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Interview with Molly |
Home > Designer Interviews > Molly |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Molly (M) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Molly 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?
M: I have always had a passion for art, more specifically deciphering methods used in creating beauty. Whether it is simple drawings, innovative fashion, or complex architecture, design has always been an embedded character of mine.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
M: Molly is a registered Canadian footwear company that embodies the persona of its creator and designer, Wonu Adeshina. I crafted this brand in order to create a home for my designs and subsequently cater to the diverse and open-minded individuals like myself who remain bold, fearless, and unapologetically willing to take on life’s challenges.
FS: What is "design" for you?
M: Design is the freedom to explore the depths of my mind, express the way that I visualize life and a means of expanding the world as we know it.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
M: Nowadays, I love to design footwear. Even though I began my fashion design journey in the clothing sector, nothing fulfills my yearning to create quite like shoes.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
M: My most favorite design would have to be a pair of mules designed for my mother. It was an honor to be able to design and create a work of art for the woman who dedicated so many years of her life to ensure the joy and success of all her children.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
M: The first thing I designed for a company was a pair of slippers using hand-woven Ghanaian kente material paired with calf leather to provide its clients with complimentary footwear capable of augmenting the beauty of its existing products.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
M: I cannot say that I have a favorite material to work with, simply because I love to challenge myself. I do not believe in limits. As an introspective person, I find myself analyzing past projects and drawing up ways I may be able to advance them in terms of resources and techniques. In reference to technology, I would have to say Adobe Illustrator (for now) since I am able to visualize projects in a vast array of options through digital representations. I am currently in the processing of learning how to render 3D images of my footwear and something tells me that it will definitely steal the top spot on the digital tier once I have mastered this skill.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
M: Oddly enough, when I’m down and alone is when I feel the urge to re-direct my focus into designing since it is one of the few things that truly bring me joy.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
M: Conceptualization, everything after that is really a piece of cake. I try to work out the practicality and overall look of my designs in my head before I translate it to paper.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
M: Peace, joy, love, contentment, fulfillment, pride, gratitude... Honestly, the list goes on forever.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
M: Excitement dabbled in a tad bit of anxiety. I guess I worry a little about my designs being understood and accepted, but I am continuously learning to rid myself of this concern. After all, art is subjective.
FS: What makes a design successful?
M: If it is effortlessly received by its intended audience with little to no critique, I think design can be deemed successful.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
M: In terms of footwear, I consider functionality, comfort, and the overall aesthetic as one entity that determines the standing of good design.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
M: I think a major role of a designer in society is bearing the responsibility of progression and sustenance. Progression in terms of discovering newer and better ways to reserve various aesthetics while morphing them into never-before-seen silhouettes, and sustenance in terms of longevity; to create without influencing obsolescence.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
M: I think it’s becoming progressively unconventional. Over the years, we have mostly been accustomed to mainstream designs, however, avant-garde projects are seemingly at the forefront of creativity these days. Consumers are more receptive and willing to think outside the box and understand the designer’s intent in a more fluid manner, making the possibilities of design endless. No longer will an artist have to be smothered by unwavering thoughts of the public’s approval because niches have become more subcategorized.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
M: Since I am a fairly new designer, I am yet to hold an exhibition and will have to work out the specifics and possibilities of that happening sometime soon. Nonetheless, I most definitely have considered and planned out a showcase to display all of my cohesive works and maybe even an entirely new concept.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
M: My inspiration comes from the need to create beauty that I am yet to witness. That being said, I do not have a go-to source of motivation. Seeing as I am a lover of art, I am able to admire its existence- in colors, concepts, and objects, and morph mental images of footwear in a way that is derived from the piece.
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?
M: I would say my design style is similar to my personal style- fluid. As I mentioned earlier, I do not believe in design/style limitations and like to dabble in a bit of everything. Nevertheless, in attempts to devise a clear aesthetic going forward, I will be pursuing the concept of interchangeable footwear as it pertains to completed silhouettes and detachable fragments.
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?
M: I live in my home away from home- Canada. As a Nigerian-Ghanaian inhabiting a different country for the last 9 years, the resilience and strength of my roots are most definitely mirrored in the need for my designs to be bold, daring, and powerful. With respect to planning out editorials and marketing campaigns, I am heavily driven to include my origins in a more visual manner while remaining blessed with the opportunities and resources of dwelling in a more technologically inclined country.
