Cameron

Specialized in Design.

Cameron

About Cameron

CALILA is a product design studio in Los Angeles. Cameron and Lindsey started CALILA to fill lifestyle needs in their own lives and gaps in the market gathered from Lindsey's six years as a museum store buyer. The design philosophy that drives the creation of each product is Simple + Functional = Beautiful. They specialize in a clean, minimal aesthetic with geometric silhouettes and asymmetrical balance. All of their products are driven by a laser focus on functionality. CALILA is designed and made in L.A.

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

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Interview with Cameron

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 learned to sew when I was 7 years old and have been hooked ever since. I wanted to bring new design to handmade goods that I wasn't finding on the market currently.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
CALILA is a design studio that creates functional personal and travel accessories with a simple, minimal aesthetic.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
I love chairs. I particularly love the Eames molded chair. I love how beautifully it incorporates a single piece of geometry.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The first design we ever did was a tote bag that way a daily carry haul-all. It had very specific functions for each of its pockets and a Japanese modern inspired aesthetic.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel liberated. It feels like breaking through the wall of old ideas that hold people back and touching a new space of possibilities.
What makes a design successful?
Does it work? It's really that simple. It should fulfill it's function in a very targeted and specific way.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
We alway start with a problem we are encountering in our life or someone else's. We dial into the specifics of that problem and try to solve it in a way that hasn't been done before. Finally, we focus on very clean, minimal, geometric shapes in the final design silhouette.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Sometimes it is as quick as a few days. Other times it can take six months to a year. It is all about how well the design prototypes perform in the real world.
Who are some of your clients?
We primarily specialize in high design boutiques and museum stores, places that appreciate a focus on design.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
It has always been a back and forth design process between the two co-founders, Cameron Stephens and Lindsey Vaniman.
How can people contact you?
All of our information is on our website at www.shopcalila.com or email us at caliladesignsla@gmail.com

Extended Interview with Cameron

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
Lindsey Vaniman studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchendising, as well as having been sewing since she was seven years old. She has designed everything from handbags and purses to historical costumes, to wardrobe in the film industry. Cameron has a background in creative project management in animation and visual effects before going into design.
How did you become a designer?
Design is motivated by necessity. We think all great design should have a backbone of functionality, driven by a desire to solve a problem. We become designers to solve those very problems in our own lives and share our solutions with the world.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
We design small to medium sized travel goods and personal accessories. We just launched a series of coasters, which marks our entry into the homeware sector, an area we've always been passionate about.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Jump right in and mess around. Once you have an idea, get that working prototype up as quickly and as lean as you can. Then test, test, test.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A good designer focuses on aesthetics over performance. A great designer can incorporate both.
What is your day to day look like?
We would love to break into larger scale products like backpacks and duffle bags. We think there are some designs in these areas that are incredibly dated or not very functional and we'd like to try our hand at updating them.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
The secret ingredient is being open to change. One clutch that we designed was beautiful, but it did not meat our functionality requirements. It got put on the shelf until we had the idea to transform it into a travel jewelry case. From there, the Duchess was born and has been a great seller for us.
Who is your favourite designer?
The Wanderer is our flagship design. As a leather travel dopp kit, we believe it is currently the most functional design in this area on the market. It solves a very specific need: keeping items contained while still being easily accessible.

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