We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ascanio Zocchi ("AZ").
Design can certainly contribute to society by creating useful objects that are beautiful and easy to use. In the design of objects or interior spaces Ascanio tries to use natural products, respectful of the environment, in the designed spaces you can breathe this harmony between colors and materials. There is continuous research on materials, finding in wood a design partner, not just a material to be used, to produce objects or environments. According to him, wood is the sensory material par excellence, color, shape and perfume. Each of us who loves nature tries to bring a piece of wood into the house, perhaps because with this act we bring nature, life into the house. Every space and every object is conceived and designed for a specific function, beauty must first of all be functional, harmonious. The designer has the task of designing beautiful, useful and functional objects, suitable for making everyday acts simpler and happier.
Ascanio Zocchi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ascanio Zocchi.
Ascanio Zocchi Design - Ska V29 Dining Table
Ascanio Zocchi Design - Aks Sconcentrico Dining Table
Designer Interview of Ascanio Zocchi:
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?
AZ : From an early age I have always had a passion for freehand drawing, I started drawing landscapes, flowers and animals, I began my studies by attending the art school, academy section, I perfected the techniques of drawing and painting. the designer for me is not a job but a passion, the projects are still done freehand, with the ancient watercolor technique
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AZ : our studio specializes in the design of public premises in the HO.RE.CA. from restaurants to entertainment venues, without neglecting private homes, parks and gardens. lately we have been dealing with product design by designing objects for design industries, home accessories and lighting fixtures.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AZ : design is a 360-degree project, a designer has the responsibility of designing or creating objects that are not only beautiful but above all functional.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AZ : I like my work more than any other professional, it is creative and transversal, when you design an object or an environment you bring in a lot of knowledge and actions.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AZ : the design of the product lately offers me great satisfaction but the interior, the design of an entire environment with objects and accessories in harmony with each other is always satisfying and exciting
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AZ : it was a bar-restaurant with a room overlooking the lake, the intended purpose was that of the function of the room in relation to the environment, the large window with a balcony directly on the lake shore that projects the view of the diners towards the panorama was the dominant form , framed by the sinuous structure of the ceiling.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AZ : wood which for me is not just a material but a design partner
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AZ : when I am immersed in nature, this is why I wanted my studio in the mountains immersed in a forest, in the company of nature, the chirping of birds and the roar of the river.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AZ : it takes concentration in what you do.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AZ : well-being, a design assignment is always interesting and when you create it feels good
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AZ : a great emotion, seeing the designed environment or object produced is magnificent and very gratifying.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AZ : the happiness and approval of the client or the end customer, who feels satisfied and happy with what has been planned for him.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AZ : in order the functionality or because it was conceived, the beauty comes later, I don't conceive design objects as an end in themselves, or just to amaze.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AZ : I would say total! the profession of the designer is a social profession, with great responsibility. and the knowledge of the production and the material used must be total, to protect the environment. a designer must be culturally prepared on all materials and all processing techniques in order to verify the sustainability of the project at any time. with the TRI project of this competition I chose the wood because it is eco-sustainable par excellence, and the Riva1920 company because it guarantees me that the cedar wood has not been cut to make my object but is derived from planned cuts or from natural cedar trees in connection with natural events.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AZ : design is the future, without harmonic and functional design we will have useless objects devoid of function and meaning
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AZ : a Verona per abitare il tempo e marmomacc fiera internazionale del marmo e del complemento di arredo
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AZ : la natura in primis e le esigenze dei miei committenti
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?
AZ : attuale e moderno
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?
AZ : vivo in Trentino in una casa in mezzo al bosco ai confini del Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta, sulle Dolomiti del Brenta.come già descritto la natura è la mia fonte di ispirazione.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AZ : ci si deve proporre con dei progetti ed ideee
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AZ : incontrandolo e verificando le sue conoscenze culturali sulla materia sullo sviluppo tecnologico e di produzione inoltre un designer deve avere una buona conoscenza del materiale
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AZ : molto sempilice, idea, concept, rigorosamente a mano libera per percepire subito e naturalmente il concetto di spazio e volume dell'oggetto
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AZ : tri sgabello, poltrona ex, portariviste inc, lampada fasera, pouff com.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AZ : che domanda... troppo personale, ogni giorno è diverso.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AZ : essere curioso, fare tante domande, informarsi su come si produce un oggetto, andare a visitare opifici o laboratori, capire il materiale, conoscerlo per poterlo apprezzare in tutte le sue particolarità. e non demoralizzarsi subito alla prima porta chiusa.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AZ : se uno apprezza e ama la sua professione di designer può trovare solo aspetti positivi, di negativo vedo purtroppo la nostra società che sta andando verso una freddezza dei rapporti personali, dove l'importante è produrre, produrre a volte non si sa neanche il perchè
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AZ : concentrazione e stare bene con se stessi
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AZ : cultura, storia del design e della società, conoscenza dei materiali e delle tecniche di produzione, e non per ultimo la conoscenza di tutte le tecniche antiche e moderne di progettazione e di rappresentazione grafica
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AZ : matite penne e acquerelli e strumenti di misurazione. dopo arrivano i software e hardware per la precisione della grafica.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AZ : organizzandosi il proprio tempo , ma ci vule tanta esperienza!
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AZ : dipende dall'ispirazione dal momento e da altri fattori.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AZ : sei contento del tuo lavoro? io rispondo si. e subito dopo, mi sento sempre rispondere ma che bel lavoro che fai.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AZ : la progettazione di locali polifunzionali o poli uso, come la discoteca Hexen che diventa pub, sala ristorante, locale di intrattenimento
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AZ : i gestori di alberghi, ristoranti enti pubblici e industrie dell'arredamento
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AZ : progettare locali o luoghi del vivere, ma anche gli oggetti con una specifica funzione e ovviamente riuscire ha renderli più funzionali
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AZ : progettare altri oggetti o ambienti con materiali innovativi e rispettosi dell'ambiente, spero di trovare aziende che raccolgano la sfida di ottimizzare le risorse del nostro pianeta e magari valorizzando in chiave moderna i saperi del passato.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AZ : i miei progetti vengono progettati da me e poi perfezionati da dei collaboratori in fase di progettazione esecutiva per la produzione
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AZ : certo, sono molti i progetti come nel campo del food design e dell'illuminazione
DI: How can people contact you?
AZ : alla mia mail ufficio@ascaniodesign.it o al telefono diretto +39 338 2158502
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AZ : ma no credo che queste domande siano sufficienti per spiegare la mia attività, ma se ne avete delle altre più specifiche o avete dubbi sono ha disposizione.