Interview with Claire Requa

I am self-taught. I do spend a lot of time thinking about how to improve things, how to bring them to life, the choice of materials.

It is important that the materials are sourced sustainably where possible. It's important that the product fills a need. Currently I have an interest in prosthetics that are 3D printed and provided for children at an affordable price.

There is a great sense of achievement and satisfaction when the product is finished, and even more so when sold.

Shedding light was important to me coming from the Caribbean - Jamaica. Moving to Denmark where there is not as much light was the starting point for designing lighting. Maybe some desire for more "sun". Interestingly, my brand Claire de Lune means light of the moon. Hmmm, maybe my parents knew something bout this when they named me Claire.

Having a family member with limb difference has given me inspiration to work with prosthetics printed with 3D. It would be a dream to work with physiotherapists and other health care professionals helping to make aids.

I have found that it is important to find partners that have skills that I don't possess, so that the business can flourish. Creative skills are one thing, but there are many aspects to getting products to market.

Work with design all the time. Live with your products, make the world better.

My day starts with checking my business mails, then I check SO ME. I enjoy getting inspiration when the day is boring, through various sources, like Interesting Engineering, and others.

I find that I prefer to not follow trends, as they are passing. So rather timeless pieces that maybe don't have immediate sale possibilities, but are more permanent.

A product is well designed when I cannot find faults with it. It satisfies my criteria of being beautiful, AND useful.

When it functions.

Claire de Lune Chandelier is my signature product. It was the start of designing on a somewhat larger scale. I have subsequently, designed and decorated a small cottage - the Gully House. A Scandinavian inspired cottage in Jamaica.

I like the cleanness of Philip Starck. Sturlesi is another designer that I always enjoy following. Architects, well, BIG in Denmark does some amazing structures.

Having been raised in Jamaica, where sunlight, music, are integral parts of ones life, I try to bring that with me wherever I go. I need products that are pleasant to look at, and that function. Important that the functionality is good.

I admit that I have an "old-school" attitude to work, which means that some young people might not like to work with me. On the other hand, I am fair, and flexible. I look for keen work ethics, and most of all passion for design, and for completion of work.

I have provided many internships in my company for young people. As well as donated products for charity. I have also acted as judge for design events.

One important is the public recording of presenting my product through A' Design Award. The recognition of my fellow international designers, and the actual process of having to put in words (with the help of prompts) what the product is about.

Accent started as a studio/workshop 18 years ago. There, I made unique lamps, and small soft furnishings, and small furniture make-overs. Then after a major shift in my life, I decided to design lamps that could be made in slightly bigger numbers, than the unika lamps I had been doing before. My signature product, Claire de Lune Chandelier led me down several paths - and to satisfy my earth-saving cravings, I upcycled the waste from the production of the lamp to create a line of jewellery - CLAIRELY, clearly.

Design is something that is functional, pleasing to look at, and well thought out.

I enjoy doing lighting - it is nearly always satisfying. I enjoy the challenge of making things work. As is the collection of CLAIRELY a satisfying process. The

My chandelier, which is the starting point for all the other products I have done (wall sconces, cushions, room dividers, mirrors, clocks, wallpaper). All with the chandelier as the common design thread. And then came my upcycled jewellery, which came out of wanting to repurpose the acrylic that otherwise would be thrown away.

I designed a "scandal" bag for a minister of parliament when Denmark was joining the EU. This bag was a transparent carrier bag with images of the new currency - the EURO.

At the moment I enjoy using acrylic. But there are many materials I would like to explore.

Early mornings.

Functionality is a major player in this.

I have a deep sense of satisfaction.

Definitely elation, and especially when I meet and talk to satisfied customers.

When I cannot find fault with the design or functionality.

If the elements are harmonious, if the product does what it claims.

We have a responsibility to design with a conscience. We must do our bit to do the right thing for our surroundings, that is, people and environment.

I would like to think that designers are thinking - finally - about designing green.

My current exhibition is at the National Gallery of Denmark's museum store. I am keen to hold another exhibition in May.

My inspiration comes from my life, from nature when I take walks, from wanting to fill a niche that needs filling. Much of my inspiration comes from my travels.

I think avant-garde, contemporary. I like the juxtaposition of old and new, of mixing unexpected ingredients. I like to provoke thought.

Copenhagen. I feel that being raised in Jamaica has given me a colorful approach to designing. This combination of hot and cold, south and north certainly has its challenges. One of the cons is certainly the struggle to have my suppliers and collaborators understand my vision. I tend to think outside the box, to want to do things that haven't been done before.

I have a very hands-on approach. Both with clients and suppliers.

Allow the designer to fully explain their vision, and trust that they will deliver a satisfactory end result, even though it may be different than the original starting point. Selection of a good designer can come from learning about the individual.

The products "live" with me. They live around me in my home in various forms, and I tweak, and tweak until I am relatively satisfied. I test how they make me feel when it's light outside, when it's dark, when I am happy, when I am sad.

The Claire de Lune Chandelier, the mirror, I have a Ghost chair, which I enjoy. But we have a lot of second-hand things which have history and stories that we also enjoy.

Up at 7-ish. Straight to the computer, a bit of breakfast, movement between the computer to our basement where products are stored, to my work table to work on items under development, a visit to my supplier to prepare prototypes, back to my computer. Research. To bed about 12:30am

Realize that much of getting products to market is about networking, and hard work, and perservering.

As a designer that also produces, the business side of getting products to market are taxing. One of the positives is getting feedback from customers. Again, a hands-on type of contact.

The product must be something I would be happy to have myself, and something that will make me proud to have my name on.

Perseverance is important. Skill? well communication. Being able to communicate to end users.

Pencils are great. Adobe CS - couldn't live without it. The internet.

Not well, unfortunately. I end up going down several rabbit holes in the course of a day.

My chandelier took the better part of one year. My jewellery line CLAIRELY is an ongoing process. I am constantly thinking of pieces that could fit into one or more of the already existing themes I already have done. So these would be new pieces.

How do you do it?

Designing a lamp for a customer that I named POAC-14. This was a self-assembly lamp that gave me the push to do other lamps, and how I got started with Claire de Lune Chandelier.

Zannier, Illums Bolighus, Chateau de Versailles, Normann Copenhagen, National Gallery of Denmark, ABC Home, NY.

I enjoy the challenge of adding to my product line as it is organic, endless and limitless.

A new series of lamps.

I develop designs myself, but would welcome a collaboration.

Starting on the next series of lamps inspired by a different time period than the Chandelier.

By email - info@accent.dk

Thrilled to have been awarded.