Interview with Olina Francova and Jitka Arazimova

Olina Francova and Jitka Arazimova ("OFAJA") interviewed on Wednesday, 25 April.

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

OFAJA : For us is not important is we create a sculpture, picture or a design - the process of creation is the same. That is what enriches our lives since we can remember and we believe that that the culture, art and design can improve the world around us. And the world we live in really deserve this improvement. We didn't do this just for us - but also for our children and hopefully for childen of our children. That is very important - that is what we feel as a commitment.

How did you become a designer?

OFAJA : We have been friends since we’ve studied at the Secondary Arts School. Coincidentally, we met six years ago and joined forces under a new brand, Franco Arazzi, to design and sew handmade leather handbags - multibags. We both are artists for all our lives, Olina as a iron sculptor and Jitka as a graphic artist. So there was just a small step from art to the applied design.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

OFAJA : The most important aspects for us are the creativity, multifunctionality and the minimalistic design. The design process covers heads, hands, paper and pencil, scissors and sewing machine.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

OFAJA : Freedom and happiness :-). Honestly, we enjoy the process of creation itself. It is a social extension and design therapy for us. We design andcreate something that is essentially ours, based on our experience and needs. We test each modelpersonally and investigate how to improve it, what to add, what to get rid of... We are surprised how the meetings with our customers enriche us. These meetings are both inspirational and often end up in a true friendship. Here we connect our need for creating, designing and communicating with the social aspect of knowing new people. We are interested in their opinion, needs and life experiences.

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

OFAJA : Why we try to "cure by design" and to convince the society that the otherness is correct. That good design enriches life. That fashion is supposed to be fun for all: for its creator, bearer, and for ordinary observer. We see design challenges in all life situations, whether they concern us directly or not. We have fun, enjoy and enrich our, and perhaps not only our, lives. There’s no reason to live in a gray world when there are so many colors around! Why bother with different trends or dictates when it is possible to freely create and go on your own path! Everything isjust a matter of personal choice - regardless of whether you are twenty or a hundred years old!

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

OFAJA : Our every project is a realization of one of our dreams :-)Due to our age and experience we fully enjoy every project and we think that that is the best way how to live.Nowadays, we are shooting our collection in Venice and we are really enjoying that our collection Multibags Rebels just become our fulfilled dream!

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

OFAJA : We recommend the creativity, empathy and modesty - because those are the rarest skills in the world.The most important in life is the hard honest work which fill you with joy and happiness - awards and renome will come later if you will work with your heart.

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

OFAJA : Do your work honestly and with passion as well as you can. Then the results of your work will fulfill the rest of your life with happiness and joy - and that should be the main goal.

What is your day to day look like?

OFAJA : We enjoy every creative day in our lives - morning is dedicated to social media and communication with our customers and afternoons we spent by desinging of new models..

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

OFAJA : The good design should sets the trends not vice versa.We extremely enjoy the inventing of new models anywhere anytime - e.g. before felling asleep or waking up, but also during travelling or visiting galleries. We embrace any inspiration but we try to avoid following now-away fashion trends.

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

OFAJA : The enthusiasm of your customers and recognition of design professional and experts.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

OFAJA : We test each model personally and investigate how to improve it, what to add, what to get rid of...

What is your biggest design work?

OFAJA : Our most favorite design is the collection Multibags Rebels, e.g. model Vagabondo and Ribelle. We enjoy the combination of multifunctionality and ropes with knots. Our ambition is to create multifunctional bags that will match with their owners and that will merge with their personalities and become part of their lives. We would like to inspire the owners to use multibags according their own fantasy - both for tying different knots and for further experimentation: the rope can be removed from the bag and used when you need to tie something; the bag itself can also be a seat or a pillow...

Who is your favourite designer?

OFAJA : We enjoy the good design from anyone but there are so many great designers that is really hard to name just one or two of them..

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

OFAJA : We live in Prague, the main city of the Czech Republic, which is well known for its unique architecture includes gothic and baroque. Culture itself is essential to our humanity.

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

OFAJA : We believe in original design (to avoid plagiarism) and rules of Fair-trade - no child or underpaid work in the poor countries or wasting of matherials. We make sure that our materials (bovine leather) is from food farm animals where leather is a secondary raw material and not from animals dedicated to kill for their fur. The starting point for us has been a maximum of natural material.

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

OFAJA : Art and culture enriches and improves our lives. Exploring the design possibilities of objects that were created to carry things has brought up the issue of multi-functionality as well as creations for the physically challenged. In a special nonprofit project we created bags, handbags and backpacks especially for individuals with various types of physical disabilities according to their needs. Our latest nonprofit project focuses on the design of ‘bare head’ hats for women after chemotherapy.

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

OFAJA : The most important benefit for us was assessment of our collection and our approach to design by the international design experts. And we really appreciate the opportunity to enlarge the impact of our brand to the professional society.

Olina Francova and Jitka Arazimova Profile