We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Giangi Razeto ("GR").
Giangi Razeto is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Giangi Razeto Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Giangi Razeto.
Giangi Razeto Design - Ossh Multifunctional Handle
Designer Interview of Giangi Razeto:
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?
GR : I graduated by the end of the last millennium with a sociological dissertation on the club cultures and house music; from my studies I mutuated the concepts of the " tribe of ones among similars" and "patchwork generation" which became the leit motif of my carreer as a sculptor and a designer.In 1999 I joined my family's company which specializes in marine hardware since 1920 .When I joined the company I had to learn the work in the workshop and I worked my way up for several years, in that period I realized Ihadf a talent as a sculptor and I could express myself in my family's business my own way and opened the Innovation and design Lab, focusing on on the door handles.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
GR : My company was started by my gran father in 1920, specializing in marine locks and windows for the big liners like REX , Michelangelo , Andrea Doria etc. Now we specialize in in marine locks and doors' accessories and our main markets are the maritime industry and the yachts and super yachts industry. We design and make marine hardware in Italy and export worldwide
DI: What is "design" for you?
GR : Design is art and and genius at the service of function
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
GR : I specialize in door handles , sculptural jewelry, brass sculptures made out of recycled brass
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
GR : The design I am mostly fond of is called Brass Tribe, one off bracelets made out of recycled handles.I personally have carved thousend of items and have ben selling them in markets all over the world.Starting from a common basic shape I have been extracting different shapes ( the tribe of ones among similars)
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
GR : The first design for my company is called free go, modular multifunctional handles with interchanging grips, featuring illuminated, scented, sculpted personalized handles .I have been using several materials : wood, marble , stones, leather, corian, limnoges porcelain, diamonds, diamond dust, Murano glass, Bohemian crystal and so on ....
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
GR : Brass and grinding machines are my favorite playgrounds
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
GR : I feel the most creative when I approach a new challange, when I am kicked out of my comfort zone.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
GR : When I start a project I approach it from a multi disciplinar point of view; sometimes I already have he name and the marketing tools ready of an object of which I still have to give a shape.Nevertheless I mainly focus on the function and multifunctionality.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
GR : a mix of peace and anxiety
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
GR : I look at the next one
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
GR : If it solves problems or improves users' experience then it is a good design
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
GR : Improving lives ,decreasing footprint
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
GR : The design community is definitely called to change industry's habits to let people waste less and enjoy more our planet
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
GR : My last solo exhibition as an artist was in Genova, hosted by Capitoll Hill , in a wonderful Palazzo dei Rolli; while the last exhibition as a designer was in Milan, Compasso d'oro , at the ADI design museum.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
GR : I take inspiration from beautiful places and the nature, I feed my curiosity and discuss my designs with common simple people, which are practical and give me the best advise.
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?
GR : My approach to design is functional, multi functionality is what I always try to reach. Contaminations and multiplicity are my favorite ingredients.
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?
GR : I live in Italy , I have a studio in Rome and the factory in Sori, Ligurian coast.The Italian cultural and artistoic heritage is huge and I absorb it every day when i am in Rome. Sori , my home place , is a little village on the sea, my house is on the beach . The sea is my main source of of relaxation and inspiration. I try to get the most out of of Rome and Sori , cultural heritage, personal roots and the nature
DI: How do you work with companies?
GR : As a product designer I mainly work for my own company, I take care of the Innovation & Design Lab.I am enjoying working with other designers which I call to remix my own designs.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
GR : I have few experiences with other designers as an entrepreneur and the last one was simply magic... A short brief, a sketch and d the product was ddeliveered in 2 months... It was anotyhe antimicrobial illuminated door handle , named Oblò
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
GR : It always starts with a problem to be solved....Antimicrobial handles were born during the pandemic... door handles are perfect vehicles for pathogens the spread of which were to be stopped. In this case the choice of the material was crucial..
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
GR : Artemide Meta Color Lamp; Kartell chairs La Marie; Slide Venus Lamp; my grand parents side table; my father's in Law Chippendale dining table
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
GR : morning:Wake up, coffee, bring my son to school, work ( email and computer stuff; Crossfit class; very light lunch afternoon : work either sketching , computer or sculptural. evening:A glass of whine ( or 2) cooking for my family listening to music , dining .
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
GR : Study , learn the way , forget it and design your way
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
GR : Positive : flow of creativity Negative: if the design does not generate sales
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
GR : Solve problems
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
GR : creativity, multidisciplinarity, curiosity
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
GR : Sketch book , grinding machines.：
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
GR : I always try to work on sketches and phisical models during the day.... My imagination and brain works full time , a lot during the night....
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
GR : It's a totally different story every time.... I mainly design door handles for my company , sometimes I have tio design what the market asks, sometimes I try to anticipate a need or a trend....this take longer.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
GR : Do you have door handles at home? (lol)
DI: What was your most important job experience?
GR : Working for The University as a Social researcher, studying the club cultures and being a DJ 's car driver ( Roby J )
DI: Who are some of your clients?
GR : mainly my company whose clients are shipyards ( Cruise ships, Boatds, Yachts and Super Yachts)
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
GR : In this moment I am the creative director of a start up ; my task is to design a platform to put together community whose variables are time and senses.I am enjoying it quite a bit as this time my creative flow has nothing to do a specific product
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
GR : Being a full time artist, a sculptor.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
GR : I always need someone to make a fair copy of my design.I have a team I have been working with for the last 22 years to which I owe a lot.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
GR : In this moment I am designing and making functional jewels for a record label.It is about one off pendants made in limited edition, with a tribal flavor. The will be gifted to estimated artists.
DI: How can people contact you?
GR : Linked in or Instagram @giangirazeto
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
GR : No , all was covered