We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Parisa Rafipour ("PR").
Architecture was what brought her initially to Milan, Italy. With her background in Architecture and Global Business, she developed a vision for creating an impact through design. Having lived in Iran, the United States and Italy have broadened her vision globally and culturally. These experiences have motivated her to explore the world in depth and to be curious about diverse issues and human behaviors. She explores the connection of design, human behavior, and social issues. She believes that the purpose of art and design is to "wash the dust of everyday life off our souls". Her brand "bmpDeco" inspires people in three ways. "Being More Purposeful, Being More Positive and Being More Proactive." It is where design meets the mind to create an impact. With life full of its ups and downs, bmpDeco empowers people to reach their fullest potential to achieve their dream life. Its purpose is to become the designer of our surroundings and our own life. Eventually, the goal is to inspire people to change perspectives and take action. It focuses on the values we all share as human beings and believes everything starts from within each individual for creating a bigger impact in the world.
Parisa Rafipour Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Parisa Rafipour.
Designer Interview of Parisa Rafipour:
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?
PR : I see the role of a designer as a problem solver and being able to make an impact through that design. I have always been interested in doing creative works. Being able to solve problems is one of the most satisfying things designers can do. That is the thing that has driven me to do what I do.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
PR : "bmpDeco" is where design meets the human mind. It inspires people in three ways by "Being More Purposeful, Being More Positive and Being More Proactive." It was born with the idea that every journey starts from within and in our mind. And if we change something in our mind, it will have a direct impact on our lives, for better or for worse. So it is important to design our environments in a way that empowers us and is intentional.
DI: What is "design" for you?
PR : Design is the process of solving a problem. Different elements put together to be able to address an issue. Either solve it for good or improve the current circumstances.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
PR : I am interested in human behavior and the thought process of influential people to address social issues. I have been reading and learning about it since I can remember. This is what has led me to combine two of my passions and address current social issues through my designs to be able to make an impact and raise awareness.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
PR : For me, the depth and the thought behind each design are what separates a good design from others. The 'why' behind the design is the most important factor to take into consideration. What is the purpose of this creation and how important and relevant that cause is? What kind of issue is the designer trying to solve? And what is the impact if that problem does no longer exist or at least has been improved.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
PR : Designers have a huge responsibility because, with their creations, they can make an impact on our society and environment. And this does not necessarily mean for the positive but also for the negative. That is why they should be extra cautious and aware of their "why". In this way, they are able to help our society to excel rather than having it deteriorated.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
PR : With the technological improvement and the saturation of the market with many different designs, the intrinsic value will be what separates designs. It is going to be more than just being aesthetically pleasing and functional. Instead, how much and what kind of impact it creates, will make the distinction.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
PR : My last exhibition was during Milan Design Week 2019 in Isola District and other exhibitions are hopefully in progress.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
PR : I believe the human mind is very powerful. The most influential and successful people are the ones that know how to work well with their mind. My inspiration comes from our thinking process and its dynamics. Our mind plays a lot of tricks on us to keep us safe and make us act accordingly to survive. But all these cognitive errors create bias and cause us to sacrifice expressing our true "self". Successful people take care of their mind the same way that they take care of their physical body. They are aware of the fact that their life is a direct reflection of their thoughts and that is why they care about their mental fitness and well being. Our thoughts create our feelings and our feelings determine the quality of our lives. So I love to explore different feelings and be able to shed a different light on them and to express them through design. This helps people to see things in a way that is empowering rather than limiting. And being able to empower people starting with their mind is what gives me the most satisfaction.
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?
PR : I was born and raised in Iran most of my life. Currently, I am living in Milan, Italy since I came here about 6 years ago to study at the Polytechnic University of Milan. Of course, I believe that my designs have been affected by different cultures. For sure, my hometown has helped me to have more empathy and compassion and how to express these two. Italy has helped me with its rich background in design and also I believe there is a bit of influence from the united states with its positive and rich culture of Personal Development.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
PR : My suggestion is to try to figure out who you are first and then choose a cause that matters the most to you. In this way, your authenticity and your feelings are the forces that can carry you a long way on this journey. I would remind them that the role of a designer is to solve problems and encourage them to solve a problem in this world.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
PR : I am planning to explore more the realm of the human mind and human behavior to be able to create designs that are more relevant and more influential. For me, the design is a vehicle to be able to communicate an empowering message.