REZZAN BENARDETE

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer REZZAN BENARDETE ("RB") 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?

RB : My path into design was shaped by both formal education and life experience. I studied Finance at George Washington University, which taught me structure and strategic thinking. But my true calling was in design, and I followed that instinct. After working in brand strategy at Arçelik, I founded my own studio in 2010. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to high-end residential, hospitality, and yacht interiors, blending aesthetic refinement with deeply personal, functional spaces.

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

RB : Design is my language — it allows me to express emotions, tell stories, and build environments that people genuinely feel connected to. I’m motivated by the power of space to transform how people live, move, and feel.

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

RB : It was a choice — but more than that, it was a calling. I felt drawn to visual narratives and spatial harmony from an early age. Once I started designing professionally, there was no turning back.

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

RB : I design interiors that feel both elevated and lived-in — homes, yachts, boutique commercial spaces. Yachts especially intrigue me, as they demand a deep understanding of spatial discipline and emotion. I’d love to do more projects that integrate movement and travel, like trains, retreats, or mobile living spaces.

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

RB : Stay curious. Learn from everything — art, history, fashion, people. Build a strong foundation in materials and proportion, and stay deeply connected to your intuition.

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

RB : A good designer creates beauty. A great designer creates meaning. It’s the emotional intelligence and narrative depth that set them apart.

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

RB : When a design feels effortless, but every detail has intention. It balances function and form, resonates with its users, and stands the test of time.

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

RB : Good design enhances life. It shapes how we experience our surroundings and ourselves. It supports wellbeing, joy, and clarity.

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

RB : I’d design a floating home or a compact sanctuary in nature — something minimal, self-sufficient, and poetic. It would be for anyone seeking presence and simplicity.

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

RB : A cultural space — a small museum or atelier — where design, craftsmanship, and storytelling converge.

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

RB : Empathy. Listening deeply to people’s needs, desires, and memories, and translating them into form.

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

RB : The Maya 37XP yacht. It’s both technically complex and emotionally resonant. The interiors evoke intimacy, while the layout responds beautifully to movement and water.

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

RB : Travel. Observe. Touch. Learn from craftspeople. Always ask why something works — or doesn’t.

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

RB : Perhaps something in art curation or anthropology — storytelling through objects and cultures.

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

RB : Design is the art of making life feel more considered — it’s how we shape meaning through space, light, material, and memory.

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

RB : My family, who believed in my vision even when it took an unconventional path.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RB : Experience. Curiosity. The courage to take creative risks while staying deeply grounded.

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

RB : Finding my voice — separating what looks good from what feels right. Also, being a woman in a male-dominated sector like yacht design has its own challenges.

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

RB : With clarity, humility, and emotion. It’s not just what you made, but why you made it that matters.

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

RB : To leave behind spaces that carry soul — not just style.

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

RB : Originality, vision, and the ability to translate complexity into effortless beauty.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RB : Design affects behavior. It can create dignity, inclusivity, calm, or joy. It’s a silent force behind how we live.

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

RB : Yacht interiors — they’re immersive and require absolute precision. Seeing clients feel at home at sea is incredibly rewarding.

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

RB : More sustainability, less noise. And a deeper appreciation for craftsmanship.

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

RB : Toward adaptive, flexible environments — especially with smaller, mobile, or shared living becoming more common.

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

RB : Depends on the scale — yachts can take 12–18 months. But perfection is never rushed.

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

RB : With a conversation. I want to understand the client’s story, how they live, what they dream.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RB : Design with intention, live with emotion.

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

RB : Great design transcends trends. But it’s in dialogue with the times.

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

RB : It’s a silent partner — enabling precision and innovation. But the soul comes from the hand.

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

RB : AutoCAD, SketchUp, 3D modeling tools — but also physical samples, drawings, and lots of moodboarding.

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

RB : They are everything. They define the emotional temperature of a space. I lean into rich textures, soft light, and bold yet natural colors.

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

RB : “What does this space make you feel?” That’s the real question.

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

RB : I study its intention — and quietly applaud the restraint behind it.

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

RB : Yes — co-design, when done right, is synergy. I enjoy working with artisans and architects who bring different perspectives.

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

RB : Clients — each brings their own worldview, and it’s an honor to translate that.

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

RB : Books on Japanese wabi-sabi, design history, and even poetry — anything that deepens spatial sensitivity.

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

RB : Eileen Gray. Her work with modernist furniture and interiors is endlessly inspiring.

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

RB : Gratitude. Recognition is meaningful, but I remain focused on the work. That’s where fulfillment lies.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

RB : On one yacht, we had a secret drawer built into a bench for a client’s dog — complete with a cushion and air vent. The dog ended up ignoring it entirely.

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

RB : Seeing beauty in small moments — morning light on a material sample, a new idea that clicks, a client’s smile.

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

RB : Not obvious, but I was always rearranging rooms, collecting fabric scraps, and curating corners of the house.

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

RB : Design will become more invisible and more emotional. Spaces will respond to our moods, needs, and even memories.

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

RB : My work is about more than beauty — it’s about creating spaces that people feel. If something I’ve designed brings calm, joy, or clarity, then I’ve done my job.