Interviews with Ioannis Solomozis

I was an amateur designer since my childhood, according to my mother’s (which was a two stores of white linen and textiles owner, while today is a member of SØLØ team) and my father’s (who is a mechanical engineer) opinion. As a kid I loved to disassembling objects and putting them together in order to create something new.As a designer I’m making a living since 2013 under my own brand, based in Athens, Greece. The launching of my very fist products collection in European market 4 years ago, it was a successful beginning that leaded me to be a small part of international design community Since then, I’m blessed to work into a field that I was always flirting. A milestone was Pantone’s feature to my brand SØLØ by including us in their Catalogue of Global Trends for 2018.

I became a designer in order to create what I was looking for and I couldn’t found. At first it was a light and washable backpack... and a pattern that I had in mind... next thing was the experimentation of how fabrics should be treated. Meanwhile I started to craft my thoughts into reality by creating a few customized products for friends and family. My internal drive was always leading me to create things in order to make my life easier and my environment vibrant and happy.Today I enjoy a job that fascinates me and I really love

During design process I always keep in mind the end-user of the product or project I design. What he might need or misses right now. I start with the gap that I wish to fill or the improvement that I want to make. I care about what people might need. So the first thing is to identify the need in order to then proceed to the creation of a concept. The actual craft of design process follow while last is the testing.I don’t think that I have a specific style of design, however my designs are always followed by stories of my inspiration and my willing is to create long-lasting designs.

The pleasure of making a living of an everyday work that fascinates me is beyond words. I totally enjoy every aspect of the design process in a different way in every step but I think that the beginning and the end of a project are what always remain. Enthusiasm about the first idea,, the feeling of fulfillment when everything is done... The steps in between differ from project to project but the feelings come and go while I’m busy with the.procedure. One thing I can tell for sure, which is that when the final product of project is ready, any difficulty or/and pressure disappear.

I think that a very important non-design skill for any designer is to care about people and of what society is doing as well as how its designs will or not affect the world. Besides that, I love playing music as well as cooking and it is said that I have skills in both. Both music and cooking share a few common traits, like the fact that in order to create something we need to know every note we press in order to be able to produce the melody or every ingredient and how to mix them for having a good meal. I really believe that those skills I have are very beneficial for me as a designer by helping me stay focused to the final achievement by being in a state of self-discipline while I actually have fun!

I currently working on a full hospitality concept that it could be adapted to any place in the world, according to SØLØ’s philosophy as well as according to my design values as a designer. As a Greek I know all about hospitality which is written in my dna. I’m totally into this project that I could say more than I should! A project/product that I keep in mind but I didn’t have time to design since today is a baby-stroller, which is definitely yet to come.

According to my point of view talent is not enough to make you a designer. It is needed very hard work and commitment to the final goal. Meanwhile, one should remain loyal to his values as a person as well as a professional.

Be real. Be true. Stay in your path and learn how to take failure as an asset of future success.

I always start my day by a nice working-out. Pretty much an evenly nice breakfast follows. I get a fast update of the community mostly via Instagram and I continue by focusing on my projects of the day or week. If and when I have the feeling that the day is going to be boring or unproductive, I stop working and I do something else.

I always wish to know of what the industry is up to. I try not to follow the trends but to set them if possible. I’m not ignoring of what’s new while I have my own vision. It is tricky enough to have a brand identity while remain fresh. Personally, I follow the news and try forecast of what’s the next trend. Up to now I think that designwise I look “fresh”.

My perception of good design is based on what remains of the whole picture of a product or project.From my point of view, good design increases the vibes of the surroundings and has a soul, because has a story to tell. It doesn’t have to be perfect or bold from every aspect, neither needs explanations in order to understand or like it. Good design is vibrant either it is bold or smooth and after all it has to be serviceable to at least one crystal clear goal.According to my instinct as a designer the one and only mistake one could make by trying to make good design is trying too hard by setting it as a goal, before anything else.

