Alireza Merati

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Alireza Merati ("AM") 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?

AM : I am a freelance designer with an architectural background. Currently, I am an MSc student of architecture.

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

AM : I have always had a great interest in art and been attached to a certain type of it during different periods of my life such as painting, drawing, architectural design and as for the recent years, I’ve become passionate about jewelry design. Besides, having 3D modeling skills and other architectural designing experiences have been the backbone of my jewelry design skills which helped me to develop and empower my ideas.

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

AM : It was absolutely my own choice to become a designer.

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

AM : Interior design for buildings would be my answer here, but I like designing jewelry the most.

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

AM : I suggest that young designers keep up with technology constantly. Furthermore, being a true artist comes with studying and knowing about art.

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

AM : When the design ties function, creativity, and uniqueness together to create a visual representation of an idea.

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

AM : When the designer links the idea to the right proportions and technical properties, all of which together lead to aesthetic appeal and presentation quality.

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

AM : Aside from function, a good design is in some sense a liberation of the personality. We contemplate a work of art, and there is immediately a release of feelings and heightening. In fact, a good design heightens the quality of daily life.

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

AM : If I had the opportunity, I would design jewelry for top jewelry brands.

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

AM : My painting exhibitions, which I was supposed to have two years ago.

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

AM : I wouldn’t call it a secret, but rather, a combination of passion, diligence, and a great appetite for art.

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

AM : Rene Magritte, Walker Evans, Richard Serra, Sir Herbert Edward Read, Wassily Kandinsky, Tadao Ando.

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

AM : Benesse House museum by Tadao Ando in Japan. The Benesse House is a facility integrating a museum with a hotel, based on the concept of "coexistence of nature, art, and architecture." It is a place where people can explore art, nature, architecture, and their own thoughts in a multi-layered and synergistic fashion. The place has a life-giving spirit and to me, it is an astounding architecture project.

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

AM : I like one of my ring designs the most. It has a simple appearance, a coherent structure, and an important story.

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

AM : I think improvement tends to be a gradual transition and should not be stopped. In my opinion, to be a better designer, people have to always think of new ideas and adapt themselves to changes, new trends, and needs. Moreover, I can add reading constantly and learning from the past errors.

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

AM : I can think of several answers, none of which I can pick.

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

AM : The design process is just as important as the final product. The design process is one of the many steps required to create a form of art or any ideal which the artist can realize in form. Art sheds light on the undiscovered side of our feelings and personality and is the liberation of our personality.

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

AM : My family and my friends.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

AM : My fascination with art and design.

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

AM : By presenting their works in exhibitions, competitions, and galleries.

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

AM : Two different rings and a pendant.

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

AM : New ideas and consistency.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

AM : It heightens the quality of daily life and helps to create a more comfortable and pleasant life.

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

AM : I think this has been already established that products are getting closer and closer to human needs every year, and I think this trend would get faster and more expansive as time goes on. Besides, it seems to me that designs are going to be more eco-friendly and designers will go green.

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

AM : Depending on the object type, designing can take time anywhere from a few hours to months.

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

AM : After realizing the project and its important elements such as function, users, standards, sustainability, concept, and culture, sketching my primary ideas would be the next step. Therefore, if I come up with satisfying ideas, I develop them until I have some final sketches. Computer modeling, sculpting clay, and fixing errors would be some of the next steps.

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

AM : I think it is reciprocal.

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

AM : I use 3D modeling software because they ease the complex process of developing ideas through forms.

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

AM : 3D max, Rhino Core, Matrix, Adobe Photoshop.

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

AM : Color, materials, and lighting influence the way we perceive designs, and our brain processes and judges what it perceives. Psychological influence, information, and effects on the psyche are aspects of our perceptual judgment processes.

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

AM : Every time I see a new and great design, I realize that there is an infinite source of ideas and it helps me to try to be more creative.

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

AM : The Meaning Of Art by Sir Herbert Edward Read, The Art Of Color by Johannes Itten.

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

AM : New experiences and studying architecture had big influences on me.

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

AM : Zaha Hadid, Salvador Dali, and Forough Farrokhzad.

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

AM : Lime green and black, Commercial centers, Spaghetti, Spring, David Yurman.

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

AM : Drawing my ideas and checking out new designs every day on social media and magazines. I also have a constant habit for keeping myself motivated by reading books, working out, and reorganizing my plans.

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

AM : I started drawing since I was a child and back in those days, I just knew that I have a great desire for art, but I didn’t realize that I like to be a designer.