We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Liza Belachew ("LB").

Liza Belachew is a Tokyo-based jewelry brand founded by art director/graphic designer/jewelry designer Liza Belachew in 2014. It has created fashion-forward signature jewelries with a renewed sense of beauty through the superbly elaborate techniques of Japanese craftsmanship. The designer Liza Belachew, with two ethnic identities of Ethiopia and Japan, has crafted passionate jewelries made of 10 and 18 karat gold garnished with precious and semi- precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and tsavorites. All the collections are inspired by motifs and symbols found in art and folklores beautifully rendered into original works by the designer’s unique imagination and creativity. For more information, please visit the website.

Liza Belachew Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Liza Belachew.

Designer Interview of Liza Belachew:

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?

LB : My father who served as the imperial court painter of his country Ethiopia, had traveled with my family across the world for his exhibitions to such places as Bayreuth, New York, and Addis Ababa which experience helped my nurture uncommon values and artistic sense as a grownup. Conversely I had been thinking myself to be an office lady as friends of mine did for the first time of my life.. Because in my birthplace Kyoto, which is very traditional and somehow conventional , it was very unusual for a Ethiopian artist and his family to live there. This background made me feel more reluctant to be outstanding in the society, and let me think of myself to be more typical Japanese. However through my father’s death and the time I spent in San Francisco State University, I realized my creative talent in my soul , and also that it is wonderful to embody something unseen. This is why I decided to be an artist.

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

LB : Our company has two business domains, operating a jewelry brand and graphic design studio. For the latter, we offer unique and well-performed design direction service for our clients’ brands and products.

DI: What is "design" for you?

LB : “Design” is a part of my life and “designing” is a fount of strength and wisdom in my life.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

LB : I can’t specify it. but mostly jewelry and graphics.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

LB : My current collection “THE SHARE COLLECTION”. Because I believe this could be the very conceptualize, unique, and fashion forward creation than ever.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

LB : Graphic design for our client’s advertisement.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

LB : For jewelry, solid gold and natural gems, and for graphics design, huge billboard.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

LB : It is when I finish meditation and I put myself in the nature. And when I play with my one year old daughter. Because I feel myself to be reset and as a result, it sometimes gives me different points of view.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

LB : It is if the design gets along with my intuition.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

LB : It is like looking for a right direction ..

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

LB : I feel to be recognized and proud of myself.

DI: What makes a design successful?

LB : Refreshing and feeling at peace in my mind.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

LB : Empathy of target consumer and at the same time think about my originality.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

LB : I believe it has two ; thinking about context and how the world is going on, embodying an idea and bring you somehow discovery, based on creative context.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

LB : Being insupired from all around, sharpening my current identity, and expressing myself along with future society.

DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

LB : Capsule A/W New York 2015 . it will the same one be for the time of being but I want to exhibit in Paris someday.

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?

LB : ,I don't want to specity it. but always conscious with powerful concept, balance of mixing several elements.

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?

LB : I live in Tokyo Japan. I work with Japanese jewelry craftsmen. I am very proud of our cultural heritage as Japanese that their outputs are always completed at the very high standard.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

LB : I think my designing is based on accumulation of daily contact with external and internal stimulation. Moreover, dialogue with myself, making a rough draft with pencil, and finally embody it in detail with design software. sometimes it goes smoothly and sometimes it is a success of "stop and go" but I enjoy these process.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

LB : "The Share collection", my vintage lamp made in Italy, Louboutin’s wallet I bought last month in NY, engagement ring from my husband, and Nylon JAPAN magazine I designed last time.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

LB : It is important for you to keep your confidence to your idea. Without any confidence you can’t make good design and persuade your

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

LB : Designing is not only fun and exciting but instinctive to get some feedback (inclucing negative one) from others. But everything should be swallowed and digested at all. I believe that is supposed to be your great experience. It is like a way of life. So I can’t say it positive or negativ

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

LB : Think different, Don’t be afraid of wondering existing perspectives..

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

LB : It is believing your creativity.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

LB : Rough design by pencile, and embody it by Adobe illustrator.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

LB : I may ask some parts to other designers and can manage my time.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

LB : It all depends on the creation. Designing is like a continuity of “stop and go” so it is hard to say it clearly.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

LB : It is all about where the inspiration comes from. But I like to explain to their curiosity.

DI: What was your most important job experience?

LB : Job experience as an Art Director at NYLON JAPAN for 9 years

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

LB : Something I have to produce strong concept and direction. I like to think about what it is the influence for society or people.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

LB : Next phase is of course jewelry design, but the new design is still under consideration.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

LB : Yes, I work with my team, so I can focus on designing and branding operation.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

LB : Yes, but I still need a bit more time to talk about it.

DI: How can people contact you?

LB : Please email me contact@lizabelachew.com