A design has always the potential of improvement. However, there is a point where a design is ready to serve the purpose of its existence to here and now. That’s the moment in which I can say that my design is done. Sometimes I start to design something that I cannot leave until is complete, while in other cases I maybe need to leave it a few times in order to take a breath... like I leave the dough to rise before divided it in order to shape it before bake it.On the other hand as time passes and my experience piles up I can always go back to a project or product and improve it - just for fun or because it is necessary as the technology improves.

I consider SØLØ brand project and their first collection of products as one of my biggest design works. It took me 8 months to initially setup actually and it is still listed to top 5 of my works. Besides that I could mention some small size projects from UK to Singapore where I worked with Paola Navone that I consider as at least big deal for me (!); or the creation of my “JUNGLE” pattern for SØLØ which has won two international awards (as many as the design competitions where we were applied as competitors}. However, I think that the biggest one so far will be the project of hospitality that I’m still working on and it is about to be launched.

First of all I’m blessed because I had the opportunity to actually work with Paola Navone which is an ambassador of Grecian Chic, an extremely cool person and one of my favorite designers of all times. Another great designer which I admire and I find very cool while it is said that he is really cool as a person as well, is Luca Nichetto. I think that he is obviously the most international Italian designer of his generation and I think that he is a designer who cares to create an impact in the understanding of good design. In my case Charles and Ray EAMES as well as Ettore Sottsass are the iconic designers that created the most impact in my understanding of good design. However, if I had the chance to talk with a single dead designer I would talk to the one I find the most iconic of all times: Leonardo Da Vinci. (... I really am a lover of Italian culture, obviously!)

I travel a lot, especially for design reasons (events, clients, inspiration) and Rock concerts. And this is the biggest part of my lifestyle and culture which is to create, to travel and to play or/and listening to the music. Music and places that I’m visiting have a great impact to my inspiration. I now live under a Rome Period which means that currently Rome is my inspiring city. Actually, in my plans is to create my next collection based to the impact that Rome has to my feelings and to my inspiration.I believe that design relates to everyone’s life and culture even when someone doesn’t even care about design. Design is all around us, either it is a good or bad one. Good design, which is obviously relates to any designers life either as a goal or not, is advancing the society and the way things could be in order to serve our life as well as our eye. Beauty and functionality, appearance and utility are combined to a good design, which has one and only goal: to make an impact to our lifestyle, and potentially to our culture as individuals.

I strongly believe to teamwork and to what a team can bring into a project. Our team consist of different people, in different ages, with different culture and vey high perception skills. Working to our studio is actually an intense experience I might say. Lots of projects going on every day, designs, drawings, top views of spaces, phone calls, video chats, hard work on computer... and in the middle of this situation, there is us eating, listening to the music while having fun most of the time. I cannot tell how easy it is to work with me but to work for my company it isn’t that easy. Our philosophy doesn’t suits to anyone and it shouldn’t. We are creative people with specific professional and personal values and skills that it is needed to be respected by heart by an individual in order to be able to work amongst us. We stay focused and humble while we’re working and we’re always open and ready to overcome our limits to the point where our happiness isn’t threatened.

Actually, I would prefer not to mention my philanthropist activity. One of my beliefs is that helping others is something that it has to be done silently. As for my company’s culture and activity as a provider of opportunities for young people, I might say that it is a priority, especially for out team members. Certainly, there is as well the part of social responsibility which is a field of our business ethics that it is active and analogous to our profits as a company and it is mainly philanthropic so far; again, I have nothing more to say about it. In general and according to my life’s philosophy every single person on this earth could and should help others/someone else.

Except of the honor that a design award can bring to a designer’s life, competitions are important for any creative profession, according to my opinion. Especially in design world, besides the recognition and the promotion of our specific product/project, the fact that we take a break of our own work in order to take a look to each other’s best work of the year it is a huge opportunity for our design thinking as well as for design community in general. So, I would strongly suggest to designers to participate as competitors in any design competition they feel that their work could have a chance to stand out. It is amazing to be awarded but if they don’t I would suggest them to try again the next year. It is the journey that counts and let the best win! As for being the Designer of the Day, I’m honored and I feel very happy, indeed! It would be lovely to share the news with my audience on social media, as well as to add a mention to our next Newsletter to our subscribers! Thank you very much!!!

