Annamaria Mikulik

Specialized in Design.

Annamaria Mikulik

About Annamaria Mikulik

Annamaria Mikulik, the designer focusing on contemporary jewelry. She graduated from The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia. She also studied at The University of Plymouth, Exeter, UK and National institute of design, CEPT, Ahmedabad, India. She is a member of Slovak Union of Visual Arts as well as Slovak Union of Contemporary Jewelry AURA. Her creativity is influenced by her various fields of studies.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Annamaria Mikulik

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?
I come from an artistic family background, which has helped me develop my craftsmanship and ambition to make own designs come to life. I was greatly influenced by my parents‘ work, their sculptures and the enamel jewelry they were creating.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
the design studio is divided into 2 separate departments. The first one is focusing on commercial jewelry lines and the other one stands for creating contemporary jewellery. In my design work, I use precious techniques – enameling / use of everlasting material, which in medieval times were used to create the most valuable jewels.
What is "design" for you?
I always loved miniatures and as a product designer, consider creating jewellery for product miniatures.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Most favourite design is the package with which won the 1st prize on an international packaging competition. The stylisation of this object is taken to an extreme.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The first four collections of NATIF brand. It was very hard and the production and finishing technical details took a lot of time and patiance.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Enamel. The material which she embedded in her work, something she took from mother and grandfather. The eternal and, by its quality everlasting material which is used from medieval times as a very precious jewellery making technique.
When do you feel the most creative?
Surrounded by beauty of any type. Perceiving and admiring what the world offers.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Simplicity... making design as simple as possible.. striving to maintain its basic function.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Seeing the path... The process which the designer had to go trough to the final point and the way he stylized it.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Keeping things as simple as possible. Sometimes the easiest solutions are the best.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
There will always be a need for easthetics surrounding the lifes of all of us.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
Being part of JOYA Barcelona Contemporary Jewellery Fair was enriching in many ways. It‘s so far the highest goal reached.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
The world is fuller and fuller of millions of sources of inspiration. It‘s important to choose what is necessary and not to allow oneself become affected by things that aren‘t.
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?
Studying toy design made works playful, while going through concept design studies has given the resources to use both the background and the authenticity to imprint own mark into the art world.
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?
It‘s the role of a designer to cultivate the others‘ perspectives. The family and country heritage have deeply effected my work.
How do you work with companies?
Achieving balance between what they need and what is acceptable for a designer to create is crucial.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
Perceiving how the designer can balance between the usefulness and aesthetics of a product.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
Mind visualisation is preffer to 3D drawing - saves a lot of time.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Silver flute, balet pointies, a piece of a natural artefact in a vase.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Waking up very early, adjusting the daily plan in the quiet morning, starting to work as early as possible, spending quality time with the family, sometimes working in the evening when the quietness arises again. Absorbing the environment and the surrounding life.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Keep your fear of being copied short. There are many people on the planet. Sometimes it happens that few different people have similar ideas at the same time.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
Negatives: Being disturbed when surrounded by bad designs, kitch or unmatching colours.Positives: Having the ability to create beauty for others. Helping others to simplify their lives.
What skills are most important for a designer?
The ability to separate usefulness from uselessness. Creating things with a picture of eternal beauty in mind.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Sometimes you have to wait for the right moment of inspiration. Often working on the same few projects in the same time and going back to them after a while can freshen up your mind and save a lot of time.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Sometimes it all happnes very fast. Crucial is the time preparing the design for production and reducing technological hurdles.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
If the holiday is necessary. People confuse designing for playing, and forget it’s a job as hard as any other job, with a background of entire years of studies, trials and errors.
Who are some of your clients?
Mostly women who value good design and like to stand out of the crowd.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
Keeping the mind playful and open. Hiding into the inner world and diving into imagination.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
It’s important to keep the brand useful and delightful for customers. Keeping the traditional forms while coming with some new ideas.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Working as a freelancer and cooperating with external coleagues or companies is always very enriching.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Experimenting with posibilities of enamel is enriching and ful of inspiration.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
Designer is the one who perceives beauty in a specific way. Sometimes, this is about aesthetics globally. Therefore, they can move and blend their work between design fields gracefully.

