We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Maria Laura Lucchetti - Lalla's ("MLL-L").

Maria Laura is a creative Italian woman who decided to give up her brilliant carrier in Fashion and change her life creating her brand of uncommon handmade Design Jewels named LALLA'S . She knew that only by creating with her hands, she could be herself. She lives in Tuscany with her architect husband and their three kids. Maria Laura is an example for those women who don't dare give up jobs they don't like anymore being afraid of making a change. Sooner or later they will have to admit who they really are she says and follow their heart . This is what she did, she decided to be herself, leaving the kind of "secure-boring working life" for the "challenging everyday life". And it was the right choice.

Maria Laura Lucchetti - Lalla's Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Maria Laura Lucchetti - Lalla's.

Designer Interview of Maria Laura Lucchetti - Lalla's:

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?

MLL-L : My background is in Fashion. As soon as I finished university in Florence I got into Prada and that's where I found out my passion for product creation and design. Then I moved to London for four years working for an old British leather goods brand called Tanner Krolle owned by the Chanel group at the time. I was head of product development for accessories and I got involved more and more in design and its development.

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

MLL-L : After the London experience I moved to France and then to Italy always working for companies in the Fashion biz until I decided to go my own way and founded Lalla's , a small emerging brand of modern no-gender jewelry. My studio is based in Arezzo, Tuscany and is a messy Creative Lab where ideas turn into life. You are welcome at any time.

DI: What is "design" for you?

MLL-L : Is the only right way to look at things, it's a state of mind.

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

MLL-L : Objects that walk with you, as jewelry, handbags, belts, accessories in general.

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

MLL-L : My favorite is a no-gender necklace that can be either for men or women . It's a simple design consisting of three small silver pearls that slide along a leather thread . The necklace has an adjustable length in order to wear it according to the outfit. It belongs to the Metallica range by Lalla's of course.

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

MLL-L : A handbag, when I was in London.

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

MLL-L : Anything but plastic , I love wood, silver and recycled glass.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

MLL-L : At Night.

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

MLL-L : It depends on what I'm creating, sometimes I focus on how much comfortable are going to be my creations, other times I just focus on the materials and play with them until the idea turns into something real.

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

MLL-L : Satisfaction

DI: What makes a design successful?

MLL-L : A design object is successful when people likes it, wants it, buys it, therefore I imagine communication and good marketing are important for success, it doesn't make sense to have a great design if no one knows about it.

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

MLL-L : Functionality and originality at the same time.

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

MLL-L : A designer should be able of making the world a better place to live in. Research and recycling are the first steps towards a better environment.

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

MLL-L : I don't know how it evolves what's sure is that design will stay while humans go.

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

MLL-L : I had an art-exhibition that just ended in a Boutique Hotel in Tuscany, it's called "la collana inquadrata" meaning the framed necklace. The next one hopefully in Milan. I'm looking for the right location. Https://www.instagram.com/p/BeoDUs-F0Ya/?taken-by=lallasdesign

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

MLL-L : I study the past and I am an observer of anything that surrounds me, materials, people, trends.

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?

MLL-L : Modern-chic, no-gender , clean style

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?

MLL-L : I live in Tuscany , I create in Tuscany . Living in Tuscany has only pros. :-)

DI: How do you work with companies?

MLL-L : I don't work with companies any longer, since three years ago I have created my own Brand of Design Jewels: Lalla's. I might consider collaborating with fashion companies in the future.

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

MLL-L : Looking at the experience designers have on product development and not only their ability in choosing colors and sketching nice objects.

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

MLL-L : Idea-Concept-materials research-creation

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

MLL-L : Le Corbusier chaise longue - 2 cinema armchairs of the 50's - Tolomeo standing lamp from Artemide - Architect Fabio Ghignoli's plexiglass chairs and Cube Orange Lamp

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

MLL-L : How much time do we have? I am a creative woman mother of three kids, owner of an emerging Design Jewels Brand and married to an architect. When I am not travelling researching materials or meeting clients, my day is non-stop from 7 to midnight, mornings at the Lab, afternoons with the kids as much as possible and nights creating/working.

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

MLL-L : Observe everything .

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

MLL-L : positive : being ahead of times negative : being so ahead that people don't follow you

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

MLL-L : Be you be true

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

MLL-L : Intuition first of all and being able of listening others need and solving them.

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

MLL-L : Hardware, needles, pliers.

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

MLL-L : I don't manage my time because I cant, designing has little to do with time management, one just follows that strange inside feeling that makes you forget about time.

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

MLL-L : Depends on the object.

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

MLL-L : What are you working on next ?

DI: What was your most important job experience?

MLL-L : All my past experience has been important in order to get me where I am today.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

MLL-L : Private people, design and fashion concept stores.

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

MLL-L : I cant tell. Whenever I create something I feel good.

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

MLL-L : My plans are placing Lalla's creations in the right conceptstores and fashion multibrand stores of Milan first and then abroad : Barcellona, Berlin, London, H.K., Tokyo. My small brand is ready to grow and get out of Tuscany.

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

MLL-L : I don't believe in the "one person team". I have the idea, yes, but I work together with the best Italian artisans to make it real. My creations often are the result of at least five different components coming from five different artisans all over Italy. The team is me and architect Fabio Ghignoli for the graphic aspect. I have the idea, I do the research and the development with the artisans, then I create the jewels with my hands.

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

MLL-L : Yes I do, but I never talk about a new design until it's completed

DI: How can people contact you?

MLL-L : Contacts are on website www.lallasdesign.com Mail : mll@lallasdesign.com Instagram: @lallasdesign

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

MLL-L : Yes, everyone should invest in good design, just makes you feel good. One last important thing, please buy real 100% made in Italy. Thank you very much. Ciao!