Besides a few workshops and seminars as well as private lessons on specific fields, I became a designer smoothly I might say, only because I started to design and produce useful products for myself and my friends and family. Once I launched my very first collection of products in European market the feedback was more than enough to give me the credits of a designer. Since then, I cannot but to accept the title, even if my education had to do with Marketing, actually.

I design for the same reason why I became a designer: because I’m looking for stuff that aren’t around in the form that I wish.

I chose to become a designer, forced by my wish to create what I need to use or see around.

I design products that have stories to tell at first sight.

Even if I’m not a design legend, I could certainly say that design is all about work; work hard actually.

Obviously the impact of their designs to the world.

According to my point of view, it is from the first place the philosophy behind its creation as well as its utility.

Really good design is timeless. Good designed products besides their appearance contain a soul that, first of all, is endlessly fed by the story that lives behind them. A design that has a story to tell is valuable and worths as an investment, according to my opinion.

I would love to design a baby stroller for my future kids

a hospitality project featuring all my designs

No days off.

Paola Navone, Christian Lacroix, Eames and almost all asians

I’m not going to name a few because are many. Just to give a clue, I like black not shiny things that most of the time are really expensive.

My back pack, it is huge extremely light and features my first pattern.

By working and share the knowledge with others desighners

a musician or a chef.

things that work in a set

my family

I don’t consider myself as a great designer yet, however I could say that in order to achieve to be included in the design world as a designer, besides my designing and creative skills, my patience and my need to express myself through product and graphic design have played a major role to where I’m standing at this moment.

Since now the only thing that I consider as an obstacle which I’m facing every now and then is my own self criticism which, thankfully, I manage to overcome as time passes, by trusting my intuition and my team mates perception.

In any possible bold way, on and off line! Nowadays designers all over the world have the opportunity to build and manage their own brands, so they can present their own work in any way they decide. This is a huge advantage, especially for young designers that are now at the beginning of their journey in design world.

To create a complete hotel concept.

To leave a reference by inspiring young and talented people to keep on dreaming and never let go of their goal to be creative and be able to earn their living by design.

continuity

i dont know if it makes a better society but it sure makes it cooler

I'm currently working on new patterns

Collaborating with Paola Navone on two projects. The trust and recognition given by a great designer, that I admire, was the most satisfying part of my carrier yet.

the way the materials integrate and brand a project

I think that design field is headed to an era where limited edition and custom made design will be the answer to todays overproduction of several similar products.

Starting by the concept and ending to a complete and accomplished design project, it might take less than a full day or more than a month. That depends on the size and the level of difficulty of every project.

The concept

utility in design

It seems that it works vice-versa; nowadays especially. According to my personal perception Design is the origin of any trend ever existed.

Technology is a great tool which serves to reduce the whole time of a project. However, every designer needs a vision in order to proceed in the creative process or else, their boundaries are limited.

Photoshop and Illustrator.

Color, materials and ambient are means to accomplish a design project. Once there is a solid concept to be served, these three ingredients are actually designer’s main tools in order to transform the concept into reality.

There is always a story behind all of my designs. I wish people to be curious for these stories. I wish people to ask more about our concepts and undertand that our stories are made to be told.

to buy it

Someone with whom I can be easily coordinate and cooperate. Someone who has the ability to stay focused while has an opened mind. Someone that maybe can understand the way I am thinking while is thinking of his/her own. Last but not least, someone with whom I share the same professional values.

Greater and more experienced designers than myself with whose I have the chance to meet or/and to collaborate with.

I’m not a book lover; not even close! I barely finished a book. However I like to have books that refer to design around me, so I can take a look and read about specific topics of my interest.

I’m still developing my design skills and I think that I will never stop to.

If I had this chance, the first person that I would love to meet and talk with would be my future self!

