Art & Design Now 

You lived in Asia for a long time. Can you tell us about that?

 

I lived in Asia for 20 years. I commuted to Hong Kong from Milan for years! I’ve designed furniture, glass, dishes, and textiles for firms in India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines.

 

They have a whole world of materials and techniques that are not available in Europe. I like working with them, with new techniques and having something nice come out of it at the end.

I try to link Italian companies with Eastern European and Asian manufacturers.

 

Why do you think that Italy produces such good design?

 

It started after the war. Italy had to rebuild the economy, and some manufacturers realised that good design had an economic benefit. Some of the companies were run by visionaries, and then other people joined in, when they saw it was good for business. The companies with the best designs were the most successful, and it built up from there.

 

What would you like to design that you haven’t already?

 

I would like to design more kitchen appliances. Men nearly always design them! Men who don’t spend much time in the kitchen, so the design doesn’t work so well.

 

I would like to design for the kitchen more, kitchen accessories and dishes.

 

What new techniques are you interested in?

 

Nowadays with computers and laser printers you can produce small amounts of a wallpaper or fabric for a specific project.

It doesn’t need to go into mass production. I can print specially designed wallpaper for just one wall.

 

How important is the environmental impact of your products?

 

Of course it is important to me. Some companies are more environmentally aware than others, it depends on the client.

Some industrial processes can be changed more easily than others.

Everyone is more aware of the environment these days.

 

I work with a company that makes plastic laminate for furniture.

They recycle 100% of their plastic waste, it’s sent next door and used by Fiat to make car door interiors. The plastic is 100% recyclable.

At the end of the life of the car, the plastic can be removed and recycled again.

 

I work with a leather company, and came up with a project with them, that uses their rejected hides. We developed a technique to re-dye and soften the leather, so it is not wasted.

 

Recycling is also a philosophy, a way of life. You can interpret in different ways.

I collected 1200 rusty metal spoons in India, had them coated in silver, and installed them in an art installation at the Milan Art Triennalle. It’s a form of recycling too, using existing objects in a new way.

 

Can you tell us about your creative influences? What do you like?

 

At the moment, I really like Indian art. There are a lot of exciting modern Indian artists and photographers. I like Subodh Gupta and Anish Kapoor.

I enjoy living and working in India.

There’s also a lot happening in art in China.

 

In the late 60’s, early 70’s I was influenced by other young visionary artists and architects, whose work was more like art than architecture. I traveled and met with artists. There was a lot happening. Every so often there is a generation of young people that tries new ideas. I spent time in Florence, with body artists in Vienna, with the radical architects Archigram in London. I went out to the desert in the States, where Paolo Soleri was experimenting with ecologically sensitive architecture. These experiences formed the basis of my thesis in architecture.

 

What is your favourite project?

 

My favourite project is the one I’m working on at the moment!

 

What have you been working on recently?

I’ve just launched a big range of furniture and home products for the American retailer Crate & Barrel.

 

Are you working mostly on furniture design, or interior design these days?

 

There are two groups of people working in my studio. One group works on furniture and product design, like kitchen accessories. The other one works on the architecture and interior design projects.

I have about 15 people working with me at my studio, they are mostly very young and enthusiastic.

 

How do you motivate your staff?

 

I don’t need to motivate them, they motivate themselves. They are working on projects that they love, and that motivates them.

 

How is your business in the recession?

 

I still have lots of work, people still want me to design for them, but there is less money around. These days the budgets are about 50% of what they were 10 years ago. It is harder to get paid these days, you need to be more aware of your cash flow than before.

 

The companies that are doing best in the recession, are those that have a clear identity and a unique product; companies who do what they want, not what the marketing people tell them to do. You should follow your own path.

 

I’m lucky, I only work on the projects I want to, that are right for me.

I find projects by chance, through friends who need a designer for a project. I never actively go out and look for work, it comes to me.

 

The product design that I do is for manufacturers, and the interiors are for businesses and also private clients.

 

 

Paola’s work is featured in magazines around the world.

The publishers Daab have produced a book of Paola’s designs.

Paola Navone was interviewed by Gordon Ross.