We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Andrés Mariño Maza about their original and creative Chair design work. Andrés Mariño Maza is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original chair works.
Andrés Mariño Maza ("AMM") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Nina and Beni Chair. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AMM : The Nina and Beni chair is inspired by the techniques used in naval architecture, shapes made from wood that join form and function, minimizing waste through the use of steam-bending. I wanted the design to be modern and elegant, to showcase the technical difficulty in entails to bend wood to such extents.
AMM : I was prototyping techniques for creating complex shapes with wood and from that research I realized I could fabricate the geometry I had in mind. In that sense the main focus was perfecting the molds necessary to make the chair.
AMM : In these uncertain times it is hard to make predictions on the future but the project was always to continue to promote the chair and see where that leads.
AMM : From the first sketches to the first prototype it took approximately one month.
AMM : It was a commission from some family friends, Nina and Beni.
AMM : It is being produced by a local company with whom I´m associated with.
AMM : I felt the need to re-learn a craft that I had lost contact with since moving to Spain from the US. Seeing how most of the furniture we see today is made without attention to detail, from bad quality materials, meant to only last us a few years I decided to design furniture that would highlight craftsmanship and quality.
AMM : I have always admired the work of designers like aalvar Aalto or Jorn Utzon, how they would strip design of its excess fat to create efficient and beautiful shapes; like a Scandinavian diet. Also both influenced by nautical architecture and its aerodynamic yet beautiful shapes.
AMM : Suitable for private residences and businesses, also for lobbies or waiting areas.
AMM : The way it was fabricated involved a mix of modern and traditional techniques, fabricating the molds necessary to create such complex 3d shapes required innovation and a lot of prototyping.
AMM : It was a custom order from good friends of mine, so its named after them.
AMM : designed the molds using parametric 3D software then program a 5 axis cnc to cut the molds out.
AMM : It’s not common to see such complex geometry in woodworking due to the fact that it would involve a lot of waste and steam-bending is generally done in 2 dimensional molds. This design involves the use of 3 dimensional molds to curve the pieces into position and then laminate them.
AMM : I collaborated with a local carpentry to prototype and fabricate, y also collaborate with people in the leather and textile industry.
AMM : I think without today’s tools and software creating a chair like this would not be feasible. I use technology not only in the design phase but more so in the fabrication and mold making stage.
AMM : Not at the design stage, and not for this product. The primary objective here was to make something beautiful, sustainable and innovative.
AMM : I made many mistakes when testing the initial concept, some of those mistakes were necessary in achieving a more well rounded design.
AMM : I was encouraged by a close friend of mine
AMM : I realized that there are certain parts of the creative process where a little blind faith is required, even if you´re not sure, if you keep your eye on the ball you’ll eventually get there.
