amarist Studio by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AS: We never had a clear idea of becoming designers, I think it was a process of maturation in which we discovered that we had a good time designing and we had curiosity and restlessness for this world, so in 2014 we started to create what today is Amarist Studio.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AS: Amarist is a creative studio based in Barcelona, Spain. Created in 2014 by Arán Lozano and Clara Campo.We are mainly dedicated to contemporary art and design, focusing our work on the creation of functional pieces, with great visual power and capable of stimulating the observer's thoughts through works that invite to reflect on the world around us.In our last year we have focused our attention on observing the imbalances and gaps that we produce as a species in the different cultural groups.A work that explores the shocks and contradictions that society produces in its evolution, in this aspect we have become involved in projects more linked to social activism, such as our collection of solidary jewelry for Refugees "Welcome".We are young and with many concerns so we are always embracing new opportunities for growth and development within the studio, so our fields of action are increasing.
FS: What is "design" for you?
AS: Design is making ideas come to life.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AS: Pieces that have a soul, that are able to inspire and make reflect people. In our studio generally unique pieces of furniture, with a very important conceptual emphasis and a bold character.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AS: We don’t have an exclusive favorite design. There’s so many good works in the world and through out history to be able to choose one.From our personal work, we always say that our favorite design is always the one that is to come when we start a new project.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AS: The first piece we designed in the studio was “Cupiditas” table made of Alabaster Stone and retro-lit by LED lights, we wanted to use a very special material from our region.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AS: We don’t really have a favorite material, platform or technology. But we do give a lot of value, and in our pieces are always present, to noble materials, marbles, woods, metals...We do like to work and experiment with different mediums, from traditional work techniques to new technologies and new digital fabrication methods. And we always stay open to new innovations.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
AS: When we visit new places, quarries, factories, shows, where we see chaos of materials, tools or new work techniques. From the workshop of an artisan, to an R+D+I center where we can discover new metholodogies.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AS: First we focus on the meaning or message behind what we are designing; the soul and visual power of the piece. And then the technical aspects like the proportions, dimensions and materiality.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AS: At the creative peak of idea generation, it’s kind of weird, we connect with the subconscious of our minds, and time and space disappear for that precious moment.During the design and production process we go through a big spectrum in which all kinds of emotions circulate at every stage of the process.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AS: Depending on the work, how long it has taken to design and to build afterwards. In general we feel great happiness, realization and sometimes even tears in our eyes.
FS: What makes a design successful?
AS: It’s soul. When is able to touch the users.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AS: How the different elements that configure the piece (shape, materiality, usage, light/shadow, rhythm, etc) become a unique entity where nothing can be added or subtracted, with a soul that makes you fall in love with it and touches you.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AS: Design has the power to help improve society and help people be the best versions of themselves. In our area of work, collectible design, we try to provoke with our designs, generate debates around challenging ideas.Design along with Art, has the power to provoke emotions and reactions with which to think and reflect. A society with awakened minds is the only one that can evolve and improve.And of course, as designers we should all draw a red line to protect the environment, taking into consideration the materials that we use and their process of fabrication.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AS: Now it seems that there is a fever for new technologies and for everything that is made with new digital production methodologies ....Actually in our new collection we will try to reflect on where we are going as a field, reflect on the new technologies and where the traditional materials and artisans will remain.It is clear that in the next 5 years 3D printing, robotics and AI applied to production will take a very important leap and expand the fields of action. This, together with open source, will accentuate the democratization of production to the non-professional public. We hope it doesn’t happen as with photography, that since the emergence of the latest generation of mobile phones, everyone has taken on the role of photographer, in deterioration of the profession.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AS: Our last exhibition was in Art New York, in May 2017, it was an installation that we made for UNHCR, addressing the issue of borders and refugees.Our next exhibition is in Venice Design 2018, in the framework of the International Biennale of Architecture, opening next May for six months. We are very excited!
