Interviewe mat Camilla Marcondes

The main idea for my bracelet design was the 150th aniversary of the most popular Thonet's chair.

My focus was to represent the woven cane in a flat metal sheet, not braiding the metal, but using a laser cut technique.

I will keep it in my catalog for a while, but only for special orders. I don't want to produce it on a large scale.

The bracelet idea was pretty fast, the hard work was to design it. It was used a real woven cane, measuring the entire braided pattern, sketching over it. After the vetorial drawing, many tests were made to determinate the size of the empty elements. I believe it had taken a whole week to finalize the design.

I am a furniture design lover, all my inspiration comes from architecture, geometry. I love Thonet's design, I love even more wood and natural woven, and I already had used it in others designs. I was starting to design a new collection when I read in a magazine about the Thonet's chair celebration. I was in a 'metal laser cut moment' and the idea to represent the woven cane in metal sheet came quickly.

The bracelet had a small production, only 50 units and was sold in my own store. Now, the production is only by order.

Bracelets are my favorite accessory. I love to wear them and love even more to design them. When my inspiration came, I even didn't think in other product.

Lots of them, the Bauhaus designers influence me, brazilian architects like Oscar Niemeyer and Lucio Costa too.

But my father was the first one to influence me, teaching me the beauty of shapes.

First of all, paper and pencil. I also have to build the elements to test the size, so scissor, cutter and card paper was used to sketch. For the laser cut metal sheet I used AutoCad software. To assemble all the parts I need goldsmithing tools to shape the metal into a bracelet, fix the two metal layers, etc

It's a large and bold bracelet, however it's vey light because the metal sheets are very thin.

Yes, Harpia Tec is the metal cutter company which attends me for almost 10 years.

I was very happy with result of this design. I think I achived exactly what I wanted to. The design was highly praised, not only by customers, but brazilian fashion designers and celebrities. So I decided to submit it to A'Design Awards.

I improve myself in every work I am in, specially when it's a new experience, a new material, a new technique or even a new partner. In this particular case I improved a lot my vectorial drawing skills and I also had to improve my patience, I'm kidding. I had to re-draw dozens of times this woven pattern until I reach the best fit.

I spent my life surrounded by pencils, markers, watercolor pencils. Both my parents are architects so I couldn't help following their footsteps. At first I thought about studying Architecture, then I fell in love with the industrial design. I became a product designer, then I studied goldsmithing.

Creation motivates me. I love to work creating products, their shapes, function, materials.

I definitely did!!! My parents loved it, but it was my decision.

I design jewelry, but I have a small company so I also have to design the packages, the graphic arts, the advertising layout, etc. I would love to design a home collection.

They just should design as many projects as possible. They have to breathe design, to have a critical look to the objects and think how you could turn them better.

Strong-willed, obstinacy, determination and a lot of work.

For me there are two main aspects to consider in a really good design, the function and the shape.

Design is so much valuable. It's so much more than how a product looks. Design can change the perception of the product, providing the customer the best experience with it. Design can increase the value of a brand, engaging customers, making them the ambassadors of a brand. And finally, increase sales. Design makes a product sell more.

I would design packages for the beauty industry (cosmetic industry).

A social project that teaches jewelery techniques to poor young people. The goal is they can make money with a new profession, getting a job or even starting their own business.

Do what you love, create opportunities for you to design (even if you don't have a client, design for yourself), learn how to price. Be always updated about materials, technology, etc.

I love modern designers like Bertoia, Mies Van der Rohe, Breuer, Jacobsen.

For sure I had become architect.

Design is a better way to present a product and provide people to have a great experience with it.

Definitely my family. My parents, my brother and sister and also my husband.

I had a good education, I studied in a great university, I made a good choices about where and how to show my work, I have enrolled in design associations to support me. But I think that even though I have followed these steps, if I didn't have a great curiosity and a desire to be better, I wouldn't have been able to get where I am now.

Designers should prepare a good portfolio and a good website. It's indicated to invest in good photos of your work.

If you are going to present some printed material, it is also good to invest in a high quality print, on a paper that highlights your work.

