Mariel Nina Lazo

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Mariel Nina Lazo ("MNL") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

MNL : It was in 2007 when I realized that I wanted to become an industrial designer. My friend, who was then an industrial design student (and I was a computer applications student) at a Philippine based school, asked me to sit in her prototype presentation finals class. I was in awe at how my friend and her classmates were able to make mock-ups on their own from scratch. So after my first college graduation, I decided to study industrial design at the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, USA. I graduated in 2010 and decided to go back to Manila, Philippines. My path to furniture design started when I joined Red Box, a design development program for young designers initiated by Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). Julia chair was showcased in October 2015 at Manila Fame, an international furniture show based in the Philippines.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

MNL : When you look at a cylinder on top view, you see a square shaped form, when you fold a square then it looks like a triangle. These simple views motivates me to be a designer - to see things from different perspectives.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

MNL : I choose to become a designer.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

MNL : I design home furniture pieces and I wish to design more on functional commercial spaces for my country, Philippines.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

MNL : My suggestion to young designers is to keep thinking of ideas and put everything in writing or draw your ideas. There is no such thing as a bad idea to do not take it for granted nor disregard it;keep it and maybe in a few years you'll go over it and find it useful. Always remember to keep all ideas simple but unique.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

MNL : A good design is being able to to meet its main purpose while a great designer is adding more to the main purpose. For example, a chair is used for people to sit on it and be comfortable. For it to be a good design, the user should be able to sit on it comfortably. What will make it a great design is when you add an additional function to it - the chair can be transformed into a table or a cabinet or you can add a drawer under the seat.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

MNL : In a good design, the first thing you consider is being able to meet its purpose. The second would be the durability of it. The last would be the aesthetics. For example, a chair to be a good design: 1. You should be able to sit on it; 2. When you sit on it, the chair should not break; 3. The chair should blend in with your existing pieces.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

MNL : A good design is basically a product or service that meets your expectations based on its main function. Everyone should invest in a good design because not only it adds beauty to your space but it also defines who you are and what you want other people to see in you.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

MNL : My dream project is to be able to participate and design a furniture landscape or creative street furniture for my country, Philippines and for the Filipino people. I also would want to design a furniture piece for Pope Francis. Also, I would want to design/work with Filipino furniture designers such as Kenneth Cobonpue and Budji Layug.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

MNL : My dream project is to be able to participate and design a furniture landscape or creative street furniture for my country, Philippines and for the Filipino people.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

MNL : I do not have a secret recipe nor secret ingredient of success in design but I think it is important that you ask for help, listen and consider what other people think of your design for improvement.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

MNL : I get inspiration from Donal'd A. Norman, the author of The Design of Everyday Things. He simply explains what a good design is, which is the plainness of a function and how it should be able to have a good communication between the product itself and the user.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MNL : I like the Dragnet Lounge Chair of Kenneth Cobonpue. The inspiration is from a fisherman's net and yet the design of it it not too literal. I also like the designs of Zaha Hadid. Although her designs were structurally challenging for me, I think it was brave, persistent and bold of her to make it possible. She is a perfect example of making impossible things possible.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

MNL : I believe my greatest design is the Julia Chair. I like how the wood slats were applied in a radial form. I also believe that my client, Triboa Bay Living, was a big part of making Julia a great design through their very clean and good craftsmanship.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

MNL : Listen to your client, mentors, friends because they are your (potential) market and they can tell you a different perspective from your own.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

MNL : If I hadn't become a designer, I would be more focusing on our family business.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

MNL : Design for me is a continuing process of creating something new from an existing object. It can also be a combination of two or more existing objects, creating a new form and/or function. In the end, design should not only be an idea or a plan, but it should be executed and expressed. For the design to be a success, I think your audience should be able to have his/her own interpretation, making it their own.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

MNL : My biggest support is my mother who gave me the opportunity to study industrial design in another country and be able to experience a different design approach.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MNL : I listened to my mentor and friends on their opinion on my design/s.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

MNL : During the production of Julia, there were problems along the way like time constraint and trial and errors since the technique applied on the chair is new to the manufacturer/client. At that time we were beating a deadline. I didn't have a back up plan because I really wanted Julia to be out in time for the exhibit.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

