Guido Formenti

Specialized in Design.

Guido Formenti

About Guido Formenti

He is not a great technician, he didn’t frequent professional schools of great artists, everything he knows has been learned from his father, few years of carpentry and working as much as possible to get always better and better. he says "I've got a special gift", he can see around with "the eyes of the heart". Immersed in the solitude and silence of the mountain, far from noises and thoughts, he sees figures of various shapes in the surrounding landscape. Figures that allow him to draw and create useful and important objects that transmit emotions and sensations in everyday life.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Guido Formenti

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?
I have come slowly, creating simple objects, which gradually have been trasformed into scultures. The passion for this material has involved me since childhood, growing into the nature. Then the desire to have my own space and communicate through art has become increasingly intense.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Geometric figures, projects that rise into space, creating movement.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
During the "design" I think particulary of the beauty and singularity of the object and how to achieve the aim of putting together the beauty and functionality.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
The responsibility of a designer for the society and the environment are innovation but with respect for the nature and landscape.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
It evolves very well because new ideas are considered. This leads to great future.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
Near the Garda lake, Salò, in 2016. I am not sure about the next show.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
my creativity is the result of analytical research of the deep. mountain and the wild nature are my source of inspiration and grow my creativity.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
Making new items, growing slowly in my art, no static but dynamic creations; no drawings, just a simple sketch.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
On the mountains; no contaminations about my roots, just relax and energy from the nature.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Never give up and don't be in a hurry. The experience is made on the field and over the years.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
it is good to have this gift and express yourself through art. the negative of being a designer is the difficoulty of emerge and to not have economic help and importance by the istitution.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
forniture is my favourite because they can be very useful and used.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
My plan for the future is simple: pursuing my passion with honesty and having an income.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
During the execution of the works there are often problems for radical changes statics or even because the ideas are renewed.

Designer of the Day Interview with Guido Formenti

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I've been in the business for about twenty years, and going through positive and negative experiences, I managed to create my personal and particolar style. With my willpower and certainty in my work i managed to keep my style, without let a lot of artist influence it.Despite the lack of support by dear people, friends, institutions or critic I never let me down, always following my way to the improvement and personal realization.
How did you become a designer?
For my beginning we must go a bit back in time, already when I was a young boy I loved wood carving and create something “different”, but staying useful to. With just a tiny knife I use to carv little shapes on a wood stick while I was keeping my father’s animals.With all this years, learning more and more, i was always at work and with my tenacity and inner power I managed to create myself a space in the business, making my passion my job. So I built my workshop, in the nature that is my biggest source of inspiration.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I use to follow the triangle rule to shape my works and it means to sort of see my design like triangles. I don' t use digital tools but I prefere keep the tradition and i always make project with cardboard or plywood. I usually start new projects in a long time due to difficulties, economic and about time that I need to face.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
It is always exciting create something new. Feel the inspiration pervading your body and your mind is something indescribable, your only task i sto follow it. The satisfaction felt when you finish something you start is simply really gratifying.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I would identify myself like an artist, shaped by the tenacy and fantasy always with me. Obviously, I’ve also learned innumerabile technics that improved a lot my abilities as a disigner. The style of Josep Maria Subirachs is the one I keep with me the most. My way as a designer have always been a bit hard and difficult.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
One of my greatest dreams as an artist is be able to create structure, obviously made with wood, illustratine stylised animals. Stucture that, being a useful object, can be positionated in public places and the people can interact and enjoy them.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
My advice for new artist or designer, seeing my personal experience, is to always follow theyr own way and own dreams. It also is to stay sure of you abilities due the adversity of life.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Unfortunately I feel forced to speak about money, I would advice ( if you don’t already have the possibilities) to stay with some good artisan or/and find good sponsors.
What is your day to day look like?
I would call myself crazy, my days are complitely different one to the other. I use to spend part of the day collecting material for my works around bushes, always projecting new things and in the end make something complitely differernt. I use to work a lot with machinery but sometimes I feel I need a breack, so I enjoy staying in my orchard or enjoy a coffee in my town bar. Other days nothing else matter, just my head on the machinery and the work I’m doing, to the end of it. I guess it change with my inspiration.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
Most of the time I keep my personal style but sometimes I like to in spire about designes of the moment and I very much like art installations.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I realize a design is well done when you can see the perfect mix of art and technique added to the sensations that the artist can send while you’re observing it. Also, it must be a good misture of stability and movement, created by the artist.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
The design start from an abstract initial idea and durino the elaboration it can be edited, changed and improved considerating the technical difficulties due to bilance, stability, utilità and total harmony. When you feel you’ve reach all the things you imagined, you can say the design is ready.
What is your biggest design work?
I can say my best designed work is the one I call “labirinto” (labyrinth). That’s one of my first projects, it was created with the duty of showing a bit my life or even everyone’s life. It wants to represent the “rout” of life. It still is a source of inspiration for me and a message to everyone. I think a true artist put a bit of himself/herself inside his art.
Who is your favourite designer?
Sergio Musmeci is one of the most interesting designer in my opinio, with Zaha Hadid or also Renzo Piano.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
My favourite city, source of inspiration too, is Berlin. i don' t use music in my creations but I prefer think accompanied by the silence. One of the improvement of being an artist are the freedom to do the work you desire the most.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I use to work alone, i like to be with myself while I am creating or designin something, but I also like work with someone. My policy is a bit of semplicità, honesty, sincerity, bright curiosità and a lot of destre to do.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
i donated few object of design for places of worship or even public park.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I believe is good take part of competitions for both the progress and the end of them.During it you can feel the stress for it and the agitation accompanied by the desire of create a good object and improv it to the best. In the end you can feel the happiness of winning or, in the other side, the desire to do your best and try again another time.I think design competitions can be very important and considerable if well created, because they can make you feel the sensations just named and also they can give you the opportunity of meet and know other artists and even the pleasure of get some recognition and “looks”.

Extended Interview with Guido Formenti

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I started creating various decorative objects or useful object for the house such as spoons, cutting boards, ladles or small jewel cases and growing and getting always better I started to create sculpure more elaborate and bigger furnishings
How did you become a designer?
The desire to always create something new with my hands has been inside me since when I was a little boy and this wish, becoming stronger made me follow this way untill I became a designer.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I chosed to be a designer, nobody forced me, it was something felt inside.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I usually design object of daily use, useful things such as various furnishings and I also like art installation.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I think the sicret is work much as possible, be strong and dedicate the time to what they really whant to do, training and learning more and more.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I think it is a subjective thing, the most of the time anyone can have different opinion.
What is your day to day look like?
I would love to create art installation of very big size to put in public places such as urban park.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
My dream project is a massive art installation with a whale shape.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
I believe the sicret is a massive desire to do and never give up.
What is your biggest design work?
I don't have something in poarticular, but i like lots of them because they are interesting desing and they fascinate and inspire me.
Who is your favourite designer?
My greatest design is the one called "labirinto" (labyrinth), I love the complexity in it and the sensations you can feel observing it. The feelings and the meaning behind it are very strong and deep.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My biggest supporter is a dear friend of mine, a Franciscan friar from Modena.

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