MAIA MING FONG: DIZAJNER KOJI JE SPOJIO ISTOK I ZAPAD

Postala je profesionalni dizajner zahvaljujući srećnom spletu okolnosti tokom studija na Univerzitetu Stanford. Od tada Maia Ming Fong je zaljubljena u dizajn i konstantno radi samo taj posao. Rođena u Honolulu na Havajima, odrasla u Italiji, trenutno živi i radi u Barselonu, Maia ima raznoliki background koji je bio sjajna osnova za ostvarenje jedinstvnog dizajnerskog stila.

She became a professional designer by lucky accident at Stanford University. Since that time Maia is in love with design and she has always worked as a designer. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, raised in Italy and currently living and working in Barcelona, Maia’s diverse background was a great basis to achieve and create a unique design style.

Kako je rasla potražnja za njenom keramikom, Maia je počela da proizvodi svoje radove u malim serijama. Moderna klasika, izrazite taktilnosti i malo šika bili su otelotvorenje azijske i zapadne kulture na Mainim rukotvorinama. Kao i njen tvorac, keramika ovde spaja Istok i Zapad, objedinjuje estetiku i simboliku dve različite kulture. Za naše čitaoce i pratioce sajta FOLDER 39 pitali smo Maiu da nam približi svoj rad i život uspešnog dizajnera!

With growing demand for her ceramic work, Maia began reproducing her designs in small series. Modern classics, with a tactile and whimsical flair, Maia’s artisan produced ceramic table wares embody both Asian and Western cultures. East meets West: like their creator, Maia’s ceramics fuse the aesthetics and symbols of two distinct cultures. Beside this biographical overview, for the Serbian readership and followers of FOLDER 39 we asked Maia to bring us closer her work and designer life! 

Šta Vas je inspirisalo da postanete dizajner?

What inspired you to become a designer?

Oduvek sam volela da pravim različite predmete i nikada nisam ozbiljno razmišljala o umetničkoj školi. Nasumično sam izabrala predmet product design na prvoj godini studija na Univerzitetu Stanford i bila sam fascinirana načinom na koji smo u okviru radionica rešavali probleme. Bila sam srećna kada sam shvatila da je dizajn, o kojem ranije nisam mnogo znala, moj pravi izbor.

I always loved making things but never seriously considered art school. I randomly took a Product Design class my freshman year at Stanford University and was fascinated by the brainstorming and problem-solving workshops. I was delighted to realize that design was a career option I had not known about.

Nakon što je diplomirala Maia je mnogo godina radila za brojne kompanije kao umetnički direktor ili kao konsultant u oblasti mode i široke potrošnje, od kompanija kao što je Swatch do Giro biciklističkih kaciga. Za svoj dizajn koji je postao međunarodno poznat dobila je brojne nagrade.

After she received her degree Maia worked for many years as an art director and design consultant of consumer fashion products ranging from Swatch watches to Giro cycling helmets. Her designs have won multiple awards and been published internationally.

Šta ili ko je imao najveći uticaj na Vaš rad?

What or who has the most influence on your approach to your workf?

Imala sam sreće sa mentorima (Doug Tompkins, Antonio Citterio) koji su me impresionirali visokim standardima. Sama izgaram dok ne postignem visok kvalitet i zaista je teško spojiti realno stanje stvari sa vizijom o nekom proizvodu.

I’ve been lucky to have some great design mentors (Doug Tompkins, Antonio Citterio) and they both had impressively high standards. I am always struggling to achieve high quality in my designs and it’s remarkably difficult to blend the practical realities with one’s vision of a product.

Vaša ličnost je ukorenjena u kulturološkim različitostima koje se ogledaju na Vaš celokupan rad. Koje su crte na Vašim kolekcijama očigledno zapadne, a koje su njihove istočnjačke karakteristike?

Your personality is in a particular way culture mix, which reflects your entire work. What features of your collection are Western, and what are their Eastern esthetic characteristics?

Za svoj dizajn volim da kažem da je “savremena klasika“ utoliko što je istovremeno moderan i dizajn za sva vremena. Volim da preuzimam tradicionalne azijske elemente i da ih reinterpretiram na svojim proizvodima. Set za čaj BULB je sjajan primer za to: posude za čaj bez drške sa strane tipične su za tradicionalnu Aziju i one su ergonomske, ali često su prilično tanušne i rustične. Veličina i boje kolekcije BULB su više po standardima Zapada, dok su mu zabljene linije i glatke površine savremeni elementi. Na kolekciji GUARDIANS i LOTUS dolaze do izražaja neke druge istočne osobine.

