Mahnaz Karimi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Mahnaz Karimi ("MK") 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?

MK : My interest to art was cultivated during my teenage years and further developed when I opted to take my Bachelor’s degree in Graphics from Alzahra University in Tehran, Iran. I have mastered the skills and chemistry of my medium, to further develop the process and expand its boundaries. In addition to my thirteen-year experience of glass painting (Vitray), I have been a professional abstract resin artist for five years.

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

MK : Being a creator is the greatest and most beautiful feeling in the world and I got motivated by the desired works I create.

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

MK : I chose to become a designer. My intense love of art and design led me toward this field.

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

MK : I design wall art decors, serving trays, jewelry stands, resin boxes, paintings,etc. I wish to design more of nature in imagination.

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

MK : Set their goals regardless of limitations and boundaries. Be patient and persistent Respect all artists and the art world

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

MK : A good designer has unique ideas and designs and creativity. A great designer has all of them, too. But, teach them to others and share the science of design with others to develop ideas and concepts in other people's minds.

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

MK : A design that has both beauty and a message or usage can be considered as a good design.

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

MK : As everyone needs a good doctor, a good advisor, a good teacher, definitely everyone needs a good design to depict the beauties in this modern life.

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

MK : I would design the starry night for myself, if I had the time.

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

MK : The dance of jellyfish in the ocean is the project I have always dreamed to create.

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

MK : I am used to sharing all my experience and recipe of success with my students and art lovers. so there is no secret recipe.

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

MK : I get inspired from Iran Darroudi, who is a contemporary Iranian artist. Her art consists of surreal paintings dealing with Iranian themed imagery and strong lighting. MRS.COLORBERRY is my second inspiration for work.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MK : I like home decorations and modern decorations.

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

MK : Dandelion and Wishes is my greatest design. I think it is great because it has always been my concern to design such a work.

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

MK : People should try to experiment new forms and concepts and not be afraid of failure.

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

MK : If I hadn't become a designer, I would have sold flowers.

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

MK : Design is depicting the beautiful form and shape of sweet or bitter realities in life.

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

MK : My family was my biggest supporter.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MK : Persistence, Intense interest in creation and patience helped me to become a great designer.

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

MK : As a woman, wife and mother I experienced many obstacles developing my designs and becoming a design master.

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

MK : A designer must definitely have someone who is professional and fully aware of the design to present and promote the work.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MK : Searching for water in the desert is going to be my next design project.

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

MK : Giving vital messages of humanity to people. the messages that are forgotten in the era of technology and consumerism.

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

MK : They expect designers to design perfectly, consider all the aspects and have both beauty and usage in the design.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MK : A good designer can create peace and relaxation in the society.

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

MK : I am currently preparing a series of artworks to exhibit in Carousel Du Louvre in Paris.

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

MK : The projects that have international audience,because we can communicate with all people in the world through the language of art.

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

MK : I think nowadays the design companies and designers are creating luxurious designs for rich and wealthy people in the world. I like designs to change in a way that all people in other levels of society could also feel and have them.

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

MK : I think the design field is heard in education.

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

MK : It depends on the design project. It varies from a few days to some months.

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

MK : I start all my design projects in my art studio.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MK : Color, Flying and dream

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

MK : I think trends set the designs.

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

MK : The materials I am using are industrial, having traces of technology in. The applications and tools I utilize when designing are also the outcome of technology.

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

MK : I use the software "Paint" and YouTube and Pinterest to get more understanding of my idea and design.

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

MK : Each color has its own characteristic and when they are mixed with designers' ambient, they can create incredibly unique scenes, like actors playing roles in various films.

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

MK : I wish people to ask me abut my feeling from the beginning of design to the end and how much positive energy I received from the design.

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

MK : I worship the new design in my mind.

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

MK : I design individually but sometimes get help from some of my art students.

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

MK : I can't remember anyone right now.

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

MK : I usually search on the Internet or Instagram to get the kind of information I need

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

MK : I always to be up-to-dated to know the new skills and chemist of my field and get information about the new trends in the world.

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

MK : I would meet and talk with the designer of Pasargadae, the capital of Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great.

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

MK : It is really hard to be famous, you need to try hard, sometimes fail, start again and proceed. I am so proud to be an award winner and try all my best to realized the value of such awards.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MK : Blue, Paris, Lasagna, Winter, carpet, Gucci

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

MK : I remember the first days I started working with resin. I started with trial and error. Everywhere was resin , My face, body, hands was covered with resin. I could see resin in my kitchen, bathroom, stairs.

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

MK : Going to my studio and testing new ways of performing art and finally getting the desired result really motivates me to continue.

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

MK : As a child, one of my wishes was to be a famous artist and designer, someone who designed uniquely and made different artworks

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

MK : It is really difficult to predict what is going to happen thousands years from now. I just think designs will be so simple and understandable for everyone but full of feelings and meanings.

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

MK : I am really interested in sharing all my experience and knowledge with my fans so that, one day they could be in my status and I would be proud of them.