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AS: There’s a common believe that we just create an evolution of things that we have already seen. We think the sources of inspiration are an intertwined combination of history, detection of problems/opportunities, new tech and materials, and context. Sometimes an emotional experience, like a trip, a concert or a movie also help to shake and awake ideas.We feed our creativity immersing ourselves in nature, letting our minds and bodies disconnect from daily life. Also, reading books, visiting museums and art/design fairs.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
AS: We think we still don’t have a design style defined. Although in all of our collections you can see pieces with a deep visual power making the observer think and reflect, we are in a constant process of evolution and we do not like to be pigeonholed in a specific style. What we designed 3 years ago has little to do with what we do now, and in the medium term we are planning new collections that will be quite different from the current ones. We value the reinvention capacity we have.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
AS: We live between Barcelona and New York and we also spend seasons in our small town in the Spanish Pyrenees.So as you can imagine it generates a quite broad spectrum, this is very positive for the design, maybe that's why our style evolves constantly and we are capable of doing things that a priori can be very different.Each city has a rhythm, a culture and generates different influences that of course affect your design, as does the political, economic or social moments of our environment.
FS: How do you work with companies?
AS: At the moment we do not usually design products for other companies, we are focused on our collections or on projects that are commissioned to us by private clients.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AS: We have never worked for a company in that sense, we guess we would recommend to not set too many constrains on the designer and preconceptions on the design, let the designer’s creativity free and then work and evolve from the first ideas generated.To select a good designer, the company has to know first what they want to achieve, what message they want to transmit through the style of design, and then select accordingly.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AS: More or less we go through the same cycle when I start a new project: 1. Research2. Hand sketches3. Digital modeling4. Physical models5. Repeat/revisit steps 2-3-46. Development in detail7. Fabrication tests8. Final product.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AS: We are quite minimalist, a large dining table along with comfortable chairs and a sculptural lamp are elements that we highly value.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
AS: We generally wake up and do a little exercise, meditate and have a big breakfast while reading the news.We usually save the morning for the most creative work and the afternoon for emails and meetings.After work we try to do activities to clear our minds, like sport, going to an art opening or hanging out with friends.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AS: We think we are still on an early stage of our career to be able to give that type of advice. And each design field is different, but what we would recommend to anyone is that if you have an idea, a vision, go for it, communicate it, trace a plan of how to make it come to life, and work work, work, persevere, and work more. Make people fall in love with your idea.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AS: The positive is the personal realization of unleashing creativity, of making ideas come to life. The negative is the economic instability that often comes with creative professions.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AS: We can’t mark a design as finished if it doesn’t make us fall in love.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
AS: Knowledge, creativity, communication, challenging assumptions, flexibility of mind, and ability to stay updated on design new tools.A balance between the freshness of creative ideas and the ability to technically carry them out.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AS: Research on books and internet, hand drawing, digital modeling, building physical models, making fabrication tests…
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AS: Ha! Good question, time is always a problem. We are still in the process of learning. It’s important to set the limits and know when to stop, in art and design a work is rarely ever complete, you can always change, improve, develop further details, etc. The best time manager is a deadline, and to plan the different stages of the design accordingly.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AS: It depends on the object, the technical challenges, innovation, dimensions, materials, etc. It’s impossible to set a same timeframe for every design.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AS: Wow, how have you done this?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
AS: Perhaps the collaboration with UNHCR on our solidarity jewelry collection. For its social component is of special importance and responsibility for us.Also, we are currently working on our first public project; it’s a great challenge and a huge responsibility.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
AS: Our clients are mainly private art and design collectors, museums or institutions.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AS: To design not just based on functionality but based on emotions and experience as well. To not fall into the routine of working always on the same, reinventing ourselves and addressing new challenges.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AS: We are working on our first public sculptural design which is a huge milestone. Our goal is to expand internationally and start working with top intl galleries.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AS: We work in tandem - Clara and Aran - in the studio to mark the creative lines and develop the projects technically, supported by a small technical team if the project requires it.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AS: We are designing a new collection of furniture that is defined as a look into the future, the collection composed of a series of pieces with very futuristic aesthetics, combining traditional materials together with 3D printing, representing a kind of struggle where the pieces will seem to be evolving.We also have a surprise prepared to create the first Clock with AI, which will mark the starting point of this new design line.
FS: How can people contact you?
AS: Through our website www.amarist.com, by social media @amariststudio and by email at info@amarist.com
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
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