We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative rolf. ("Rolf.").
Rolf. eyewear Rolf stands for excellence in craftsmanship, innovation and design that goes beyond eco-hype: premium eyewear made in Austria. An essential part of our philosophy is to leave the planet a better place than we found it. We produce premium eyewear from natural materials. Eyewear made from the finest natural materials that blend with the colours of the impressive natural world around us. Eyewear made from beans? We’re not kidding! Our Substance Mount Collection uses the fast-growing castor bean as a plant-based raw material. Rolf stands for quality and innovation that goes beyond eco-hype. We produce premium eyewear from natural materials: wood, stone and beans. It’s in our DNA to rethink established practices, even the entire industry if we need to! We aim to reduce the impact on our planet. Planet Earth. An essential part of our philosophy is to leave behind a better planet than the one we found. Plant-Based Material. Rolf stands for quality and innovation beyond the eco-hype. We produce high-quality eyewear from plant-based materials: wood, stone and bean. Manufacturing since 2009. One of our first tools and an essential part of the Rolf story: is a converted milking machine from the garage. Rethink. Reuse. Reduce. Rethinking the established and sometimes even the and sometimes even entire industry is in our DNA. Our goal is to reduce the impact on our planet.
rolf. Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by rolf..
Designer Interview of rolf.:
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?
Rolf. : Before founding ROLF I was working as technical draftswoman and since my childhood I am passionate about art and design. When I met Roland I got in touch with eyewear and the followed years I collected experience in the optical industry in different companies. In the early days of ROLF Spectacles, before the company was established, we did some tryouts with different materials. At this stage I started to create different styles. It was very important for me to do it in our way in cooperation with unique materials and innovative technical features. There should be no influence from outside. We put away all stuff depending on eyewear to create the base for ROLF Spectacles. Its one of our main issues to make something special and somehow it works best when you follow your spirit.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Rolf. : In 2007, the founders started out carving eyewear frames in the home basement with the simplest tools available. The first prototype was ready after only a month, but the results were not satisfactory. The team needed to learn much more, such as CNC machining, press processes and creating new machinery. When we start up the business in 2009 in the cellar of our home house we know that we have to create something innovative and special to survive as a young and independent company. ROLF Spectacles always tries to push our frames to the next level by fusing designs inspired by classic cars and the natural environment in Tyrol. This obsession with natural materials allows us to create unique looks and technical innovation. We will boldly introduce our new three dimensional design, adding natural texture to our frames which are polished to perfection by hand.
DI: What is "design" for you?
Rolf. : produce something timeless.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Rolf. : eyewear ; )
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
Rolf. : shorty before death-lines
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Rolf. : vintage cars