Among the various themes, great importance has been given to the selection of materials, their quality and sustainability of production processes, know-how and, finally, the possibility to customize the offer according to the needs of the interior decoration market.
In particular, choosing high quality materials is one of the most important requirement to grant highly valuable and refined products, which can correctly represent the craftsmanship know-how behind a piece of furniture.
Giancarlo Bosio, Giorgetti’s Art Director, stresses the importance of these elements in valuing and enhancing the beauty and design of furniture and accessories combined with elegant craftmanship.
“Combining leather with fabric is always a way to create remarkable pieces because leather is a more robust and polished, whereas fabric is often 3D decorated, and warmer. The combination of these two materials emphasizes different textures that in their turn emphasize the design of our pieces that is highly valued. […] And, on top of that, there is the qualified craftsmanship because it is not always that simple to combine materials with different tensions and this technical detail highlights the high quality of a made in Italy artisanal product.”
(image courtesy of Giorgetti)
The experienced combination of high-quality raw materials and the ability to manufacture pieces with a valuable know-how are the key elements making the company’s distinctive trait and contributing to brand awareness and product success.
The last couple of years have strongly impacted the way we run businesses and, consequently, the offer and services offered for clients. As discussed with Michelle Bradley, founder of Bradley USA, adopting an open mind, listening to clients’ needs and strengthening relationships are the key elements to make the business grow.
Karen Ferguson, Interior Principal of Harrison Design adds another important piece, which is the authenticity and quality of materials as the pivot for making the right choice, as well as the possibility to inspire clients with products and authentic decorative panels which can also give space to customization.
“Products have to be authentic and have to be the best quality. There are sometimes things that look like something else, but I usually like the real product. So that is why I like using leather or marble, just different items that have been around forever and just using them in different ways it is kind of fun, but they are just really good quality and that is where I am focused on”.
(image courtesy of Harrison Design; photo by Emily Followill)
Quality, know-how, authenticity, and customization are all fundamental to the success of the product but being able to do so while adopting a more sustainable approach surely represents a challenge as well as daily commitment.
Viola Dalle Mese, marketing manager of Conceria Montebello, partner of the tanning group of which Studioart is part, describes which and how many elements intervene in the certification process while clarifying leather’s animal origins and pros and cons of alternatives to leather.
“First thing, I think we need to prove wrong that we do not kill animals to produce leather because all our hides are scraps of the food industry. We have to keep in mind that tanning may be one of the oldest forms of recycling and it recovers and enhances the food waste. […] There is no imitation material that retains the characteristics of leather and often the substitute materials are even more polluting. […] Our philosophy is that sustainability is in the process. It is only by being devoted to each step of the production process and looking into the details of the process that you gain and develop a sustainable cycle”.
Being part of a process aiming at reducing the environmental impact of a company makes more responsible and conscious of the selection of materials, that must consider both functional and aesthetic properties.
Ruud Van Oosterhout, founder of Rvodesign and lecturer of the Design Accademy of Eindhoven for the Man & Leisure design department explains the reasons why he prefers to choose aesthetic instead of functionality, when looking to compromise between the two.
“[…] I think beauty is way more important than function […] it is like art. Art has to be beautiful, it does not need a function as it is a personal story and I think it is the same with the interior. To me functionality is so outdated and lot of times in the design process when everything starts about functionality, this is what destroys its beauty. […] When we designed your leather wall it was almost in suede and this is not so functional, but it was in the main hallway in one of the most amazing properties we designed and I think that because is so beautiful and tactile, people take care of it, they nurture it. Of course, if people ask why leather wall next to a staircase 3 floors high, is it is functional? Of course not, but because it is so beautiful, the aesthetic value, the aesthetic beauty, the tactility, and the beautiful design that people start to respect this wall and nurture it.”
(image courtesy of RVO Design)
Each interview has been a great food for thought regarding product design and approach to creativity, showing different ways to tackle difficult issues while adopting a proactive and constructive approach and giving important insights on the selection of the right materials and finishes for projects.
A special thanks goes to all our guests participating to this initiative, in order of appearance:
Arch. Giancarlo Bosio, Art Director of Giorgetti
Viola Dalle Mese, Marketing manager of Conceria Montebello
Francesca Muzio, founder of FM Architettura
Michelle Bradley, owner of Bradley USA
Karen Ferguson, Principal Interiors of Harrison Design
Caterina Iakovenko, founder of JP Interiors Design
Ruud Van Oosterhout, founder of Rvodesign
To discover more, all interviews are available on Studiaort IGTV channel.
