We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ariel Palanzone ("AP").
I am a person who tries to contribute to society within the field of design by providing an artistic and personal look. My interests are many and varied, ranging from modern architecture, contemporary art, graphic design and objects/furniture. I have a predilection for minimalist art and design, geometric and surreal art. My style is experimental and I always like to try to do new things and take on new challenges.
Ariel Palanzone Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ariel Palanzone.
Ariel Palanzone Design - Organic Series artistic pieces
Ariel Palanzone Design - Furniture Organics Collection 2022 Conceptual Objects
Ariel Palanzone Design - Lamps Collection Concept Design
Ariel Palanzone Design - Serie Dreams Art
Designer Interview of Ariel Palanzone:
DI: 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?
AP : Since I was little I have been interested in the world of plastic arts, I was always drawing and reading comics. I wanted to be a designer when I finished high school, at that time I saw as a reference a cousin of mine who had his own design company and I wanted to be like him.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AP : At the moment I work alone and with remote collaborators but I plan to expand and grow the studio.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AP : For me, design is the tool that human beings have to solve people's problems and improve their quality of life.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AP : I am very interested in designing objects that, in addition to providing a certain function, also have a great aesthetic added value.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AP : My favorite design is the one to come
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AP : My first designs had to do with logos for businesses in the city where I lived. He worked in a small company there while he was in college.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AP : My favorite tool is 3d software because there I can express my ideas very quickly, but I also like to work with real materials such as cardboard and wood to make prototypes and experimental pieces. My idea is to materialize my digital works and one of the technologies that interests me for this is 3d printing.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AP : I think that my creativity increases first thing in the morning when my mind is clearest. I also need to be in a quiet environment or listening to relaxing music.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AP : I place a lot of emphasis on valuing the process, since unexpected things, errors or challenges can arise there that enrich the final result of the piece.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AP : When I design I have many sensations, but mainly the freedom and uncertainty in the search for something new. Also feel a tickle in the stomach.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AP : I think the main feeling is pride when seeing it finished, and relaxation, knowing all the effort it took to get there.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AP : I think that this is decided by the passage of time and has a lot to do with the context and how it is assimilated by people. There is something unpredictable there.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AP : I think that as Dieter Rams said, good design must be innovative, useful, aesthetic and honest.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AP : I think that respect for the environment is a fundamental factor and that we must bear in mind more and more, from the moment we think of the idea. We must think of design products in such a way that they affect physical and visual pollution in our society to the least degree possible. We must also use resources that can be recycled and reused.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AP : I think that design evolves in several directions, and the one that interests me the most is the one that tries to ensure that products do not lose their personal touch and their ability to transmit sensations to users.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AP : My last exhibition was at CMC - Centro Culturale di Milano - in February 2022 and the next one will be in June 2022 at the "Real Fábrica de Tapices" in Madrid, Spain.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AP : My sources of inspiration are many and varied. Many of them have to do with observing nature and the urban situations that surround me, whether figurative or abstract, such as the shapes that stains have on the walls or cracks in the tiles. Architecture, poetry, abstract painting and contemporary sculpture call my attention. Also going to museums or art and design galleries greatly stimulates my desire to create.
DI: 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?
AP : I think that my style is something unclassifiable since my interests are many and varied. My approach is based a lot on intuition and experimentation. I am also very interested in the composition, the textures and the morphological search.
DI: 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?
AP : I live in Buenos Aires, Argentina and I think that context influences my process and way of designing. I am not too influenced by the traditions of my country, but the context of social and economic crisis means that one must be creative and improvise with the tools and resources that one has and deal with those limitations.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AP : I work with them remotely through emails or chats. They send me the brief with what they want to do and I prepare a presentation with my proposal for that specific request.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AP : I think that agencies should give the designer the freedom to propose their own look at their request, so that there is a more personal involvement with the project.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AP : My process often has to do with "free play", that is, testing and testing until I find a way that I like and that seems to me to be proposing a personal and effective way of communicating the message.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AP : _ The ABC's of the Bauhaus: The Bauhaus and Design Theory _ BAUHAUS by Jeannine Fiedler _ AD magazine _ www.dezeen.com _ www.design-milk.com
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AP : i just wake up early, sometimes i do some meditation after breakfast i check emails and start work In my spare time I go for a walk, draw ideas or go to the gym generally at night is when I give more time to develop personal projects The music always accompanies me at all times
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AP : I think the best thing they can do is be very observant, develop their sensitivity and their own voice, have a passion for what they do and trust their inner voice. Try to make your work have a soul and your own stamp, to feel proud of what you create.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AP : The positive is the possibility of rethinking the world and proposing new ideas and solutions for people and the negative can be falling into the ego and losing oneself.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AP : Not lose the passion or the capacity for wonder, preserve the inner child.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AP : I think that curiosity, power of observation, knowing how to listen to the needs of the client and obsessing over details are the most important skills that a designer must have.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AP : My main tool is a pencil and paper, I make a lot of sketches that I then give volume to in 3D software called Cinema 4d or Zbrush. I also use a lot of Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects. I also make models in cardboard or styrofoam to make prototypes of objects and furniture and adjust the shapes and proportions. I use Pinterest or Instagram boards a lot to keep references and inspiration material. Many of them are from the design world of the 1970s, such as Gaetano Pesce, and others are from the world of contemporary art, such as Gerhard Richter.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AP : In my case, it's almost a full-time task. If I'm not thinking about design, I'm thinking about art, haha! I try to set schedules so it's hard for me to disconnect my head from those two issues.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AP : I think it is impossible to establish a standardized time because each object is unique. Many times it happens to me that I return to personal objects or images that I had started a while ago and try to modify and improve them.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AP : what is your rate? what programs do you use?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AP : I have worked in several advertising agencies and design studios and I think that the most important thing on a professional level so far was the collaborations with a designer from New York called Alex Proba, since they are always a challenge for me and a learning experience.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AP : Alex Proba, Kati Forner & Akatre Studio among others.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AP : I enjoy more the jobs that represent a challenge for me and in which the client gives me the trust, time and enough freedom to make a personal and artistic proposal.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AP : I plan to further develop my side as an author designer and at the same time advance in my growth as an artist.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AP : I always try to summon collaborators to help me in a specific project, either for a personal project or for a client.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AP : I am developing a series of lamps with the idea that they can soon be put on the market. I also want to launch a series of rugs with personal designs.
DI: How can people contact you?
AP : my email is arielpalanzone@gmail.com my personal page is www.arielpalanzone.onfabrik.com and my instagram is https://www.instagram.com/ariel_palanzone/
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AP : I think we've talked about too many topics, haha!