Interview with Nicoletta Santini

Nicoletta Santini ("NS") interviewed on Tuesday, 17 November.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

NS : After my graduation in Interior Design at IED - International Institute of Design of Milan in the July 2015, I started my collaborations as Exhibition and Interior Designer with several Architectural and Design Studios, like Studio di Architettura FM, Studio di Architettura Barbara Pizzi and Forfun Design Studio, and Companies, like BD Expo s.r.l.. Thanks to this collaborations I had the possibily to design and realize projects for well-known clients (Caffarel, Pavoni Italia, Telcom, Bottaro, Koelnmesse, Sicam) and to improve my professional skills.

How did you become a designer?

NS : I have always considered designers as supporters of the world progress and the idea of be potentially part of this change motived me to become a designer.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

NS : During designing I am firstly focused on the function of my project that should satisfy the client's needs. After that, I research sustainable materials and innovative lighting system to propose something unique to the client and I never forget to take care about the aesthetical impact of the project. Innovation and emotions are the basis of all my designs and the technology I use to realize them is the rendering such as the virtual reality.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

NS : During the designing time I feel my self a bit under pressure because I am focused on all the requests of the client and to the way I should satisfy all of them but when I am in front of my creations I feel a unique sense of freedom. This is the reason why design is my passion in addition to my work.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

NS : During my last year of the classical high-school I discovered my interest for the design world. I was researching about its origins when I realize that I would have liked to become a designer of the future.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

NS : My passion for the design world is wide but I focused my work on the interior and exhibition fields. I wish to take part soon of a furniture design process.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

NS : The constant research of uniqueness is the fundamental ingredient of the design process to create always something "out of the box". Problems, failures and difficulties are part of the creative times but it is foundamental to be aware of our abilities and keep on working and designing without fears.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

NS : I suggest young designers to be adaptable specialists, possessing the attitude and confidence to move out from their comfort zones and work with whatever method and prototyping tools are appropriate to communicate and realize their ideas. In addition to that, simplicity and clearness permit the designer to make his works understandable and valuable by the public but he should never forget to create a bit of suspension to let the clients desire their creations.

What is your day to day look like?

NS : Before to start my ordinary days and to focus my self on different projects, requests and thoughts I am used to take some minutes for personal reflection. It helps my to remain open-minded and concentrated on the following steps of my life.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

NS : Because of the variety of my projects I don't have a defined inspiration and I try to be inspired always from different elements which can be latest design trends but also nature, architecture or arts. More than the latest design trends, I am more focused on new technics and sustainable materials.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

NS : The value of good design is characterized by ethic and moral function in addition to the traditional aspect of a well-done design like the functionality and the aesthetics. Because the good design takes care to its impact on the future and the society, all the companies and the buyers should prefer this type of production.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

NS : The main aspects of a complete and good design are the simple and clear use, the innovative shape and the sustainable materials. The constant research of uniqueness is the fundamental ingredient of design process ti create always something "out of the box".

What is your biggest design work?

NS : The project I developed for my thesis called "Stream", a 65 mt superyacht where sustainability, elegance and research were melt to satisfy to needs of an hypothetical foreign client.

Who is your favourite designer?

NS : Bruno Munari was the first designer I studied and the one who inspired me most. Because of his versatility and openmind, this versatile artist and designer has the ability to define and distinguish the role of the designer to the artist one. His creativity and positivity are the main reasons why I would like to meet him, if I was given a chance.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

NS : The Italian culture based on the research of beauty and the history of art and design is the base of my education such as the foundation of my design career. The Minimalism is the style which defines my projects and inspires me more. The simplicity of the shapes, the basic colors and the selected materials in addiction to clear functions are the characteristics of my design such as the minimal style.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

NS : I usually collaborate with companies as a freelancer or employer, it depends on the type of collaboration I am defining. During designing I am firstly focused on the function of my project that should satisfy the client's needs. After that, I research sustainable materials and innovative lighting system to propose something unique to the client and I never forget to take care about the aesthetical impact of the project.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

NS : Design is thought, it is cultural anthropology, because it must understand the needs of the world, of cultures and must know how to respond with an ethical conscience, technical knowledge, aesthetic harmony. The main aspects of a good design are the simple and clear use, the innovative shape and the sustainable materials.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

NS : When I decided to attend the A' Design Award I was unsure about my victory. The partecipation to this wellknown competition permitted me to prove my design and communication skills, to make me visible internationally and to live a unique experience in this particular year.

Nicoletta Santini Profile