Emanuele Spano

Since I was a kid I’ve been looking for ways to channel my emotions, both positive and negative ones. I also wanted to express my dream to change those parts of the world that I don’t like. With art and design I finally found an answer: create something capable of expressing emotional contents. During my school years I’ve had the chance to meet famous designers, which helped me to find my own way.

Mine is a “one man company” that includes a wide range of activities: interior photography, interior design, web design, video design & motion graphic. The company is named “I’m where I live” because it is settled in a “Torre Saracena” – a typical architecture of my homeland, the Salento, in the south of Italy. A traditional space that I have powered up with contemporary design objects. As a result, it’s a place for work and relax as well: a balanced mix designed to express my creativity.

Design is a different angle, a peculiar point of view that allows to observe reality in an unconventional way. That is why I believe that initial observation and final result are strictly connected.

There is not only one answer to this question. In design I like different styles and specializations: the Elica Design Center’s team for product and architecture (Kappa/ hood Legend Elica); the Bluecadet team from Philadelphia, especially their works related to the online museums management. I also love Segnaprogetto for rendering and Tiwi in the domain of video design.

On 2008, while I was attending the “Photography and visual Design” master course at FORMA in Milano, I met Marina Carrara, director of the italian architecture and decor magazine “CasaViva”. Marina commissioned my first important job: a photo session in a private house, to be published on her magazine. For that assignment I have also managed the interior design set up for the photo shooting. Meeting Marina has been crucial to define my path as an interior designer

I have a preference for the Italian limestone (pietra di Lecce): it has a warm appearance and it’s very adaptable. That said, I enjoy to design by mixing different tecniques and technologies, such as drawing, rendering and photography.

When I clear my mind of worries, so that I can focus on revealing details in inspirational objects and people.

First of all I think about the feasibility of the project, assessing its impact on people and the environment.

My idea of successful is a 100% eco-friendly project that doesn’t neglet beauty and unconventional style. A balance between goals, expectations and the environment that will eventually host the final result.

Effectiveness, innovation and relevance with the social and historical background of a specific place.

To protect and to improve the existing, and to bring new life and function to those objects and spaces that have fallen into disuse.

The most important aspect is the cross-fertilization of different design specializations and sets of skills, together with the current evolution of the software. Design is playing a crucial role in creating web products.

My last exibition was at the Elica’s “Designer Lounge”, an innovative stand created by Riccardo Diotallevi for the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milano): a multisensorial path where the visitor can see my interior design creations.

My territory, where I was born and I live, is a powerful source of inspiration with its beautiful nature, the thousand-year history of Muro Leccese, its social context. I read as well several papers of design, always trying to keep myself up-to-date. Moreover, collaboration – with other designers, with public and private corporations and with artists from different fields – is very important to me. It often happens that I don’t immediately have the answer to a specific question or need. The research and problem-solving process itself is a great source of inspiration.

Although I often start from an actual detail, usually a naturalistic one, I can’t describe my style with a single sentence. I am certainly open to artistic cross-fertilization and I believe this is very important in our line of work work. Actually I work for a project (workplace and front office of a touristic agency) and my inspiration is by organics shapes. I consider Zaha Zadid's interior design approach a starting point and a crucial model. For what concerns photography, i'm putting into practice Pierpaolo Ferrari's lesson about the use of artificial lights. In any case, I try not to limit myself and to adjust my approach step by step.

I live in a wonderful medieval town, Muro Leccese, in Puglia. I constantly feel the Saracen and Messapica architectural and artistic influence into my works, crucial references for my visual experience.

By proposing innovative ideas to the company and supporting the customer in every step of the process, from planning to realization. I always try to listen and understand their needs, I don’t take anything for granted.

I believe that by choosing a designer for a collaboration, a company already reveals to be far-sighted. International contests are a precious tools for such companies, selecting and underlining those designers that would actually provide an added value with their work.

Let’s sum this up with some keywords: intuition, invention, budget costraints, implementation, achievement. Every single step has several emotional and professional sides, and every time it’s about facing a brand new experience.

The floor lamp “Cadmo” by Karim Rashid; the “Him&Her” chairs by Fabio Novembre; Pimar objects by Luca Sacchetti; the Cordivari “Hand” radiator by Mariano Moroni; the Jacuzzi wellness system “Alpha” by Pininfarina.

My day begins at dawn. We could say that 50% of my work takes place in the early morning. I either work in my laboratory (shooting, post production, planning) or attend to meetings with companies, in order to define the projects to come. I usually work until late evening: I think it’s normal when you are really passionate about your job.

Well, I still feel like being a young designer, with a lot to learn and experience. I think the most important thing for us, young designers, is to propose ourselves not as a simple good or service, but as a necessary and valuable partner. I strongly believe in hard work, because it really makes the difference.

The most attractive side of the interior designer work is doing a job that gives me a wide opportunity to express my creativity. The deepest limit concerns the economical aspect: we start from an initial project idea that afterwards could be significantly modified or reduced because of budget constraints

To always consider myself accountable for my choices and the effects of my decisions.

Pencils and pens, sheets of various sizes and weights, photo editing and rendering softwares, camera, lights and a projector.

In my experience, for a designer is very hard to manage his time: I lost count of the nights spent in the studio and of the business trips set up with just one day notice. But that’s good, because I love what I do, as simple as that.

One of the most exciting work experience I’ve ever had was planning and executing a photographic and editorial project in Africa for Canon. And of course my work for Mondadori, side by side with international names such as Yona Friedman, Peter Gerchke and Pierpaolo Ferrari on the set of Armani, Richmond and BMW.

I have clients both in the public and the private field. I develop interior design and photography projects with several design and decor magazines: DDN Design Diffusion, Mondadori, Tecniche Nuove Publications. I deal with the design and management of web projects for companies and sports clubs, such as the Betitaly Volleyball, currently in the second league of the Italian national championship; I also make video campaigns for national associations such as the Fratres, a blood donors association.

I like to design interior spaces that reflect the personality of their inhabitants, because it provides me a better understanding of my clients and their needs.

I’m taking part in some contests about the workplace issues, hopefully I will realise new projects very soon. I'm also very passionate about photography, by publishing my interior design researchs on Italian and international magazines.

I single-handedly take care of photographic/video productions, web design and communication. On the design planning front, I work with the graphics and rendering team Segnoprogetto (Udine), one of the partners of my "I'm Where I Live" network.

I’m currently engaged in the definition of an eco-Museum for Arts and Italian Architecture, a project that I would love to see fullfilled in my region. An innovative structure for architectural, with structural solutions built respecting the environment and non-conventional materials; but it will also be highly contemporary and accessible, thanks to an intuitive and efficient web platform.

Italian landscape is quite difficult for those who start to career as a designer, in expectation of significant assignments. But I hope and believe that eventually the quality of the work will pay off.