Seraphina Sol

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Seraphina Sol ("SS") 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?

SS : I began with formal training in fine art, drawing and painting, which taught me the foundations of everything my work involves now: how to see with intention and how to translate observation into form. As I studied with researchers, artists, architects, design teams, and the natural world, I learned that every idea needs clarity to grow and connect. Design is the agent that carries it forward. Botanical studies further deepened my skills. Working closely with plants taught me to read systems, patterns, and structures, and to communicate them in ways that feel both precise and approachable. Those same principles carried into my work as I began branching into architecture and design, where spatial thinking and ecological thinking often intersect. Across all these environments, my role naturally became that of a translator—someone who moves between disciplines and creates visuals that hold complexity without overwhelming it. Whether I’m working with botanists, architects, or researchers, communication is the through-line: taking intricate ideas and not only making them clear and beautiful, but helping them resonate with broader audiences.

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

SS : I recognize how art and design have the incredible possibility to change the way people feel, understand, and move through the world. That possibility drives my work - design as a way to spark conversations, build connection, and inspire action towards the world we want to create. Art and design are not simply in the background of our lives. They guide how we understand the world, and in doing so, shape the way that we live. I’m inspired by how design brings forward conversations that might not otherwise emerge. It holds a powerful potential to express ideas, create connection, and move us toward a more thoughtful, connected, and intentional way of living.

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

SS : I’ve always believed that we are all designing our lives, shaping how we see, what we value, and how we move through our surroundings. As an artist and designer, that instinct simply became more visible. Design offered me a language to express it with intention. I chose to continue learning as a designer, because I wanted to amplify ideas that had the potential to make a positive impact: support connection, wellbeing, and a deeper appreciation of the world around us. I wasn’t forced into this path. I stepped into it because I wanted to help create the kind of world I hoped to live in—and, in some small way, inspire others to imagine that possibility too. For me, design is a way to bring beauty and clarity into spaces where they can create impact. It’s a way to turn attention into understanding, and understanding into motion.

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

SS : My work moves between botanical art, illustration, and visual communication, bringing scientific and botanical themes into clearer focus. I want to create work that inspires a sense of calm and connection, while cultivating appreciation for the environments we live in. Through sharing my illustrations, I hope to encourage people to feel more rooted in their surroundings by recognizing beauty and opportunities for care. My aim is to support a deeper relationship with the natural world and contribute to more sustainable, thoughtful ways of living.

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

SS : Study what genuinely interests you, even when the connections are not immediately clear. When distractions fall away and attention centers on what truly resonates, a common thread begins to emerge. Those themes reveal how different ideas can inform and strengthen one another. Also, seek out collaboration beyond your own discipline. Working with people who think differently and have different strengths can open up possibilities and perspectives that aren’t accessible alone. That exchange often shifts the work in ways that are both unexpected and essential.

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

SS : A good designer creates something that functions. A great designer creates something that has intention — work that’s clear, thoughtful, and aware of the impact it leaves behind. Great designers are paying close attention to context, ecological, cultural, emotional. They recognize how a piece of work can shape behaviours, influence wellbeing, or support more sustainable ways of living. They’re open to collaboration and insight from fields beyond their own, and they let those connections strengthen their work. Skill is important, but purpose is what elevates a designer. When design carries clarity, care, and long-term responsibility, it becomes more than beautiful, and becomes meaningful.

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

SS : Thoughtful design endures because it’s not only beautiful, but purposeful. It supports environmental responsibility, strengthens communication, and creates experiences that feel intuitive and meaningful. When design is approached with intention, it has the power to improve daily life and contribute to a future where wellbeing, beauty, and impact are central.

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

SS : The biggest obstacles were less about external barriers and more about clarity. Early on, my interests didn't seem to fit neatly into one path. I moved between art, botany, architecture, and visual communication, and it took time to understand that this range wasn’t a distraction, it was the foundation of my overall practice. Learning to trust that overlap, instead of trying to force myself into one definition was something I've learned to master. There can be a lot of pressure to create in a certain way, or to chase trends, or to work quickly instead of thoughtfully. Tuning out that impulse, and staying committed to depth, research, and slow observation was essential to my practice. Like anyone who works across disciplines, there was the process of finding the right collaborators and environments. Working with people who valued clarity, curiosity, and impact made all the difference. Once that aligned, my work became more focused, and so did my voice.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

SS : I'm excited to share more of my work in public spaces outside of private collections to connect more directly with people through artist workshops and talks. It’s been meaningful to share the ideas behind the work in real time and to create spaces where others can directly engage with the process, not just the finished pieces. I’m also preparing to exhibit more of my artwork while developing my next series of botanical illustrations and designs that bring more awareness to the natural world. Having the opportunity to tour in new communities, and see how the work resonates across different contexts has been incredibly inspiring.

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

SS : The recognition is meaningful, but not with the aim of achieving fame. Awards matter to me because they offer a platform to share the intention behind endless hours of work — the careful research, attention, and care spent looking closely, and the collaboration that shapes every project. They open doors to work with people and institutions I deeply respect, and they create opportunities to connect with audiences around the world that I might never have reached otherwise. What matters most is that the work continues to inspire creativity, spark curiosity, and offer something meaningful and beautiful to the world. If recognition helps the work travel farther and create deeper connection, then it serves its purpose. The goal has never been visibility for its own sake, but impact, and the possibility of contributing to more thoughtful and inspiring ways of seeing.

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

SS : If there is anything to know about my work, it’s that everything begins with noticing more - about nature, our environments, and the moments that shape how we feel and how we live connected with each other. My practice grows from this attention. Every illustration, visual system, and mark, is an attempt to translate what I observe into something that brings more clarity, calm, and connection. I hope my work continues to encourage a deeper appreciation for the environments we’re part of, and invites more people to see the world with more curiosity and care.