My designs are what I like to call “contemporary classics” in that they look and feel modern and timeless all in one. I like to take traditional Asian elements and re-interpret them for my products. The BULB teaset is a great example of this: teapots with side handles are traditional in Asia and very ergonomic, but they are usually tiny and quite rustic. The BULB teapot is a more standard “Western” size and the colors and curves are sleek and contemporary. Other Eastern elements come to play in the GUARDIANS jars and LOTUS cake stand and bowls.

Za koje kompanije ste radili projekte?
Would you name some of the companies you worked projects for?

Proctor & Gamble, Swatch, Giro Sport Design, Specialized Bike Components, Duvel, i nedavno, KooKoo. Dugo sam radila u biciklističkoj industriji kao umetnički direktor, u Giro Sport Design. Giro je sajna kompanija za saradnju jer sam bila deo njihove grupe za dizajn i istraživanja, ali sam istovremeno bila odogovorna i za grafička rešenja, pakovanja i marketinške materijale za promociju kolekcija kaciga. Bilo je veliko zadovoljstvo pratiti proizvod od ideje do izlazka na tržište.

Proctor & Gamble, Swatch, Giro Sport Design, Specialized Bike Components, Duvel, and most recently, KooKoo. I worked for many years in the bicycle industry as Art Director at Giro Sport Design. Giro was a great company to work with because I was part of their incredible Research & Design group, but I was also responsible for the graphics, packaging and marketing materials for the helmet collections. It was extremely satisfying to participate in the product cycle completely from design to marketplace.

Postoji li neka vrsta projekta u kojoj posebno uživate?

Is there any type of project you enjoy more?

Dečji proizvodi su moji omiljeni dizajnerski predmeti. Moj novi budilnik za KooKoo proizvodi različite zvukove životinja kada vas budi i sadrži male figure životinja koje imaju funkciju paljenja i gašenja alarm-sistema. Boje su svetle i zabavne, a sat je interaktivan na primenjiv i zabavan način. Više možete videti na sajtu http://www.kookoo.eu/uk/products/28-kidsalarm.html

Products for kids are some of my favorite design projects. My recent child alarm clock for KooKoo makes different animal sounds when you wake up and has little animal figures that function as the alarm on/off system. The colors are bright and fun, and the clock is interactive in a functional and playful way. (http://www.kookoo.eu/uk/products/28-kidsalarm.html)

Arts and crafts su u poslednjoj deceniji doživele veliki povratak. Kakav je Vaš stav prema tome, kao nekoga ko učestvuje u oblikovanju trendova?

In the last decade a strong revival of arts and crafts is remarkable. What is your attitude to trend as someone who takes part in creating trends in some way?

Izuzetno poštujem tradicionalne veštine i sve prototipe za svoju keramiku izrađujem ručno. Neki moji radovi, kao što je LOTUS, su u potpunosti ručno izvedeni. Ipak, većina mojih radova je evoluirala od handmade proizvoda do fabričkog. Mislim da mnogi potrošači nisu svesni koliko se rada i veštine ulaže u izradu keramike, bilo da je reč o zanatsko-umetničkom ateljeu ili većem fabričkom pogonu.

I personally appreciate traditional crafts and prototype all of my ceramic designs by hand. Some of my designs, like the LOTUS nesting bowls, are entirely handmade. But most of my designs are an evolution of a handmade design into a factory made product. What I think a lot of consumers don’t realize is how much hand work and skill is involved in making slip-cast ceramics whether in an artisan studio or a larger factory.

Koja je Vaša misija dizajnera?

What is your design mission?

Srećna sam kada koristim predmete koji su lepi i posebni. Moj je cilj da svaki dizajnirani proizvod unese užitak i radost u dnevnu rutinu. Svkao od nas se fokusira na različita čula, a ja sam izuzetno vizelan i taktilan tip i to se vidi na mojim radovima. Najviše volim kada mogu da angažujem sva čula krozu dizajn.

I am happy when I use beautiful and wonderful products. My goal is to design products that bring a touch of joy into your daily rituals. Everyone focuses on different senses, and I’m a very visual-tactile person so this comes out in my work, but I love it when I can engage all the senses through a design.

Gde nalazite inspiraciju za rad?

Where does inspiration for your work come from?

Inspiracija je svuda oko nas. Uživala sam u poseti Muzeju Guimet u Parizu gde sam istraživala drevnu keramiku satima. Ideje pronalazim na ulici, u prirodui, na web-u, igrajući se sa svojom keramikom u ateljeu. Barselona je uzbudljiv grad za život. Jedan od mojih uspešnijih proizvoda je SAVE THE WHALES štedna kasica! Kitovi su me inspirisali kada je moj sin sakupio dobrotvorni prilog za Svetsku fondaciju za zaštitu kitova jer je želeo da “pomogne” kitovima. Inspiracija se nalazi u događajima i slučajnostima u svakodnevnom životu.