MNL : It actually depends on how comfortable you are in presenting your work. But for me it works when I show a small scale mock-up of my designs rather than a drawing. With a small scale mock-up you'll be able to see all perspectives while holding it.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MNL : The latest I did for Triboa and for Julia chair is pair it with a nesting table. I would want to make more pieces to partner it with Julia/to be able to make a collection. In addition, I still would want to focus on using wood as a material for my design pieces.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

MNL : My goal is to be able to promote Filipino handcrafted pieces through my design and ideas. In addition, through my designs, I want my audience to be able to have their own interpretation of it and be able to express it through design and execution of it.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

MNL : People expect you to be consistently good and it can be a good or a bad thing on your part, depending on how you take it. For me, just be yourself, take your time, and do not be pressured. A good design will just come out naturally anytime.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MNL : I think the participation of a designer and his/her design to the society is making things around us more interesting and useful. From there, we are able to discover something new, something not only what the society needs but also ourselves.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

MNL : I am currently working on design collections to be able to create a story.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

MNL : Julia chair and Lolita night lamp. I liked how it turned out to be - the simplicity of the materials and clean look of it. I believe it is the craftsmanship that made these projects beautiful.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

MNL : I hope to see design industry to be focused more on hand craftsmanship than dependent mostly on technology. In additional I hope design industry would focus on including nature as part of a design piece without causing damage to it.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

MNL : I think the design filed is headed towards designs being multi-functional and use of materials that are less hazardous.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

MNL : Two weeks to one month

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

MNL : I start looking for inspirations. So far, most of my design projects are based on things that I see at home and at my workplace.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MNL : Less is more.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

MNL : I believe it is the design that sets the trend.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

MNL : The role of technology when I design is making your design faster and easier to execute and express especially when you show it to your client/market.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

MNL : For software it would be Sketch Up. With tools/equipment, I usually use a cutter, ruler and power tools.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

MNL : Color, materials and ambient adds beauty not only on your design but also at your home, work office, anywhere. In addition, it gives character to yourself.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

MNL : The inspiration about my design. I love to share people about the story of it so they can understand the passion and hard work that I invested to it.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

MNL : Wanting to own it.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

MNL : Yes, I believe in co-designing. It gives new meaning to more than one idea.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

MNL : My mentor, Mr. Budji Layug and Triboa Bay Living's Mr. Randy Viray.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

MNL : Basics Product Design 01: Idea Searching by David Bramston, The Art of Tinkering by Karen Wilkinson and Mike Petrich, The Design of Everyday Things by Donal'd A. Norman.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

MNL : Always have a pen/pencil and paper with you and draw, sketch or write as much as you can.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

MNL : Leonardo da Vinci, Zaha Hadid, the creative person of Coldplay (or Chris Martin).

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

MNL : I feel happy and honored to be representing Julia chair and the furniture industry of the Philippines.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MNL : Favorite color, blue. Favorite place, home, San Francisco and Japan. Favorite food, crabs and shrimps. Favorite season, spring. Favorite thing, cutter and ruler. Favorite brand, Uniqlo and Giordano.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

MNL : I will never forget the time when I made an agreement with the client to make a full scale mock-up of Julia chair. It was memorable for me because it was my first time to make a mock-up and I had to say yes right away so that they will be able to help me in making Julia possible. I did the mock-up from scratch with a little help from my friends in helping me find scrap materials.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

MNL : When you look at a cylinder on top view, you see a square shaped form, when you fold a square then it looks like a triangle. These simple views motivates me to be a designer - to see things from different perspectives.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

MNL : While I was studying industrial design in San Francisco, California, USA, my friend reminded me that, when we were kids I once told her that my role model is St. Joseph and that I wanted to be a carpenter. I don't recall telling her that, but I do remember when I was a kid, I would play on my father's hammer and screw drivers.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

MNL : Thousand years from now, just like technology, people will be very much dependent on design in every aspect - that design will be a part of hierarchy of needs - hopefully in a good impact in one's life.