Interview with Edoardo Colzani

I was born in a family based in furniture design in Brianza, the heart of furniture and design art. Despite I didn't studied Industrial Design at the beginning. I have studied law and then i decided to become a designer. I decided to design products and I started opening my study 18 years ago.

During my thoughts about a new product design, first of all i think about the use of my product, trying to expand it and removing the superfluous, bring my new product to its simple life. When I think to a new project I always try to do a little sample or model of this product, in order to realize it's real benefits.

When I design or when I'm thinking to a new project, I really feel like a children, I'm very excited about the result and about the impact on the market, that my new product could have.

As I told you before, I was born in a furniture family, my dad and my mon in two different important firm in the period in which the furniture design in Italy was very important. That's why, from the beginning, I lived in a closed relationship with this wonderful world.

As a designer, I started some years ago to design some kid toys. In this moment I don't have time and resources to produce myself this line of toy, but this is my actually dream. Bring this project from my mind to reality and to market.

I really think that first of all, desingers should based their work on the enthusiasm in their work. If there is no passion, i think that there is no way to success.

I think that at this moment, I'm really satisfied as a designer specially after the project that allow me to win a Gold A design Award. I really think that, when you work as a designer, product, graphic or something else, it is very important to express, in a very simple way, a concept and a solution of a market request.

First of all, during my first cup of coffee of the day, i read news about design and architecture. Trying to elaborate on news, tendences and every new design feature in the world.

I take my inspiration everywhere. It is really important to analize every single aspect in the word or in your lifestyle moment and every single pieces that i project respect a particular mood that I can define as simple but gorgeous. With many details which increase the value of the project.

When a project or a product, meets not only its first usage, but some others, I think that you can call it a good design. I really think that a good design project, should satisfy many aspect: simplicity, satisfy some needs and it don't stop itself to the first impression.

When I design for an industry, there are many step of the process that my project should pass by: first of all a model, made in a very comman and simply way. Made with simple materials, just to fisically touch it and to make sure that every single aspect is perfect for the market and the needs for which I have designed it. When everty single aspect of the project is analized, I can decide that my product is ready for the industry and for the market.

I think that my personal and most successfull design project is my Globe lamp. The project that won a Gold A'Design award. Not only for the prize, but because behind this project, there are two hardly working years of engineering and process. That's why at the end, when you saw the result, you can feel extremely satisfied.

There are many designer that I love and I think that every one has got a personal project way that I love. But if I had to identify some of them, I think that the most impressive are: Elena Salmistraro, Nendo and Luca Nichetto.Three different way to work, but in everyone of them, there are aspect of their project that I really love.

I lived in Brianza, near to Milan, and i think that in the last 5 years, Milan has become a really gorgeous city, Every time I go there for some business meeting, I take my time to visit a new place or a design or architectural installation. Evereything can inspire me in my future project. When I work on a new project I need some time of my tipical working day, to think free and I always listen to my favourite Italian pianist: Ludovico Einaudi. His particular type of music, give me the right concentration to realize my project.Now I'm working to several projects for the future: a creative project based in Nwe Dehli, a furniture collection for Luarameroni Design Collection, a new table lamp for a very important Italian brand that will be presented to the market during the next Euroluce exhibition in Milan in 2019 and many other.

it's very easy to work with me. Just have the same enthusiasm that I have got for my job and for my project. I worked alone to some design project and with some of my personal client, but during the last 2 years, I started some new project with an Architect, Luca Novati, which has brought very technical and constructive aspects into our collaboration.

Every single aspect of my work should be important for a project or a personal succes in this work. I have tried to partecipate to some project pro bono in the last years, thinking that they could really be useful not only for the market but also for the life of my interlocutors.

I think that it is very important for a designer, to partecipate in this type of cerimony. First of all t because your project gains in visibility not only in your country but all over the world. If you design for an internation industry you can reach many different markets, but if your design project is designed for a little firm, you can not wait for it to be so in sight in the rest of the world.

My design studio started his history 18 years ago with a cosmetics project for a small company, and in the last 10 years it has expanded, touching also different fields such as Graphic design and Art Direction.

I could answer you with a phrase which I always use to express it :"designing is positive culture, the active and conscious attitude of those who can devise new solutions for the present and the future"

I was born in a family that worked in furniture design for several years, and so i like very much to design furniture products.

I think that my favourite was my Snooze Lamp. I have presented it to the market during Maison & Objet in Paris and it was the first rechargeable portable light presented to the market.

It was a cosmetic project for a small company. I have designed an eyeliner, a lipstick and some other pieces of a cosmetics collection.

