Interview with Sophia Enjoy Thinking

SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking is a creative brand, which was founded 4 years by designer Alexandra, to promote ancient Greek heritage through modern design all over the world. Our motto is Enjoy Thinking, as we truly believe that through thinking we can change the world. The brand is distributed by SANDRA S.A., which is one of the leading Greek companies in the home decoration industry for more than 45 years.

Design for me means living. It means pushing the intellectual, the creative and cultural boundaries. The true power of design derives from the conversation between mind and soul.

Designing for Sophia Enjoy Thinking, is a fulfilling journey for me. I am fond of designing items, which twist something old and meaningful into something new and interesting, whilst preserving ethics, authenticity and transparency. I believe that inviting ancient philosophy with a modern touch into contemporary interiors is something unique.

SOPHIA's bookend collection is one of my favorite designs. It entails the Marathon Boy Bookends, which have been awarded the Silver A' Design Award in the category of Furniture, Decorative Items and Home-ware Design. Going beyond their basic function of keeping books in perfect standing order, the charming and unusual bookends also serve as the most appropriate invitation to “Enjoy Thinking".

I am interested in materials. My team and I experiment with different material shades and textures all the time. The majority of our products are made out of 'Ceramine'. 'Ceramine' is a mixture of earthy and marble powders, which we created to imitate the ancient Greek recipe. It is a non-toxic and environmentally friendly material.

Engaging with people, who share the same passion with me has always been a vivid source of inspiration.

Undoubtedly, all the stages from the conception of the design to the refinement of the little details are very important. It fascinates me to see an idea turning from a two dimensional drawing into a three dimensional object.

Designing is a self-exploratory process. It makes me feel fulfill and alive

When a design is realized I feel a step closer to an unknown aspect of myself.

A successful design is not just beautiful and function, but also meaningful.

I believe that bad and good design mean different things to different people. Personally, when contemplating on a design I do not focus merely on aesthetics, but also on the meaning and the intention behind it. I always wanted to design something not just beautiful, but also meaningful. That is why four years ago I founded the creative brand SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking. SOPHIA’s rich array of home accessories blend the best of ancient Greek culture with the fresh look of contemporary styling.

A design ought to be in constant dialogue with the society and the environment. It should "listen" to and address the prevailing needs.

We are living in times of profound insecurity. However, the field of design is filled with optimism, strength and vision. I believe that in the future design will not just be tangled with innovation, but also with a responsibility to the problems that this world is facing. The intention of my designs now, but also in the future will be to make one's personal canvas - their home- better.

We take part in many design fairs. SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking is an ambassador of the Maison & Objet Show. Our last exhibition was the launch of the official launch of the new Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts' Club (RREC) publication The Pursuit of Excellence on March 2018. Our designs were included in the publication.

Ancient Greek heritage - constant, beautiful, true and eternal is a source of inspiration for me and modern design my driving force.

Our style is eternal. It combines art with design, eternity with modernity and the timeless myths of the past with the spirit of the 21st century. It is a new home decor trend that will become long lasting.

I live in Athens, Greece, which is a city that has always been a beacon of brilliant ideas and values. The cultural heritage of our hometown is our ultimate source of inspiration. Today, our country has been plagued by the Crisis, but Athens is currently fighting against it and is blooming with creativity. Undoubtedly, there are many cons. However, instead of letting ourselves to become "victims" of this crisis, we strive to unite with people with the same passion and vision and to promote Greek creativity and innovation abroad.

SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking is a brand that celebrated collaborative processes. Due to the financial crisis, the creative industry has been hurt. Therefore, we work closely with other local artisans, craftsmen, designers and entrepreneurs. We believe in starting local with the hope that our ideas spread globally. By promoting, selling or simply sharing beautiful ideas and products together, we can empower local economies and strengthen communities, starting with our own in Athens, Greece.

Constructive dialogue is the key to work with creative people.

Our design process is rooted in the exploration of the past and it unfolds through dialogue with modern trends.

1. Wall Decoration, 2. Art de la table, 3. Cushion Covers, 4. Lighting, 5. Bookends

Every day is unique and full of activity. I love the start of the day in our studio. All the members of the team involved with different processes gather around a big table to discuss the daily tasks.

Listen. Think. Be fearless. Be patient

You have the benefit to use both the creative and the logical sides of your brain and your heart.

Be authentic and never copy

Open-mindedness, knowledge of existing designs and accurate speculation about the future trends.

First of all, I investigate historical sources. Visiting archaeological sites is a source of inspiration for me. My team and I sketch at the initial design stages. In later stages, we use various software, such as Illustrator, Photoshop and Rhinoceros. The majority of our products are handmade. Therefore, members of my team, which are merely involved with the making process spend every day in the workshop.

Probably like any passionate working woman with a family.

Time varies and depends on the characteristics of the product. However, every season we present new collections of home accessories in design fairs across Europe.

How did you come up with this design?

Being a designer at SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking is not just the most important but also the most enjoyable one.

SOPHIA's collections have been successfully hosted in museum shops, department stores and concept stores in 40 countries, such as Neiman Marcus, Printemps, Galleries Lafayette, Assouline, the British Museum and the Louvre. Currently 25 museum shops and 400 stores all over the world present SOPHIA's creations.

I enjoy every single aspect of the design. I am involved with the conception of a design, its realization and refinement, as well as the merchandising.

Our next stop is Paris. SOPHIA will participate in the fair for the ninth time this September (Hall 2 Stand E8-F7).

I work with a group of creative people. I pay a lot of attention in choosing the people that construct my team. I am surrounded by people that share the same passion and dedication with me.

Yes I'm working on a new limited edition collection called Imperfection.

Recently SOPHIA designed a meaningful space in Athens, called SOPHIA Enjoy Thinking LIVE, which whispers their motto 'Enjoy Thinking', to house our meaningful creations. As the title LIVE suggests, my main intention was to create an interactive space, where one can feel alive. The conception of the space was driven by a strong passion to reinvent a new retail structure; a new kind of retail therapy. It is not just another shop and it is much more than a concept store. It is a breathing space that welcomes everyone to explore, to discover, to do, to think, to dream, to write, to share, to discuss, to create, to get inspired and to live. Someone can also contact us through our online store and our social media pages www.sophia.com.gr, ww.facebook.com/sophiaenjoythinking, https://www.instagram.com/sophia.enjoythinking/