Interview with Alice Tedesco

Alice Tedesco ("AT") interviewed on Thursday, 22 March.

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

AT : My name is Alice Tedesco, I am an Interior and Product Designer. During the last six years, I have practiced on three different continents, working for architectural firms and independently as a designer.

How did you become a designer?

AT : I decided to become a designer when I was sixteen when I first moved to Milan to join the Brugo Fashion school.Growing up I figure that "design" means freedom to be curious and I could actually make it my profession.So I did, I directed my curiosity through the several aspects of Design, from Graphic to pitch a project to service and product design. This process brought me naturally to the Interior Design field, where I am happily standing now.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

AT : Research, empathy and technical preparation. These are the three basic skills I worked on for each project.The research is the first fundamental aspect of any of my projects, from this, I work on the final user according to the clients' requirements to give back the best experience.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

AT : When I am in the middle of a design process I am so focused that suddenly I forget to eat or to sleep. I fall in a frenetic state of mind that can last hours or days, depending on the scale of the project, and I let flows and flows of ideas passing through my notes and sketches until I am satisfied with the output. For the time I get out of this phase I have my new concept and I am ready to get back into the real world.

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

AT : For sure my background in Industrial Design is been crucial to emerging as Interior Designer, as well as my experience in Service Design is a solid box of tools I can access anytime for a better understanding not only my corporate's clients but mostly the final user's needs.

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

AT : I see myself traveling the world, project to project, in order to "make something meaningful happens" not only for me but for the rest of the world.

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

AT : Always learn from who is doing better than you. My advice for the younger generation is to study from the past and learn according to the present world we are living. Talk with many people you can, travel as much as you want, and, mostly get out of your comfort zone to challenge yourself every day.

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

AT : From my experience, most of the lack is in the detail. Being a detail-oriented designer is what makes the difference, in the end. Eyes and soul have to be connected in order to see further and understand what other professional are missing, for lack of interest or superficiality.

What is your day to day look like?

AT : Every day is very different but I always start with a coffee and a cigarette, watching the day outside, I clean my mind and I am ready to go task to task through my daily schedule.

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

AT : I am always very careful with the trends, trends aren't my main focus but I am aware. When I design, I work on a vision that goes beyond the temporary color or shape, using the trends as antibiotics, very carefully and only when truly needed.

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

AT : I know is well-done design if a product or space catch my eye and when I get closer I don't get disappointed.I know is a great design when I don't even get closer and just stand in front of the design as in front of a masterpiece with a big "WOW" in my ears.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

AT : Fortunately, design, mostly interior for commercials, have strict boundaries: time, cost and functionality first.This helps me visualize, and accept, the end of a project since the earliest stage of its concept. Never the less, every time I feel like that mother who's bringing his only child to the altar, because I approach every project like there's no other one.

What is your biggest design work?

AT : For sure Bellavista, with Sframe that won the A'Design Award 2017 in Lighting Product is one of them, but the biggest will come soon, I'll keep you posted.

Who is your favourite designer?

AT : Renzo Piano, Tadao Ando, Kengo Kuma, Frank Lloyd Wright, Dordoni, to say few.I don't have a favorite one, I have few of them as "guardians spirits" of my design.

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

AT : I am Italian, and a proud Sicilian. This makes all the difference, for those who never been in Sicily, you should know I grew up in a very small town in front of the Mediterrean Sea, always playing outside, looking every morning that endless line of the horizon and thinking "I need to get out of here!" but no place is like home and I still love to get out for a walk with the purpose of getting lost and found.

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

AT : My work is mainly a matter of communication, you have to learn how to deal with several other people, because, as designer, you will need a lot of people to make the magic happens. I think people are the greatest fun and I am glad I am working with multiple design teams because this has allowed me the benefit and the honor to learn from other professionals, better than me and helped me establish building solid network and a flexible organizational scheme.

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

AT : As young designer I always use young designers and local artist to work on the projects. I am also an ecodesigner and I am actually publishing a book about the new trends of sustainable design and social innovation in Brazil, thanks to the research I developed few years ago, I'll show tens of case studies to demonstrate that a better approach is possible and necessary to have.

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

AT : I loved to join the A' Design Award, besides been an important window to the world for any designer, this experience helped me improve my presentation skills and leverage in the field. I strongly advise to any valuable designer to join this competition and who knows, win?

Alice Tedesco Profile