Annemarie Ambrosoli

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Annemarie Ambrosoli ("AA") 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?

AA : I was fortunate in my young years to be influenced artistically by a relative: The artist Ercole Frigoli, whose work mainly focused on landscapes, introduced me to the technique of oil painting as well as to the love of nature. I attended courses at the Summer Academy of Bruneck (BZ), South Tyrol, Italy in the years 1992/1996 under the guidance of Professors Claus Pack, for the section "landscape" and Reinhard Adlmannseder, for the section "nude, portrait and figure". I attended drawing courses. My first aim was to paint landscapes "en plein air". Nature and landscape were my first models, where the sunlight changes the real colors. A great exercise that served me a long time later when I decided to work in the studio, to create my artworks, that actually are figures, characters wearing colorful dresses, hats, original earrings with interesting hairstyles

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

AA : I enjoy very much creating original and unique paintings, which are certainly decorative but they should be used for those who look at them carefully to illuminate his gaze, because they are positive. They tell stories and convey joy and dialogue

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

AA : I was not forced to become a designer, but it was my desire to become one. I liked to draw a lot and I liked to watch my uncle Ercole Frigoli while he painted. This has been my most important teaching

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

AA : I like to draw stylized figures in a very original composition that belongs to me. The colors are determinated to give a sense of order. This detail is very important. I would like to be involved in the jewelry and clothing industry

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

AA : In my opinion I think is important: determination, interpretation, inventiveness, good marketing strategy

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

AA : I think the good designer does something beautiful, pleasing and interesting, while a great designer manages to create impossible things

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

AA : A good design if it is functional or if it gives emotion to the viewer, automatically becomes an excellent design to be kept with care and admiration

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

AA : Everyone should invest in good design, because it is gratifying to have something special and unique, especially in case of an artwork

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

AA : It's always exciting to design and challenge to create something unique. In my case I paint works of art and ideas are numerous. I wouldn't know for who I would have planned if I had the time, but I would definitely know what to create if someone asked me a project

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

AA : I would like to make a very special jewel, I already have ideas about it

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

AA : My secret ingredient, in addition to my tenacity and my willpower, is the creation of composition in an original way, the creation of forms that although geometric are not static but live and the last ingredient is the harmony of colors that give life to the composition

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

AA : There are many designers that I like and whose projects I admire, but the first one I would nominated and to whom I could be inspired is certainly the genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, who was able to create things impossible to think of

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

AA : The fashion collections by Alessandro Michele is my favorite design. I like them because they have a vintage flavor, in which fashions from the beginning of the 20th century and the 70s and 50s are mixed

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

AA : One of my work that has really thrilled me and of which I am proud is certainly a big artwork, which was purchased at a fair in Hong Kong, to which I have participated. The title of the work is: " It's snowing". The idea was born on a winter day when it was snowing outside and seeing the big snowflakes fall, the idea was born to draw a window, small and numerous white circles to tell the snow. The very original characters that contemplate from inside the winter landscape are very stylized, very simplified, have particular and original hairstyles, that are only in my immagination and fantasy. The drafting of the color is flat, there are no shadows, but the tones of the colors are all different from each other. This work has been very appreciated by the customer. I currently work on other projects to get ready for the next fair

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

AA : I always questioning myself, reviewing what I have achieved, being critical of myself, but above all I am positive

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

AA : I am very passionate about my work as an artist. Impossible to imagine another job. Maybe I could have become a hairdresser for women

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

AA : In my opinion design is art, whether it's a painted work of art or a new and original object, anything created that revolves around an idea must bring emotion, it must convey the originality and the idea of beauty that artist or designer wanted to convey

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

AA : My sister Laura is my biggest supporter, she believe in me and in my abilities

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

AA : My passion for art, my tenacity, my positivity were the ingredients that helped me to become an artist

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

AA : Obstacles are everywhere in every profession, they are part of our life. I worked hard and for a long time in my art sector, I searched to understand myself and what I wanted to do and achieve

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

AA : I will continue to create works of art, but it is my ambition to create a jewel by my idea

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

AA : Never stop creating and painting new works, but also creating art objects based on my ideas, especially in the jewelry and clothing sector

DL: How does design help create a better society?

AA : The beauty of things, whether they are objects or artworks, make our life better if we are able to appreciate them

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

AA : Currently in my paintings there is no technology because it is a manual work

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

AA : To paint my works of art I use brushes and/or spatulas

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

AA : Color contrasts predominate in my work. To give strength to the painting the tones of colors are spread without shadows. Each shade is not the same even if it is the same color

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

AA : Since it's about paintings, my work is manual. It could be that in the future I may have a cooperation for developping other projects

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

AA : It is pleasant to receive awards. I feel flattered and I understand that my work has been appreciated

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

AA : Gold and light blue, in my house, strawberries and raspberries, summer, ring and Van Cleef & Arpel

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

AA : No, but later when I was a young girl it was clear that I wanted to become an artist

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

AA : It's really hard to answer. Who knows what progress will bring. Obviously there will be certainly changes, emotions and moods of people and the climate will change. I hope it will be a positive and better world

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

AA : I am a serene, happy and positive person. I want to convey to my fans my emotions through my stories that I paint. In the near future I will want to create original objects, probably jewelry