Designer Interview
22 Froen
Since I was a child I've always loved to draw. Later I chose an artistic high school where I've had the chance to develop my skills in different artistic disciplines such as sculpture, painting, graphic design…
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?
Since I was a child I've always loved to draw. Later I chose an artistic high school where I've had the chance to develop my skills in different artistic disciplines such as sculpture, painting, graphic design, packaging and technical design. After the high school it was clear for me that I wanted to become an architect but I've never lost my love for hand drawing and design in general so I like to consider my self as and architect with the passion of design.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Ragazzi and Partners is an associate architectural firm founded in 2003 by my father Giancarlo Ragazzi and myself. Giancarlo Ragazzi, in over 40 years of professional activity (from 1964 to 2003) together with Edilnord Progetti S.p.A., developed a great number of important projects such as the refurbishment of San Siro Stadium in Milan on the occasion of 1990 F.I.F.A. Football World Cup (winner of "Ingersoll-Rand" award), mixed-use residential complex as Milano 2, Milano 3, Milano Visconti and Malaspina and Mediaset TV broadcasting Center and tower.
After my degree at Politecnico di Milano University of Architecture, I went to London where I gained various experiences at very important architectural practies namely Foster and Partners and Burland TM where I worked in particular on large-scale mixed-use development, stadia and residential buildings such as Milano Santa Giulia (Foster and Partners), Hong Kong West Kowloon Masterplan (Foster and Partners), London Herlequins Rugby Stadium (Burland TM) and London Falcon Wharf residential building (Burland TM).
Since 2003 Ragazzi and Partners's projects cover a wide range of areas such as:
large scale mixed-use developments
stadiums and sport and leisure centers
renovation of historical buildings
interior and product design
What is "design" for you?
As I said before design for me is passion. I like my primary job as an architect which is, in a way, a creative job but it has to deal with lots of rules and regulations. Design for me is freedom.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Thanks to my professional experiences, I have had the fortune to be involved in the design process of a wide range of works from large scale developments, to single buildings, interior spaces and industrial products.
Each kind of work is unique and spacial.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
One of my favorite product design is the "Eclisse" lamp designed by Vico Magistretti. I also like very much many of the Achille Castiglioni's works, because they are able to summerize the essence of great design; these works infact became a design masterpieces with the power of their simplicity.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The first thing which I designed was a stadium seat for a famous italian company.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I love to work with many different kind of materials so I like to be inspired every time by the object or work which I design.
When do you feel the most creative?
Creativity is the essence for every artist and designer. What happens to me is that sometimes, no metter how hard I try to think of a new idea for a product I can't find the right approach. Other days I just feel very inspired and then, out of a sudden, the design easily flows as the idea has always been there in my mind.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
For me design is great when reaches the right combination of usefulness, beauty and uniqueness.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
As I said before design is my passion so when I design I feel like I am realizing my professional dream.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
It's a fantastic feeling, because it's the realization of a long and sometimes difficult design process that has started from my concept idea or inspiration.
What makes a design successful?
The appreciation of the users.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Eclisse lamp by Vico Magistretti for Artemide
Toio lamp by Achille Castiglioni for Flos
Tolomeo lamp by Michele De Lucchi for Artemide
Fly lamp by Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell
Cultery set by Jesper Morrison for Alessi
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
When I am working on a new concept design I always develop the ideas on a sketch book most of the time with a pencil or a black marker pen. After the first concept I develop the ideas with different graphic softwares like sketchup, autocad, rhino, 3dmax and photoshop, with the support of the team of my studio Ragazzi and Partners.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Every work is diferent from another but for my personal experience it never takes less than one year.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
Where do you get the inspiration from?
What was your most important job experience?
After my degree at Politecnico di Milano I've had the fortune to work in London and develop my skills in some architectural firms, but for sure the most important job experience was the one with Lord Norman Foster.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
Each kind of work is unique and spacial, so I enjoy to start every project or work as a new experience and opportunity.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
As I said before product design is not the core business of my studio which is more orientated in urban planning and architecture, but due to the results of my first works in my future plans I would like to increase and develop this sector maybe creating a specific team for product design in my studio.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
Normally I work the design team of my studio Ragazzi and Partners, but if I work for the industrial design sector I develop the design my self.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
At the moment our studio Ragazzi and Partners is carring out the design of a sustainable new quarter for 3000 people near Milan which is intended to be the first LEED certified quarter in Italy. For the product design sector at the moment I am designing a new chair for stadiums for an important italian furniture company.
How can people contact you?
via email: fragazzi@ragazziandpartners.com
phone: +39 0245487822