Inspiration surrounds us. I loved visiting the Musée Guimet in Paris and browsed their ancient ceramics section for hours. I find ideas in the street, in nature, on the web, playing around in my ceramics studio… Barcelona is a vibrant place to live. One of my most successful product lines are the SAVE THE WHALES! Piggy banks. The whales were inspired by my son when he saved money to donate to the World Wildlife Fund because he wanted to help “save” the whales. Inspiration arises from events and accidents that happen in my life.

Šta biste savetovali nekome ko želi da postane dizajner?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be an designer?

Nije postojala druga profesija koju sam imala u vidu, ali dizajneri bi trebalo da znaju da ovaj posao podrazumeva mnogo toga što nije tako glamurozno niti dizajnerski. (Pretpostavljam da je tako sa svakim poslom i da je to pitanje dobrog balansa.) Moj savet je da pokušaju da pristupe problem sa što više različitih stanovišta; mnogo je odgovora na svako pitanje i mnogo načina da se postavi pitanje.

There isn’t any other profession I would have really wanted, but designers should realize there is a lot of not-so-glamorous, non-design work involved in being a designer as well. (I suppose this is true in any job, and it is a question of finding a good balance.) Here is my advice: Try to imagine a problem from as many different points of view as possible; there are many answers to every question and many ways to ask a question.

Imate li, pored dizajna, još neku pasiju?

Are there any other passions beside design?

Plivam skoro svaki dan, što me relaksira. Putujem, čitam i opsednuta sam mojom mačkom!

I swim nearly every day, which relaxes me. I travel, read, and am obsessed with my cat!

Kako izgleda Vaš dan?

How your day looks like?

Dan počinjem uz čaj i doručak i malo joge. Obično imam to-do listu sa onim što moram da uradim za moju kompaniju: narudžbine, izložbe, ugovori, website, društvene mreže… premda često moram da izađem iz koloseka zbog nepredviđenih okolnosti. Volim da radim kod kuće, a tu se dešavaju krajnosti: da mi nešto odvuče pažnju ili da ne mogu da se odvojim od posla. Zato, petkom odlazim u svoj atelje u Barseloni da bih se odvojila od kućne kancelarije i posvetila vreme radu sa keramikom. Imam atelje i kod kuće, ali više volim svoj petak jer me manje prekidaju u radu. Imam mnogo obaveza oko dece, ali nastojim da svako veče bar kratko plivam. (Kada su deca u školi stvari se odvijaju ubrzano!)

I start my day out with tea, breakfast, and a little yoga. I usually have a to-do list with things related to my company: orders, tradeshows, contracts, website and social media stuff… but I often get side tracked by things that just come up. I like working from home, but it can be both a big distraction and hard to stop work. So on Fridays I go to my studio space in Barcelona to get away from my home-office and dedicate some time to making ceramics. I have a studio at home too, but I prefer my Fridays because they are less interrupted. There are a lot of responsibilities with my kids too, but I try to take a quick swim every afternoon. (When my children are in school things are a bit more frenzied!)

Grad koji posebno volite?

The place you love in special way?

San Francisko. Verovatno jer sam studirala u Kaliforniji i tamo su mi prijatelji i porodica. Volim kulturološku snagu oblasti Bay ili bar način na koji sam tamo živela. Umem da kažem kako je Barselona evropski San Francisko, ali više kada je reč o načinu života nego o poslu.

San Francisco. Probably because I went to university in California and have friends and family there. I like the cultural energy in the Bay Area, or at least the way it was when I lived there. I tell people that Barcelona is the San Francisco of Europe, but I think that is more in terms of lifestyle than work.

Vaš omiljeno umetničko delo?

What is your favourite peace of art?

Omiljeni umetnik mi je David Hockney čije crtačko umeće, osećaj za boju i imaginacija ne prestaju da me zadivljuju.

My favorite artist is David Hockney whose draftsmanship, line work, sense of color, and imagination still amaze me.

Koju knjigu biste preporučili čitaocima sajta FOLDER 39?

What book would you recommend to FOLDER 39 followers?

Moj mentor David Kelley napisao je knjigu sa svojim bratom koja se naziva Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All. Što se tiče fantastike, nedavno sam počela sjajnu The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet, David Mitchell-a!

My college advisor, David Kelley, wrote a good book with his brother, Tom Kelley, called Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential Within Us All. For fiction I recently started reading David Mitchell’s books. The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet is great!