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Interview with Bettina Gomez-Latus |
Home > Designer Interviews > Bettina Gomez-Latus |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Bettina Gomez-Latus (BG) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Bettina Gomez-Latus 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?
BG: My passion for jewelry was born in England, Devon Totnes. When I was 14 years old, I went to a boarding school where I studied design, art, sculpture and goldsmithing. The combination of craftsmanship and design taught there has remained a fascination ever since.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BG: My studio is a cosy, small wooden house in the rear garden, with a warm, welcoming and private atmosphere. Everyone who comes to us should feel comfortable and at ease. Nevertheless the work here is very structured. Precise craftsmanship and the highest knowledge of the materials - stones, pearls, precious metals and enamel - are a prerequisite for unique creations.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BG: I like the pleasure of touching good design, it must be perfect optically, tactile and functionally effective, without being produced at the expense of the environment!
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BG: I love to design soft, tactile and comfortable shapes which give the wearer a sense of well being.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BG: I love the flowers of BEGOLA with their wonderful colours. They can be put together to form a beautiful flower bangle and can be wrapped around the arm or neck with a matching leather band. These creations sweeten, enchant life a little every day.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BG: I usually design unique pieces for my customers. The first big bracelet collection I designed was for "BEGOLA Happiness Handmade".
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BG: I love precious stones and, of course, gold and silver in all their variations.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BG: Shortly after getting up with the first cup of coffee in the kitchen at the breakfast table.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BG: My jewellery must always be comfortable, almost weightless so that the owner can wear it for hours on end.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BG: I always find it very exciting to design and create something beautiful. Sometimes the design can lead me to despair as I strive my best. However, in the end, it always makes me happy.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BG: I feel exhausted yet satisfied and find it wonderful to see the piece of jewellery in the finished form. It makes me proud when everything works out the way I planed it.
FS: What makes a design successful?
BG: If other people like to surround themselves with the design.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BG: The haptics and colour interplay of precious stones and precious metal are often the first.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BG: The designer should never develop his designs at the expense of the environment and society.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BG: I sincerely hope that good design retains its value for a long time becoming a focus of value for people, displacing the throw-away culture.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BG: My last exhibition was held in my studio. The next exhibition is planed for the autumn.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BG: I get the best ideas for new designs during my daily walks with our dog Nanny or evenings in the bathtub.
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?
BG: Clear, simple, often round, shapes reduced to the essentials. The variety of colour combinations plays an important role.
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?
BG: No, the cultural heritage of my country does not affect my designs. Much more, however, the "throw away culture" and the drive for constantly new things occupies me in our country. Good design should be timeless so you do not have to try to get something new for each upcoming trend and throw the old things away.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BG: First and foremost, I am the creative head of the Brand "BEGOLA". When other companies come to me, I design them special lines to their liking.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BG: In principle, the styling language of the designer should underpin the company's philosophy. The communication between the company and the designer is, among other things, decisive for the good cooperation.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BG: When I get a new task, ideas explode in my head. Most of the time I think about a design until I have found the right solution. Then the sketches are drawn quickly to cement the ideas. During the phase of the prototype implementation, it is often the case that I make changes during production, until everything is 100% to my liking and perfect.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BG: - Marcel Breuer "Wassily chair"- Computer "Apple iMac"- Nomos Watch "Tetra"- KitchenAid "Artisan"I would love to have more designer furniture or accessories, yet it is often question of means.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BG: I am an early bird because the morning hours are mine alone while the rest of my family are still fast asleep. While drinking my first cups of coffee I prepare the packed lunch for our daughter, who I then take to school after breakfast. I then take our dog out for a walk. The fresh morning air gives me a boost for the day and I can plan and organize my todos. While out with the dog, my husband leaves the house and usually comes back home late in the evening.I am most creative in the morning. New creations are formulated in the studio or at the kitchen table: some are reworked, phone calls are made or customers come by to discuss new jewellery. During which our cat often sits next to me and watches me at work. The afternoons are devoted to being a mother again. School assignments and ferrying our daughter from A to B for sports, etc. are on the daily agenda. And again not forgetting the dog, a further round has to be taken to relax and gather new strength.In the evening, my husband and I take some time to talk about the latest projects. He is my quality control and always encourages me to reflect on the designs until they are right.Often I flee from the daily stress in our bathtub. There I reflect the day again and finally come to rest on our sofa with our cat.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BG: Take nature as your model and do not stop until you achieve your best result. If you land in a dead end, take a break, clear your head and take up a new path.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BG: It is great fun to be a designer, but the downside is, you never stop designing.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BG: Stay true to yourself.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BG: The designer must be able to identify himself with the product whilst possessing the necessary knowledge of materials and techniques.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BG: Traditionally I work with pencil and paper. The drawings are then coloured with watercolor. The subtleties are worked out with CAD, or sometimes models are trialled at the work table.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BG: When I design a new piece of jewellery, the design is permanently held in my mind and I have to be careful not to neglect my other remaining duties. It is difficult not working on a design non-stop until it is finished. A work schedule can help a lot - yet, I often cannot stick to it, because I get too excited and have to carry on in order to see the finished product.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BG: Sometimes it goes very quickly and I need only a few hours, however sometimes it takes weeks, months or even years. There is actually no rule!
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BG: What is good design for you?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
BG: My time at Juwelier Friedrich in Frankfurt am Main, Germany
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BG: BEGOLA and many private customers.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BG: I love to sketch and create ideas. I feel completely free and empowered during this phase of the project.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BG: I would like to be known as a renowned jewellery designer and goldsmith, to have an international exhibition and to exhibit some jewellery in a museum. Above all, however, I would also like to continue our success in our jewellery brand BEGOLA and hope it will become internationally known.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BG: We are a small family-run business, where every one of us comments on each other’s jewellery design proposals, but I am the lead designer and the driving force behind the philosophy.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BG: I am currently working on a new collection with a new technique and of course, colours play are a big part of it.
FS: How can people contact you?
BG: Telefon: +49 6171 582228; E-Mail: info@1karat.de; Website: www.1karat.de
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BG: I think we covered a lot in the interview. Thank you very much!
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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