Catalina Paladi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Catalina Paladi ("CP") 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?

CP : I graduated from the Technical University of Moldova in 2017. Thus, besides the qualification as Fashion Designer I am privileged to have both the artistic and the technical background, aspect which is very relevant to my design projects.

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

CP : I'm a lover of beauty in general. And designing is my way of bringing my contribution to creating beautiful things. I became a designer because I think that's my vocation. I wanted it badly from when I was a four year old. That's when I started drawing frontal and back views of dresses. Lately I started sewing for my Barbie and sticked to my dream despite the pressure to seek for more "comfortable" professions, if I can call it that way..

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

CP : I chose to become a designer, and happily I have supportive parents that encouraged me to pursue my childhood dream..

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

CP : I'm a designer that likes challenging projects, especially those that seem impossible to complete. Thus, I get very excited and enthusiastic about most of my projects, since I like to look for its potential...

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

CP : To be a designer nowadays is very difficult, since it's almost impossible to come up with something new. The foundation has already been laid and everything has already been invented. But, what CAN make a designer great, is an original approach. The way You create something that the humanity has already seen, the way you catch people's attention... And if there is clearly seen the amount of your soul, effort and dedication in your design, then the goal is reached.

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

CP : To me, design together with arts, music and literature is very important. Especially in this pandemic circumstances, some may say that these are not essential for our existence. That may be true on one side. But on the other, it is in our nature to seek for beauty, to look for it and to nest in it's warm and pleasing feeling. It's now more that ever, that people start to meditate about existence, to look for answers and to look for motivation and comfort. And arts and design can bring a bit of alleviation in our lives. So yes, it's wise to invest in design.

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

CP : I'm very inspired by culture and different ethnicities. And I love very much the portraits. So my dream project is to create portraits of people from different ethnicities, and to introduce them into fashion. This way I would bring closer the cultural diversity that, unfortunately separates us nowadays rather that unifies. And we could have been stronger!

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

CP : My secret ingredient would be: to never be pleased with average... To seek for excellence.. If doing so, the feeling of being pleased with your work would be delighting.

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

CP : My greatest design is one I started during my Bachelor degree. You won't believe but it's still unfinished, but I still consider it great. It is great in the material choice, in the lines, in the proportions, in the contrasts and in the dynamics. And the most important thing is that at that point when I designed it, I was at the very beginning of my Design degree, and had very limited technical knowledge, and even then I chose a project that seemed impossible. Now, I just have to wait for the right time to finish it.

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

CP : Self improvement is very important for a designer that wants to excel. Reading, studying, looking for inspiration and keeping updated with the fashion industry is very important, cause Fashion is moving with a huge speed. You can't be a good designer if you're slow and lazy. That's it.

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

CP : Design to me is a confession. Is the most intimate way I expose my inner self, my ideas and thoughts. While designing I am powerful. I have freedom of speech and decision. And this feeling is very motivational.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

CP : If one appreciates design, he may also appreciate art and beauty. If one appreciates beauty, he will appreciate order as well. Order is the antonym of chaos, thus design for sure helps to create a better society. If only more appreciated design.

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

CP : It's up to the deadline. Even if I'm organised and persuasive, every designer would agree, that there still remains something to do in the evening, more commonly the night, before the deadline... It depends also on the project and how complex it is.