Designer Interview
18 questions
Both of us, Lucie and Meg, have a background in clay. We both loved clay from an early age and can't image life without it.
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?
Both of us, Lucie and Meg, have a background in clay. We both loved clay from an early age and can't image life without it.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
We began collaborating in 2011, almost immediately the work took on a personality of it's own & really became l&m studio. Our studio is in a store-front location in historic Catskill, NY. We design and make everything there.
What is "design" for you?
A concept that integrates aesthetic and function. Basically a concept you apply to make an object better than it was previously
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Everyday objects that can be transformed into extraordinary objects by a simple twist on their design.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Heather wick's Rolling Bridge in London. Designed to span a canal for pedestrians and roll up to allow boats to pass. They took the function of opening and closing and made it beautiful. It curls up just like a giant caterpillar transforming what could be a very mundane commute into a magical experience.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Clay in all it's wonderful forms.
When do you feel the most creative?
We feel most creative when we are problem solving.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
We usually focus on the ultimate function, how we can change the basic form of a piece to improve its function and aesthetics.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
There is a range of emotions ranging from the exhilaration of the 'ah-ha' moment all the way to frustration when it isn't quite working out as one had imagined it.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
It is always a joy to hear how much people enjoy using our designs.
What makes a design successful?
Something that truly functions for its intended purpose and adds beauty & interest to its environment.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
Is it interesting?
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Designers have a responsibility to improve wherever and whenever they can.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Most of our inspiration comes from daily life. We both love to cook, every new dish brings new ideas about how we can improve the basic pots we’ve been using all our lives. We also hike a lot. We get a chance to reboot our brains a bit and often find inspiration in the woods.
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?
We think our design style could be best described as Modern Organic.
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?
We live in upstate New York. It’s very rural here, very peaceful with little distractions.
How do you work with companies?
We wholesale to companies and stores now.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
We collaborate on all our designs. One of us usually comes in with an idea. We’ll chat about different ways we could go about making it. Usually one of us misunderstands something the other has said and often a really new aspect to the original idea will evolve. Once we have a semi concrete plan we’ll start working on the model, passing it back and forth until we have a solid piece that we are both happy with. We can then make a plaster mold and start casting it in porcelain.