I'm launching my new jewelry brand in the second semester of 2018. So a whole new collection is expected.

A Jewelry Design School is a huge goal. Now it's more like a dream, but step by step I'm working for this dream come true.

I'm working on my brand new collection and I'm really excited about it.

My awarded design, Thonet Tribute, gave me double satisfaction. First because this bracelet was a huge challenge design. I had to transform a multi layer braided fiber into a flat single metal sheet. The other challenge was how to fix the top metal sheet on the base one, since all the metal were plated and welding wasn't an option. And the second satisfaction was the award itself, It's nice to know my design had a good recognition in jewelry design field.

It depends... Sometimes it comes easy and fast, and others it can be a pain. In average I give myself a month, or a little more, to design a collection with 30-50 pieces.

First step is research the concept, know the function, target the goals, research the similar existing designs, assess its pros and cons. After all that I have a solid material to start a new design.

My motto is the creation itself, a curious look, an open mind and a creative thought.

I believe in both, sure it's not at the same time, but sometimes design sets the trend and other times the trends set the designs.

A big role. On my work I use graphic computer softwares to vectorize my projects. In manufacturing field, the technology is also highly used because my designs are built in CNC machines.

Rhinoceros and Adobe Illustrator. Sometimes I use Photoshop to modify colors, to edit photos, etc.

I always think: I wish I had designed this!

I do believe in co-design. The best design partner would be someone who has a feature that I lack, someone who has something to complete my ideas.

Just working. Always observing, creating, designing...

No, it's not hard to be famous. The feeling is wonderful, I hope it is the first of many that are yet to come.

Color: Yellow

Food: Japanese and Italian, I can't decide just one

Season: Spring

Thing: Pens and pencils

Brand: Caran d'Ache

I guess so, I grew up surrounded by pencils, markers, papers. My parents were very supportive. They always encouraged me to be creative, to express my artistic gift.

I would like to thank everyone for all the cheering and support

I remember when I was very very young, I wanted to become a doctor, then a vet. But I spent my life surrounded by pencils, markers, watercolor pencils. Both my parents are architects so I couldn't help following their footsteps. At first I thought about studying Architecture, then I fell in love with the industrial design.

Even after graduating I kept moving around design, architecture and landscaping. I spent a while working at my parents office, after I started my own landscaping company. About 13 years ago I discovered myself in jewelry design. I enrolled in a goldsmithing school and started to develop collections for major fashion brands in Brazil. After 3 years, I launched my first jewelry brand, Hefestos. Now, I'm living in United States and I'm in development of another brand.

Design is a better way to present a product and provide people to have a great experience with it.

In jewelry what I like to work most are bracelets. All of my bracelets are huge, but not heavy. They also are very detailed.

My favorite design is a necklace that I'm still working on it. I have launched it, but I'm always changing something, improving its shape...

It was a long shell necklace. The shell beads were tied by macrame knots. The company ordered 1500 pieces and I had to produce them by myself because I had no employee and I was a beginner in the field. It was in the end of 2006, a Christmas order for a fashion brand in Rio de Janeiro. After a month of very hard working, my hands were destroyed.

I love to work with metal sheets, wood and leather. I'm good at working with paper cuts too.

I feel myself most creative late at night and dawn when everybody is sleeping. No phone rings, no distraction.

I try to keep the balance between the shape and the weight. I like to create "maxi" jewelry, so I always choose to work with thin metal sheets because they are lighter. About to jewelry, attention to weight is always a focus.

In my case, I design to empower people, so power is a strong feeling when I was creating.

At the most of times I feel fantastic, a good sense of accomplishment, but sometimes I feel that I still have to work in that product

Design is successful when a large number of people have access to it. This is one of the reasons I don't work with gold.

For me the most important aspects to consider a good or bad design are the usability of the product and the satisfaction of its user. I am always analyzing the experience that the user would have with the product.

