Cibelle Costa Barbosa

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Cibelle Costa Barbosa ("CCB") 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?

CCB : I began my studies in Architecture at PUCCAMP - Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (The Pontifical Catholic University Campinas Campus), Campinas, SP, Brazil. Later, I transferred to the Franca University, SP where I graduated and decided to settle down in 1996, and where I conceived my first professional architectural features. Some years later, in 2006, I was postgraduated in Project Management by de FGV (Getulio Vargas Foundation) at city of Ribeirão Preto/SP.

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

CCB : My trajectory as an architect and urban planner started in my childhood. As a child, my love for the arts was expressed through freehand drawing, classical piano and ballet lessons. I have ever been a lover art and become an architect provide me express all my feelings and my artistic side through my work.

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

CCB : The choice flows naturally because I was always in touch on draws and creative activities.

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

CCB : I have designed a lot of residences, commercial establishment and interior design of them. Now, I want to design more public spaces like malls, theaters, art galleries, museums as well.

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

CCB : The main point is working on ethic thoughts and attitudes, respecting other professionals, being humble and kind with your team, and designing with passion and love.

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

CCB : a good designer does things according to the expectations of his clients. A great designer exceeds all the expectations of his clients.

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

CCB : The projects´concept and the main ideas make the design good one. Understanding the intention of the project, if it reaches the users´needs, if it respects and harmonizes with the surroundings, which materials were used to construct it, and finally if it has any kind of beauty and balance´s proportions as well.

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

CCB : A good design gives back the investment through a quality space, comfort, functionality and beauty.

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

CCB : I would design any kind of space that could inspiring people to be better, a space that makes people thinking about good feelings and positives vibrations, a space that could heal people, transforming the energy through the architecture, using scents, colors, shapes, sounds. I really would design for Disney World.

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

CCB : A hospital that brings much more than functionality, a space that allows treat and heal people using an Affective Architecture

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

CCB : The starting point is taking a good briefing, making good questions, to get the right answers. The project translate the needs, thoughts and dreams of the clients.

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

CCB : Zaha Hadid, Oscar Niemeyer, Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind and Kenzo Tange.

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

CCB : At first, becoming better people. The design only reflects what people has inside.

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

CCB : Recently I moved to United States, to improve my work as an architect. So my goal now is beggining to work in an Architecture and Interior Design company to join the team and contribute using my abilities to do always a good job. I can do my best for it.

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

CCB : People may expect creativity, boldness and dedication on the new projects.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

CCB : Design is a kind of art. And art is always in touch for our soul. So, this spiritual connection makes the design a divine act.

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

CCB : A Basketball Center Mall, a thematic space composed by stores, gas station and restaurants. The design was made to be built in Franca, Brazil, the Brazilian Basketball Capital.

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

CCB : A contemporary house that was ready in the beginning of this year, after three years of intensive work. A very efficient and dedicate project and build team worked on it. Engineers, contractors, designers, and all the construct team worked in harmony and the communication flowed so well, resulting a good job.

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

CCB : I´d like to see increase in numbers of sustainable constructions, and new technologies of materials.

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

CCB : The design field is going to be more useful, expressing artistic features, functional, practical. Nature will be increasingly present in buildings whenever possible.

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

CCB : It depends of the kind of project. Generally a residential project is faster than a commercial project, because it means a lot of researches.

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

CCB : The starting point is identify the place, realizing the surroundings and then put the clients needs and thoughts in the beginning of the project.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

CCB : Architecture is a tool to become people´s life better.

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

CCB : I really think a great design sets the trends.

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

CCB : Technology has a fundamental role. From it, I can choose the best way of materials and structures to express my design and construct it.

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

CCB : Autocad, Revit, pencil and sheets.

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

CCB : The color and materials are very important to complement a good design. The right choice defines the successful of the construct result.

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

CCB : what do you feel when you hdesign?

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

CCB : The designer reached the excellence and achieved the best result. It´s priceless for all designers.

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

CCB : I don´t have an ideal design partner, but I believe in co-design as a opportunity of expand the project ideas.

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

CCB : Some Brazilian Architects and Designers: Rodrigo Ferraz, Arthur Casas, Debora Aguiar, Fernanda Marques, Bruno Faucz.

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

CCB : Oscar Niemeyer biography, Leonardo Boff, (Crisis: growth opportunity)

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

CCB : Working hard, leading a project team, managing the construction team, doing Design with passion during 23 years, loving each day my profession and appreciating all the works´ opportunities.

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

CCB : My grandma that don´t live more between us.

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

CCB : I feel gratitude for the awards received. About the famous is temporary, as our life. So the most important time is now, and my heart is full of gratitude and happiness.

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

CCB : White, Paris, Truffle risotto, Spring, my piano, Bechstein.

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

CCB : The world must be better each day, and my work as a designer must follow this improvements.

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

CCB : Absolutely! I was sure that my draws will become beautiful constructions.

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

CCB : The velocity is changing, much faster than before. In the future, all the people will have a space to live. The planet will be more respected, the natural resources will be used with consciousness, the people will be more kind with each other. The life will be much better than now, respecting the animals and plants, transforming the planet a better place to live.

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

CCB : I really didn´t expect win this important prize. It´s the first time that I participate of a international competition. The work´s level showed here are too high, so I tried without expectations, but with a bit of hopeness. For me it´s an important moment win this prize because it´s the time of greats changes and movements in our planet. Receiving this prize in this specific moment is a signal of a great future in my career. I´m so grateful!