Interview with Betina Greca Menescal

Betina Greca Menescal ("BGM") interviewed on Friday, 13 May.

How did you become a designer?

BGM : Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved drawing, painting and as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an artist. My father is a filmmaker and for many years he owned and ran, together with my mum, a film production company specialised in TV commercials. I was literally raised on film sets among creative people and I always found the creative environment more inspiring and I never pictured myself doing a regular 9 to 5 job. I am currently studying architecture at Westminster University in London and when I am not studying, I design watches, this my full-time passion. Möels & Co will be my full-time job after I finish my studies. At the moment my parents are managing the business because I don’t have the time and the experience to run a business alone.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

BGM : For me, it all starts with a paper and a pencil, they are the greatest tools a designer can have along with proper research. When I design, research is my best friend, I believe observation is my greatest craftsmanship, it allowed me to take inspiration from what has already been and with the internet I was able to learn from the best. From sketching, to digital drawings, to cardboard mockups; from learning not only the dimensions and dial design but figuring out how it all comes together, how it all fits on the inside. Obviously nowadays pencil drawings aren't enough so I used Vectorworks (CAD software) and Photoshop to develop in depth my designs.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

BGM : When I finalised my first project and I held my design prototype, I thought I would be anxious and nervous but I only felt a great deal of satisfaction and accomplishment.

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

BGM : I am a dual-citizen, I am half Brazilian, half Italian and I’ve been fortunate enough to have started traveling around the world since I was only 8yo. At 16 I was selected to be part of the Erasmus+, the European Union student exchange programme which promotes cultural, social, and academic exchanges between European students. I have been to 16 countries in 3 continents, I have lived in 4 countries and speak 3 languages. Currently I live between Italy and England, where I was exposed to different cultures and languages that offered me an intellectual and artistic environment to stimulate my creativity and help me to develop a sensitive worldview.

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

BGM : I'm only 22, I am in the very beginning of a long journey so I might not be the right person to give advice at this very early stage, but one thing I can say. Be patient and do everything to the best of your abilities; don’t underestimate hard work; partner with experienced and reputable manufacturers, work with people you can trust.

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

BGM : One of the most important skills I developed as a designer was learning to understand which ideas and concepts are not working and give up on them, no matter how much work I have put into it already. Sometimes our ideas fail and we simply need to restart with fresh eyes, but we can never think of it as wasted time and learn from our mistakes.

What is your day to day look like?

BGM : I have a very simple but busy life, I am currently studying architecture at the University of Westminster in London where I spent most of my time stuck in the workshop rushing to get my never ending list of assignments. I enjoy good movies and series when I am drawing and sketching because they help me stay concentrated and inspired. In my free time I love travelling, visiting museums and fairs around the city.

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

BGM : I believe if a design isn't unified, then it's disjointed. No matter how beautiful a design can be, if there's not some type of unity bringing all the elements together then the design will ultimately fail in its goal. In any design I create, whether it's a watch or a scooter, it needs to have a strong unity.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

BGM : Designing takes time. I was taught that a design is never truly finished and a good designer is always trying to look for ways to improve. I consider a designed finished when a good amount of satisfaction is achieved towards my work, and in my personal experience that takes around 2-4 months depending on the complexity of it.

Who is your favourite designer?

BGM : My main inspirations and the base for my designs are Raymond Loewy, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, Mies van der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames, Alvar Aaalto, Eero Saarinen, Oscar Niemeyer and Dieter Rams. Dieter Rams is one of the most influential industrial designers of the last 50 years, has had a truly remarkable impact on the design industry and the overall concept of product design as we know it today. He attempted to express what he believed to be the 10 most important principles for good design which I follow to create my own designs. He is also the author of one of my favourite pieces, the L 2 speaker, 1958, by Dieter Rams for Braun.