FS: How do you work with companies?
M: When working with a company, I make sure to maintain respect as it relates to the brand’s vision and aesthetic while, of course, incorporating my unique ideas in order to attain a higher objective.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
M: It should go without saying that design portfolios speak for themselves. However, I would personally have an in-depth conversation about the designer’s mindset and vision to ensure that both companies are aligned in their goals. After a decision has been made, it would be important for companies to ensure that the designer’s creative control is valued and not constrained in order to actively pursue the progression of both the company and the designer.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
M: I think and I do. Literally. When it comes to design, there are not many tactical measures taken to realize an idea with me. One brilliant trait of my design process, however, is that I tend to identify the possibility of more concepts in the process of designing one project.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
M: A chalkboard with writings and drawings of all my dearest friends, a handmade wooden boat gifted to me from Sri-Lanka, a hand-crafted leather and Ankara hand fan from Ghana, a custom walk-in closet that I had the pleasure of constructing myself and a handmade wooden rose also gifted to me from Sri-Lanka.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
M: A day in my life consists mostly of me attempting to put my thoughts in order. Despite having a set plan for the day, my mind runs a million miles an hour with ideas that I try to map out. Hence, if I am not already creating, I am designing and visualizing the future of my brand.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
M: Create without doubt and fear, but with lots of intellect. Designing is one part creativity and one part wisdom, so if you are able to effortlessly fuse the two then you will continue to unlock your artistic potential in more ways than you imagine.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
M: A great positive of being a designer is definitely being blessed with a mind that produces beauty and holds the capacity to visualize an entirely new reality. Contrary to that, a general con is being subjected to constant scrutiny, whether constructive or negative. Being a designer, you are expected to take into consideration the accuracy of representation and since art is majorly subjective, the connotations of your work become an unending battle of your passion versus existing worldviews.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
M: Complex simplicity. I often think of ways to augment finished designs to take my mind outside of its confines.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
M: I think communication to be precise in the delivery of your ideas, time management to produce designs in a timely manner, the organization to approach tasks efficiently and problem-solving to visualize new solutions.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
M: A lot of manual tools! I usually sketch with your basic pencil and use a tape measure with some masking tape to draw a pattern on my shoe last, I would then transfer and trace outlines using an awl and retractable utility knife. Sometimes I design on Adobe Illustrator before the previously stated routine, but I usually have a clear vision of what I want to create and don’t feel the need to.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
M: I usually like to create a timeline for myself, giving room for delays. For example, I might break down the entire project into smaller goals in order to estimate how long each of them will take to be completed. This way I am able to keep myself on track as opposed to setting a single goal for the entire duration.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
M: I can draft a concept on paper in about 5-10 minutes and about 30 minutes to an hour on Illustrator, depending on the complexity of the design. In terms of realizing these designs, the duration of each footwear project is again dependent on the complexity of the design and availability of resources. It can take me anywhere from two days to two weeks to handcraft a unique pair.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
M: “You made that?!” lol I think designing footwear is one thing, but knowing how to make them is a whole other shock factor.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
M: Getting the opportunity to work closely with a brilliant designer, Angela Huntington, and being able to share my designs with an individual who is very accustomed to art and fashion. The chance to be able to learn through and from another person’s vision was indeed an inspiring and uplifting experience.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
M: Kolturee, a brand that produces unique handcrafted products in attempts to improve population health and contribute to research and development in the garri production industry of Ghana.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
M: Footwear design, because it is a truly elevating skill that will never go out of style.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
M: I plan to work my way into small-scale mass production and begin offering my designs to the general public. A lot of editorial shoots and videography need to be executed for marketing campaigns to accurately mirror my brand’s vision and for my designs to be communicated effectively.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
M: For now, I develop my designs myself.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
M: I am currently developing 4 additional designs to complete my Gemini Rebirth collection. In addition to that, I am considering offering a range of colors for each design in the series in order to provide consumers with more options that complement their preferences.
FS: How can people contact you?
M: You can reach me via E-mail at brandedbymolly@gmail.com or via Instagram @brandedbymolly.
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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