I like very much materials such as wood and copper.

In the evening and when I walk alone in the park of my study.

During my thoughts about a new product design, first of all i think about the use of my product, trying to expand it and removing the superfluous, bring my new product to its simple life.

I'm so exicetd designing a new product that I can't stop making it better and better.

I'm so proud. it's a really hard feeling to explain, but the most important thing that I think, is about the feeling that people can feel using my new product. I hope all of them could fell my same emotions.

First of all simplicity. Design doesn't have to be so complicated and difficult...it has to solve a problem or a market question.

As I told you before, I analize the simplicity of the project, trying to analize it using the market eyes. This is the most important thing.

I think it's about giving a person the chance to feel comfortable in the everyday use of a product.

Design is evolving at a smashing speed, but what is most important is the fact that design itself is changing, is trying to integrate multiple disciplines into one product.

My last exhibition was in DesignVe, during the Biennale of Architecture & design in Venice in 2016.

I take inspiration from all over the items which are around me in my daily life. Many times the solution to our problem during the project of a new product is in front of us, maybe in a park, and we do not realize it.

First of all I put myself on the side of the final user and I try to imagine how it could be my use of the object I'm drawing. I always try to simplify the shapes of my objects by removing every superfluous part, which very often disturbs the shapes.

I live in the Italy area called Brianza, and I think that this is the heart of Italy design. In this area there are the most famous companies of Italy furniture design.

My work with companies is about designing new products or following them with their image, working as Art Director, and trying to improve the image with which they present their products on the market. I start from designing a new product and then i follow photographs and sets.

Companies should choose a good designer, not only from his company profile, but also analizing his projects and finding in them the good solution for their specific new products

It is very natural. First of all i pick-up a blank sheet of paper, and I make a brainstorming in my mind, trying to put on the paper, some idea and sketches. Then I work with 3d modeler and acad software, in order to do a positive work not only for the eyes but also for manifacturer.

My dinner table: Less table by Molteni, the Alfa chair always by Molteni. Then I have got a Splugen Brau pendant light by Flos. My kitchen chair by Kartel Dolly model. But my favourite is the bed of my master bed-room. I've designed it 20 years ago and its particularity is the headbord made of a 3 square meters unique pieces of glas. I'm really in love with it.

I'm a coffee lovers, and my days starts always witha good coffee and a newspaper. Then I can consider myself ready for working.

There is one pearl of wisdom, which I have used also for my University Graduation: "planning is positive culture, the active and conscious attitude of those who can devise new solutions for the present and the future”

I loved very much my work, and this brings me to find only positives and good vibes about it. If I have to find a negative point of my work, I can say you the short time that companies often give for the design of a new product. Our creativity unfortunately can not be controlled and this goes against companies timeline.

Absolutely is professional ethics, without it there is no future.

Originality and the attention to the changes around us. Many times designer do not notice that the way to work is changed, and they do not use technology as a resource.

I use only inspiration and I take it from all over around me. I start looking very carefully around me, searching the right inspiration from a very simple thing, such as a trafic signs, or old places in my city.

One of the most difficult thing in our work is creativity. It is not a sensation that comes every day at the same time, like newspaper in the mailbox. I manage my time, during designing, depending by my creativity...when I reach it I work hardly till the end of the project.

It depends about the project itself. For example: my lamp Globe, the which that had won the A'Design Award take us 1 year of planning design, starting from the sketches till the industrialized product. It depens by the different aspects of the product.

Obviously customer asked for originality, simplicity and to design a easly production product. We have to take care about many aspects if we want to do a very good and durable product

In 2006 I have designed an Hospitality Trailer for Ferrari UK for Ferrari car Challenge Formula. It was a very difficult project but it was very satisfying because I have worked in the UK for 6 mounths with engineers and designers from many different countries. I remember every single business meeting of that project.

I work with many furniture companies and lighting companies. Not only in the Italy market.

I do not think that there is a design work which i prefer from the others. Every new product is a new challenge, and I work on it with the same passion.

I'm trying to expand myself. First of all finding a new location for my working office, and then expanding also my collaborators list.

Generally I worked by myself, but there are some companies for which I worked with a team of professionals figures, such as Architects, Stylist and photographers.

During 2018 Milano Design week, I have strated a very important new project. With a team of other designer and product manager, we are working for a new furniture companies based in India, and we have to design all about this company, starting from all the Corporate Image, Mood set and all the furniture collection. It will take us years of work.

On my website there are all my contacts and people can contact me sending a simple e-mail or calling.

Anything else...We have covered many aspects of designers work.