Designer Interview

Interview with Fernanda Marques at Wednesday 20th of April 2016

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?
FM: I come from a school where all disciplines involving the creation were presented in an integrated manner. So, naturally, when I'm designing a building, an interior, an object, I think about how to combine all these factors. I can not conceive a building without thinking of the quality of its internal spaces. Nor an object, without thinking about the kind of environment that it will contain. In short, this is it. My particular interest in art was born from my desire of observing and collecting works in this sector. I fell I am always learning something new about art, since the possibilities are limitless. In fact, I never thought of becoming a designer. The exercise of this discipline was born as an extension of my work as an architect and it seems to be natural to me.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
FM: My studio develops projects on a global scale in the fields of architecture and interior, with residential or corporative functions, as well as furniture, objects and graphic design pieces. I am based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, but count with offices in Lausanne, Lisbon and London where I command a team of 40 professionals. All of them like me, in tune with the latest news of the art and international design market.

FS: What is "design" for you?
FM: In essence, create a certain building, space or object with a specific purpose, even if it is subjective. Furthermore, it is the intention, this objective that differs design from art.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
FM: Honestly, I have no distinction. Create is what pleases me.

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
FM: I fell unable to elect a single object. I rather think the furniture designed by Bauhaus, in all of them, without exception. They are at the origin of the design process and for that are so definitive. It was there that the desire to build an accurate and most inspiring everyday manifested for the first time, with all the intensity.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
FM: As an industrially produced object, my Infinite Stool, in stainless steel, for Mekal. A gold award winner in A Aesign Awards

FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
FM: I'm interested by the most technological ones, the steel, the glass. I'm interested by industrial processes in general. I always learn something from them.

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
FM: Usually when I am traveling

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
FM: Innovation. I believe that is what moves the design. Why to do something that has already been done? I am always chasing the new.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
FM: Loneliness sometimes. Intense pleasure, in others. Typically, a mix of sensations.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
FM: A delicious sense of accomplishment.

FS: What makes a design successful?
FM: A countless series of factors, but, mainly, full attention to the briefing

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
FM: It is somewhat innovative? If it is not, it can not be considered good

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
FM: They are increasing....In fact, today, the designer must think of the full life cycle of a product. Designing, even its end.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
FM: I believe we will live with industrially produced pieces, handmade and in most of cases, in middle of hybrid objects, in the interface of these modes of production

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
FM: I try to observe everything around me, and especially what is happening in the field of art. I would say that it is my greatest source of inspiration, even if this does not happen directly, but as an accumulation of experiences, most often, intangible.

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?
FM: Seeking to offer a contemporary reading of live and dwell, always attuned to the latest technological innovations and of course, with I can pick from the market of art and design.

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?
FM: I live in Brazil, and yes, of course, this affects what I design. But I believe, not in a direct but from a more sensitive pont of view. I have very affected by the natural intense light of my country. On the other hand, I work in so different places in the world that today I fell I am also affected by them.

FS: How do you work with companies?
FM: Trying to be the most loyal and inside the brieffing of my clients as possible.

FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
FM: It depends on so many factors. But, in the end, I think its a matter of feeling, of identification more than of a special curriculum vitae.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
FM: I dont have an exclusive. In fact, each project is new and I fell like I am just starting, and thats true.

FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
FM: I work out very early in the morning, have lunch with my sons, go to work, have a talk with my team and from there everything can happen. I have no time to be back at home

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
FM: I think they have to be curious in any field. Not satisfied with what they get, but always looking for more. More information, more sensations, more life.

FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
FM: I just see positive points. I just love what I do.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
FM: Less keeps being - in most of cases - more.

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
FM: Curiosity, lots of research, hard work and a bit of talent.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
FM: All of them, but always a paper notebook and 2B pencils ready to be used. I have recently been designing with Revit for a more organic design.

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
FM: Being sincere, I don't fell like my time is being consumed while I work. In fact, I fell joy, I fell alive

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
FM: It depends on the object, of course

FS: What was your most important job experience?
FM: Maybe the time I spent as a trainee of one of my masters at the university: the brazilian architect Giancarlo Gasperini

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
FM: I do want to work more in Europe, in different scales: designing buildings, but Also objects

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
FM: With a concept in mind, I count on my team to help develop the project.

FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
FM: We are participating in ArDe Exhibit in London this next June.

FS: How can people contact you?
FM: They can email me directly at ; arquitetura@fernandamarques.com.br

FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
FM: Not at all .... I guess you have a complete profile of me now

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

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Fernanda Marques

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Designer Interview

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