Nowadays, the designers should have ethical and moral values specially in manufacturing field. We have to think about how the product will be produced, in the fair manufacturing value, in what kind of conditions the employees will work, etc. Environment is other field that designers have pay attention. The chosen material and the manufacturing process. We have to keep in mind the three R's of product and service development, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

The "design field is indeed evolving. The technology became more accessible and cheaper, there are design apps and tools for everybody. Design is available for everyone and it is wonderful. Now we have 3D printer pens, small equipment with friendly interface. I think it all estimulates the criativity. The more creative people in the world, the better it will be.

My last exhibition was at a fashion show and trade in 2013, in Rio de Janeiro. I was opening my second store in Ipanema. After that my life became very busy, I had a baby, moved from my country to US, helped to consolidate my husband's new business. Now I'm ready to come back to scene. On the second semester, I'm planning to be in a fashion show in NY.

Architecture is always an inspiration. The shapes, the angles, the volume. Other inspiration is the nature specially in the use of natural materials as wood, stone, seeds, shell.

My style is casual-chic. It's more simple and sofisticated. I use natural materials mixed with matte surfaced metals. My stones and gens are alwyas non lapidated. Definitely it's not fancy or ostensive.

I live in Florida, US, since 2017. My neighborhood is young and friendly. The nature still doesn't have much human intervention, it has lots of lakes, flooded woods and wild animals. On the other hand we are surrounded by technology, internet, information, all the world at a "click distance". I really have difficulty to see the cons.

I'm designer and entrepreneur. Now I design for my own company, but at the beginning I designed and manufactured for other companies, fashion brands mainly. They briefed the collection concept, color chart, sometimes we worked with patterns. After that, we discussed how many pieces the collection would have, so I designed and manufactured the products.

The designer's profile should fit in the characteristics of the company. I really think a good designer can create within any and all styles, just have a good concept briefing. However, it is normal that every designer has their own styles and techniques which they feel more comfortable and confident. So I believe that the interaction of designer vs. company always walks better when it has both matching characteristics.

My design process starts with a concept researching, I use books, internet, etc. After that some drafts to define how many items the collection will have, then the drafts become more detailed and it's time to decide the materials and manufacturing processes. Lastly, I vetorize all the designs and send them to manufacturing. In this first production I can see if the designs are ok or they have to be corrected.

A wood bench we use at the living room, the TV shelves system that my mother designed, a ceiling fan, a stainless steel tree decoration and a neopreme bag.

I'm designer, mother, wife and business owner. And my roles do not always come in that order. My duties go from design a jewelry colection to pick up my son at school.

In your first drafts, design with no kind of filter or judgement. Free your ideas no matter how crazy they seem to be. I believe that the more ideais you have the easier and faster the result will be.

Designers have to keep their minds always opened, be alert to the technology, be updating their knowledge about materials and manufacturing processes. At home you will be seen as a super hero or someone very cool by your children. The negative points are the same technology that helps us to improve our work, is the same that allows non-designers to have a good result in their projects. I really don't think it's a bad thing at all. I just think the designers have to offer something that techonology doesn't deliver.

Think about the purpose of the product, to what it is proposed to be or do.

Creativity, flexibility, good listening and responsibility for the choice of materials.

At first, just paper, pencil and eraser. Then comes vetor softwares like Illustrator.

I love kanban system. It's a board with some different columns where you mark the status of your tasks. In addition, put away my cellphone or any other gadget that distracts me.

It depends... Sometimes it comes easy and fast, and others it can be a pain. In average I give myself a month, or a little more, to design a collection with 30-50 pieces.

I always hear "How did you do that?" from my friends, family and customers.

I've had some good job experiences. I learnt how to attend and listen the customer, how to present a project and negociate it. But only in my own company I had contact to the bad side (business administration, taxes, employees, customers complaint)... All this bad side is also important lessons.

At the moment I design for my own company.

I love crafts. I always try to include an artisanal matter in my designs.

My plans include a new brand and new collection in second semester of 2018, a online store and a Fashion Show in NY.

At the moment, I have no design team. It's just myself.

There are a new collection being designed. It will be in metal and leather cords, very very casual, but sofisticated.

Email or Whatsapp are the best ways to contact me. I reply them all.