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

Odyssey Babasadeghian was born on May 14 1982 in Gorgan/Iran. After graduating from Hamedan Azad University college of Architecture in 2005 she took second place in Master Exam of Islamic Azad University and entered Tehran Central branch college of Art & Architecture, and gained a Master’s Degree in Architecture in 2007. During her master courses, she started consistently and purposefully working in architectural companies and this way she gains professional experience to work independently. In 2010 she co-founded her first company Shavmadbana and continued her professional activity in four domains of Architecture, Interior Design, Land Scape and Urban design. Shavmadbana has founded in Tehran, it is now a countrywide practice, with projects in more than 10 states. Over the past five years the company has been responsible for a strikingly wide range of work, from urban master plans, civic and cultural buildings, offices and workplaces to private houses and Interior design. 

 Odyssey Babasadeghian has also, teaching architecture courses in Islamic Azad University of Gorgan and During these years she wrote many articles and papers about architecture that show her main concern about quality of contemporary Architecture she names Here-Now Style.

Odyssey Babasadeghian Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Odyssey Babasadeghian.

Designer Interview of Odyssey Babasadeghian:

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?

OB : I loved painting and also mathematics from my childhood. first it was hard for me to choose a field of study because i though art and mathematics have no communication with each other. later i knew about architecture, i found that it is my field, it is my job and it is my way of life.

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

OB : In 2010 i co-founded my company Shavmadbana and continued my professional activity in four domains of Architecture, Interior Design, Land Scape and Urban design. Shavmad has founded in Tehran, it is now a countrywide practice, with projects in more than 10 states. Over the past five years the company has been responsible for a strikingly wide range of works, from urban master plans, civic and cultural buildings, offices and workplaces to private houses and Interior design.

DI: What is "design" for you?

OB : For me: Design is the glorious possibility of anything in the universe and it depicts unlimited mind of us.

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

OB : I love designing but most of all architecture spaces and specially interior architecture spaces are my favorite.

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

OB : Maleki house in Gorgan city (Iran) is my favorite design. it is an interior design project i designed in Persian-modern style. I used persian symbols like handmade ceramics, colored glasses, carpet and brick in a modern context.

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

OB : it was an architectural design of a triplex villa in Lavasan city (Iran).

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

OB : exposure. I believe that all structural materials in architecture should be exposed. exposed concrete, exposed metal, exposed brick and etc.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

OB : Usually in the morning.

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

OB : Concept and function.

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

OB : Curiosity, joyfulness.

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

OB : happiness, and self confidence.

DI: What makes a design successful?

OB : I think if a design could trully answer a need, it will be successfull design.

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

OB : meaning of design (concept) and also function. if a design hasn't a meaningfull concept or can't answer to function that it design for, I believe this design is bad.

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

OB : the main responsibilities of designer are; being responsible for what has design, making life easier and safer and do her/his own's best.

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

OB : I believe Design is everything, because we create our life and our environment with design. now a days sustainability is the most important factor in design, so we will see soon in the future that all around us cover by sustainable city's, buildings and products that designed by exposed- sustainable materials.

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

OB : It was an opening for one of my interior design projects (Behnoosh Beauty Salon) and it was in October 2016. This design is one of runner-up designs of 2017 in A"DESIGN AWARD & COMPETITION. and my next exhibition will be in may 2017 for Maleki House Interior design in Gorgan city ( Iran).

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

OB : Iranian architecture is my main inspiration and i am extreamly impressed by this style in architecture and it's motifs, symbols and concepts.

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?

OB : best name for my design style is here- now style. it means, i design based on what is in here and now of project. it covers all factors that affect the project, like; climate, human, society, culture, land and etc. all the things that happen in here and now that project or design is creating. even my unconsciousness. i want to reach to one kind of style that make the human's life easier and safer. A kind of style that comes from now, not any place or time else. and that part of past or future that comes to my design is about my unconsciousness that have some past or future in itself.

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?

OB : I live in Iran and yes, as i said before, i am unconsciously impressed by my country's cultural heritage. it is good for my design because of unique, strong techniques and methods used in past of my country's architecture and culture that my design affected by them. but also there is a problem about copying some historical elements without any creativity.

DI: How do you work with companies?

OB : As i said before, i co-founded my company (Shavmadbana) in 2010 in Tehran, Iran and now, i work for my own company.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

OB : They should respect the designers rights such as; design price, design facilities, coworkers of designer and etc. i suggest to companies to select good designers first from their resume and then their personality. for example designers who won the international awards most of the times are good and professional designers.

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

OB : I start my design process from site analyze. for example i interview with people, study about climate, land, culture and etc. then i start to brain storming and sketching. after i decide about my concept i try to draw and design the main plan. finally after i revise the drawings, i start to detailing the scheme and going to build it.

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

OB : furniture, lighting, ceiling, kitchen and land scape

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

OB : I usually wake up around 7 in the morning. i go walking for 1 hour, then i eat some fruits or juises as breakfast. i go to my office around 10 am. i usually stay in office until 6 or 7 pm and then some days i go out with friends after work and some days i go home and read some books( usually about architecture, philosophy, or psychology). 2 days in week also i go to gym. most of the times i sleep around 12 o'clock at night.

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

OB : goal setting, plan making, try hard and don't give up in hard situations.

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

OB : the hardest part of being designer is to finding your style in design based on yourself and it is hard because needs to find and know yourself, first. And i think this is the most positive and also negative part of being a designer. if you can't do it you will stay in unsuccessful-mediom situation in design world for ever. but if you can make it, you will become a superior designer.

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

OB : I do it. fully and really

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

OB : Creative visualization, knowledge, sketching, implementation experience and software

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

OB : all of them in addition to creative visualization and sketching.

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

OB : this problem will solve with enough experience and skills.

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

OB : It completely depend on the project's dimensions, area, style, client needs and many other thing.

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

OB : How much does it cost if you design it ?!

DI: What was your most important job experience?

OB : Designing the scene,perspective and furniture of a street in Ahvaz city, Iran.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

OB : tehran Municipality, beautification organization of tehran Municipality

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

OB : Architectural design, interior design and land scape design. because these sort of design has more challenges, because of their wideness and complexity.

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

OB : I will publish my book about my design style in architecture and base on this style i am designing some sample buildings that will win the Pritzker award of architecture.

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

OB : I usually develop my designs myself but i also have a software team, specially for short time projects.

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

OB : I have, but now i prefer not to talk about it.

DI: How can people contact you?

OB : with my email: Odyssey@shavmad.com

DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?

OB : no thanks