Every human being is born as a creator. The thing is not to ‘become’ but not to loose it. As a child I was very inventive and I loved drawing. When I grew up I decided to go to Art Collage where my main subject was toy making and designing. But after I finished it I was uncertain about choosing the ‘artlife’, as I feared that it could be not secure and unstable. Than I explored a lot to finally got back to the source. For me it is all about having a courage to believe, choose, and trust in imagination and let it flow creatively. To learn artistic skills is not so hard, but to keep your creativity alive, now, that is an art.
MAMOKI is an Art&Design Studio, and a brand name for mine and my husband original designs. We created innovative, interactive reversible soft toys. Also, have many more ideas for toys and children’s accessories. Our designs are not left in sketch books but we turn them into prototype or final products, which already turned out to be popular on the market. They are designs-prototypes-products in one.
Fiat 1956 Abarth 750 Alemano Cabriolet, I loved that Italian car from the first sight. It was in Antwerp in my friends garage, who has a nice collection of Abarth’s cars.
In my opinion nowadays more people prefer to have something original and unique than a mass product. Instead of having more ,they make an effort to search for something what really fulfill their needs. On the other side people get creative themselves. That brings more designers, artists and craft makers. I think design has a bigger value now and a glowing future.
Inspiration for my designs comes from little daily things; from everything that surrounds me and everything what is inside of me. Also, it happens, it comes from nowhere - silence; just appears when I take a pencil and don’t think at all.
In my collage and during my studies on faculty of architecture I listened a lot about designer styles and I really got inspired by some of them and felt influenced.
Now, I don’t feel that I should define designs, or divide them. they are only emotional to me. But what I could called as recognizable for my designs are expressions like: childish, colour, softness, curvy, organic, fair trade, high quality and original.
I live in Ireland, country with vast expanse of green fields, incredible cloudy sky and the ocean. Contact with nature make me feel freely, and that for sure have influence on my creativity. Irish heritage and tradition also appears on my designs.
I usually have few sketchbooks, paper and pencils in every corner of my house..and a special one near my bed as ideas often come when my mind is free of thoughts.
After idea is set I start thinking about materials. There are times when I focus on materials in first place and the design is a natural consequence of my selection. For example, I look on some printed fabrics and than idea comes to me.
Then I start to prepare prototype, which sometimes appears as a ready product, other time needs to be developed. Next, we (myself and my husband) test it and introduce it into the market. After receiving feedback we redesign it, make some improvements if necessary.
Round tablecloth designed in tv test sign and made by my husband,
An electric wire reel reused as a center table in our living room,
1 meter diameter green balloon,
rhino wall lamps,
colorful spots designs on the living room's ceiling
I wake up in the morning and don’t have to shave...think, how lucky am I. What a time saving!
But seriously, to describe a day from my life it could be a book.
I am a very active person, usually wanting to make the most of every opportunity. Each day its different...I love meeting with friends, walking in the forest, traveling in our hand-painted van, watching horses beside while they’re galloping in front of window, sharing my design ideas with my husband... Also, try to pay attention to every simple daily things while I cook or clean. Currently my life changed, as I am a mum of a lovely 2 months old boy. So, in my daily schedule appeared things such as: feeding and changing nappies. But actually that experience, empowered me like nothing before.
I am a up coming designer, so maybe I should read an interview of other designers to get the answer for myself. All I can say is what my friend told me once, that every creation has its place in the world, and whoever brought it should believe in it.
I experiment with different tools depends on a project.
Currently I use, is usually Photoshop and Corel working on TOSHIBA, PC.
I like design books, magazines, exhibitions etc. but I don't use any tools as a sources of inspiration intentionally.
It varies depending on deciphering the vision, confidence to this particular project and possibility of realisation. One design comes overnight and the other one needs few years to become real.
When I produced my toys I sold them personally on the local market. My clients were mostly young people, new parents and their friends.
They are people who care about the design, passion and environment. And they appreciate every aspect of it. At this point gender or age doesn’t play any role.
I am hoping that this competition will give my designs new possibilities. I am going to design more and wishing that designing will become my life profession.
I have many designs going on such as children’s toys, accesories, bags and clothes projects. Currently I am working with my husband on his project -RebornArt. RebornArt is about wooden gifts, handmade in county Galway. They are inspired by Irish West Coast tradition and nature. His Balancing Boats are a wooden boat sculptures with novelty idea of balancing movements, that imitate boat sailing on the ocean. You can find his work in many Irish galleries, Internet website, Facebook and Etsy.