Awards, fame and ephemeral recognition never were my goals. Certainly I enjoy every aspect of it and I feel honored while I’m placed in a distinguished rank amongst so many talented people from all over the globe, but all these are just serving my brand’s reputation. They are not life-changers; at least not in my case.

black, Rome, pizza, Winter, my Gibson guitar and DIESEL.

Recently, while I was describing to my mother the details of a new big project in which I have to design a brand new pattern, she asked me: « can you do it? ». A moment later we were laughing out loud together.

When I’m able to create anything my mind has imagined

Well, my parents say that they could tell by the way I was playing with my toys. Once I was getting a new one with screws and parts involved, it was a matter of time when I was tearing it apart and assemble it again. Maybe that was a clue, indeed.

really hope for great food that doesn’t make you fat.

Don’t do drugs, listen to and play music, respect your loved ones and go visit your parents! That’s how I live my life and I suggest the same recipe to anybody. Thank you!

I’ve been raised by a mechanical engineer (my father) and a passionate merchant of home linen and textiles (my mother). Both of them are lovers of design. Design has been all over around me since I remember myself. However, I became a designer only when I realized that I was looking for things that I couldn’t find.

SØLØ is made up by designers and makers. Our workplaces are a studio/showroom as well as an in-house design factory, both based in Athens-Greece. We produce everything from scratch while taking part in every step of the creative process. Currently we are a group of 8 extremely different people, working together by sharing the same mentality.

something that works well in a set

diverse and difficult

My sofa, which is inspired by an 80’s cartoon-car of ThunderCats. It was Panthro’s car thunder tank which was wide and spacious while it had two big arms on each side.

a pattern

i love fabric and the ways you can manipulate its form

when i am happy and not hungry

the concept and the materials

While I design, I feel cool to welcome any possible and creative emotion. I actually don’t rush it during the design process, it just comes out; so I think that I’m in a state of meditation by watching my emotions come and go.

fulfilment

Its utility

If it has a purpose to serve

to educate and preserve

I cannot say but what I hope; and I sincerely hope for design industry to believe more in designers’ visions as well as to reduce and eventually stop producing copy-paste low quality products for no reason.

The latest exhibition was about hospitality and design and took place in London. The next one will take place in Dubai and one more about hotel design follows in Athens.

Inspiration could be found in any place. Several Ideas are coming by my integration with environment. I travel a lot, mainly for business and I love it so far. I might say that all I do is connecting the dots, so I can show off the whole picture which I have in my mind.

I don’t believe that I own a recognizable style of design in terms of first sight. My approach to design is the Change and the diversities in and around it. My designs have stories to tell; a different one each of them.

I live in Athens, Greece. The cultural heritage of my country is a heavy one and it motivates me to create long-life products, but not in a way that determines my design style

with pleasure

Companies that are willing to get to know better the designers as persons and have an actual knowledge of all of their skills, are always able to select the right person to design for them. So, what I suggest is communication.

Research , concept, food, music, utilisation

my batman egg holder is the ultimate design item i can think of right now

a Tuesday, 7:30 gym 10:00 factory 12:00 studio 14:00 lunch 15:00 plans of design world domination 20:00 family 23:00zzzzzz

do not criticise other designers, focus on your domain, work and do not do drugs

I can make my own stuff but I cannot easily communicate with people, I might say

make something epic

Work hard and be humble

the adobe suite, paper, water colours, drone, camera and burgers

I am terrible when it comes to follow an agenda. Next question please!

Once a concept is decided, it might be a matter of hours.

did you design anything that you use?

... is yet to come

marriot hotels, ibis hotels, como hotels, gervassoni spa, sylloges, paola navone

The cool ones; when I design for cool clients, I enjoy the design of a small object, a pattern or a sofa, equally. I also enjoy cool client’s desire to hug me afterwards.

i am designing a hotel concept from top to bottom

Both work. I’m blessed with team mates that got it and I’m very pleased that we don’t need to say much to each other in order to communicate.

Now I’m working on a Greek oriented concept to be applied in a hotel of Athens.

via Social Media

I cannot believe that I have answered to all of your 40 questions... Thank you for asking!