Designer of the Day Interview with Annamaria Mikulik

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I went through the study of toy design, product/conceptual design and interior design. I worked as an interior designer and participated in some very interesting projects starting with interiors for individuals to hotels. By designing aesthetics into objects of everyday use, the designer's work often involves a lot of different design industries. I started working on design jewelry because I consider it to be miniature objects. Small-scale design.
How did you become a designer?
I come from an artistic family. I was lucky that my parents supported my talent and helped me develop it. During my studies at an art school, I started to profile as a designer. My technical skills helped me to apply principles to objects of everyday use. Since my childhood I wanted to be a jeweler like my mom. These diverse studies have enriched my abilities, and yet my desire eventually brought me back to designing jewelry.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
My favorite technical tool is my imagination. Knowing the objects to imagine in my mind can save me a lot of time. The longest is the technical phase of the project, when the production options and technical parameters need to be adapted to the object that is designed by me. The cherry on the cake is then photography, writing the concept and presenting the work with the feeling of fulfillment.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
Sometimes the beginning is very painful. I try to let the thoughts run during normal day activities. Sometimes it may look like I'm not working, but on the contrary. I'm recording my thoughts and suddenly it clicks. And I know it's it. With the eyes closed and the imagination, I design the details and recording technical parameters is a breeze. The feeling of satisfaction when I hold the product in my hands is priceless.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I've always liked to be different. Most people try to fit into the crowd. Being the designer, it's the other way around. Being different and not being afraid to stand out is our profession.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I want to continue doing jewelry. Create specific designs and the beauty that shines customers' eyes.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
The easiest way is to create your own designs. Not burdened by client requests. But many times it is not possible. The hardest work of a designer is to adapt to clients who have specific requirements. Don't be distracted from the path of good design. Look for common solutions, but always so that you are not ashamed to sign your project.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Believe in your abilities. There is a very true saying. "Fake it until you make it." Until you believe yourself, others can't believe you.
What is your day to day look like?
I get up early in the morning. I enjoy the silence and plan daily activities. I excercise, drink coffee and eat a small breakfast. I learn a foreign language at least for ten minutes. During the day I try to keep my goals and dreams in mind and to work purposefully and efectively. Everything starts with a dream. I work many times in the evenings when the silence comes back and I can concentrate fully again.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I stick with my own personal design style. I like to create timeless pieces that does not subject to trends. I get my inspiration form history. Principles that are time-tested.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
When Im satisfied with the design. When I finish it into details and further improvements would no longer benefit it.
What is your biggest design work?
The design I am most proud of is my winning project Nature - Fake Illusions. It helped me get technical, presentation, professional experiences and A design awards. I am pleased to be able to reproduce this environmental concept to the wider public.
Who is your favourite designer?
The best designers are our ancestors, whose technical inventions have affected our lives. I admire humanity's ability to come up with new, innovative ideas.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
It is our designers' duty to embellish and improve the lives of others. We all belong to a community where everyone has a role. We create a unique mechanism, and we are able to influence social phenomena in good. Therefore, we must not forget the responsible role of our work.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I design myself and work with colleagues from other specific design industries. I prefer to work alone. So I can work undisturbed on creative projects and not be influenced by the easthetics and opinions of someone else. My philosophy is to create products that bring beauty and aesthetics to peoples lives. Of course, it is important to respect ethical and environmental principles.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
It is always a very good idea to help each other. Many knowledgeable designers can effectively help the younger ones. Sometimes I engage myself in projects to help people and try to make my design beneficial to those who would not normally be able to afford it.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Its a feeling of fulfillment and appreciation, joy. Getting a lot of valuable experience, presenting work to the wider public. Gaining such awards is a hallmark of quality for every designer, and I think customers see it as positive and appreciate it. It is the foundation on which to build. Design competitions can inspire, move and show new horizons. Being a designer of the day is a very gratifying feeling.

Extended Interview with Annamaria Mikulik

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I come from an artistic family, which has helped me develop my craftsmanship and ambition to make my own designs come to life. I was greatly influenced by my parents‘ work, their sculptures and the enamel jewelry they were creating.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I wanted to become a jeweller - enameler like my mother what led me through artistic studies. Having a great design teachers has helped me develop design skills and encouragd me to continue to be a designer. She have joined my dreams together to become a jewelery designer.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I created few minimalist jewelry collections and jewels combining enamel and precious metals.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
It should have a great concept that goes hand in hand with sophisticated shapes.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design enhances human aesthetic perception and makes life easier.
What is your day to day look like?
I don't know if we shouldnt go back to the more ancient principles in some things. Many modern mechanisms deprive us of the time and substance of problems. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Try to be different, innovative and try to stand out from the crowd.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Art nouveau jewellers. Simplicity in lines and shape innovation in these times is amazing. Also enamel was used as one of the main materials in this period.
What is your biggest design work?
I like that each of my colleagues is different and therefore his approach to design is original and unique.
Who is your favourite designer?
I am proud of my unique packaging that won first place in the international packaging design competition. I like how I managed to create something sophisticated from a simple principle.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Its an ability to bring aesthetics and utility to everyday objects.

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