Eva Szumilas

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Eva Szumilas ("ES") 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?

ES : I studied architecture at Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland; where I graduated with a Master Degree in Architecture and City Planning in 2002. Since 2004 I have been living and working abroad, in Cyprus, Ireland and Lebanon. I moved to Beirut in 2010 and established my design studio in 2017. I have been working as a furniture and product designer and as an architect since then. My work is a poetry of functionality with powerful aesthetics; it is fueled by my life experiences, background and passions influenced by both Middle Eastern and European cultures. My furniture collection is back to the essence of design, in the spirit of decorative art where the aim is beauty, aesthetics, purity and elegance. This timeless, pure and discreet design is easy to love and integrates harmoniously in any space. Nobel materials and advanced craftsmen techniques are used to manufacture my pieces.

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

ES : I would like my projects and furniture to please people's eyes for a long time. I would like to be remembered. I would like to leave some legacy of myself, inheritance

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

ES : That was my very deliberate and mature decision even though I was young. I was preparing for the exams for the Faculty of Architecture for more than a year, taking courses in drawing, sketches and paintings. I was determined to become an architect.

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

ES : I design furniture under the brand name EVA SZUMILAS, I design interior spaces: residentials, hospitality and restaurants, and I create artistic installations which I wish to be able to create much more. These kinds of projects are a real challenge and mind opener. I love them.

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

ES : Work hard, never give up, and design as much as possible. This is the only way to become good at design and achieve the goals.

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

ES : Creativity. A lot of designers inspire themselves too much on other designers' work. That much that it becomes a bad copy. To be creative, unique and different these days, while we are surrounded by hundreds of design images daily is very difficult. Try to be unique, not trendy. Be different, be authentic in everything what you do in life, especially in design.

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

ES : Good design has to be unique, timeless and functional.

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

ES : I am very happy that finally collectible pieces are getting attention and well-deserved recognition in the art world. A beautiful piece of furniture not only pleases your eye, it has a function as well. It becomes a great investment.

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

ES : A dream house for myself. With so many projects happening, I never have time to do something for myself.

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

ES : My own house.

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

ES : There is no secret recipe of success. There is hard work, sleepless nights, a lot of projects for free at the beginning of our career, we all had been there. But there is this unforgettable pleasure in creating and executing the project. The joy and feeling of overwhelming pride and satisfaction.

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

ES : Antoni Gaudi, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Eileen Gray, Oscar Niemeyer, Tadao Ando, Ettore Sottsass, Jean Royere, Carlo and Tobia Scarpa, Philippe Starck, Anish Kapoor, and of course Zaha Hadid as one of only few women who achieved so much in architecture men's world.

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

ES : I love dancing, I used to dance in a professional group for 8 years, if I hadn't become a designer, I would love to be a ballet dancer.

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

ES : I was lucky to meet my mentor Gregory Gatserelia. When I moved to Beirut, I started to work with him and had a chance to learn from him. He is one of very few interior designers and architects who actually loves sharing his knowledge with people. He educated me in terms of design styles, artists, he is a genius in concepts creation. He showed me a good and bad designs. He was the first one who strongly believed in my design skills, creativity, he showed me the direction, and curated many of exhibitions which I participated in, for such I am so grateful to him.

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

ES : The two artistic installations I did. One is an in Italian restaurant launched in Beirut Downtown in 2014, The idea behind the project was to make the most impressive, colorful and the biggest pizza oven ever done before. Inspired by and as a tribute to Antoni Gaudi architecture, the oven and the whole ceiling of the restaurant was covered by thousands of hand made and placed mosaic pieces, to look like a flame coming out of the oven. It is a beautifully joyful and striking central element of the white tiled restaurant. It was an extremely challenging project executed by a team of 15 people working nonstop for 35 consecutive days. And theother installation issteel tree sculpture named "THE TREE OF LIFE" which is the main feature of theAN lounge bar situated on the top of Nabu museum in Chekka Lebanon. Thesteel tree sculpturerepresents Lebanon, whose symbol after all is Cedar. Lebanon, which has been struggling recently from the economic crisis, worsened by the Beirut port explosion of last year. Lebanon, despite its difficult history, still attracts people like a magnet especially for a nightlife experience. Lebanon wounded but still full of hope. Thus the idea to create a sculpture made of steel, representing the resilience of Lebanon and its people against all adversities.