We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Parisa Rafipour about their original and creative Room Accessory design work. Parisa Rafipour is an award-winning communication designer, that makes our world a better place with their original room accessory works.
Parisa Rafipour ("PR") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Identity Room Accessory. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
PR : Identity is inspired by the fact that when we are born, we are given labels that define who we can or can't be or become. Based on race, gender, nationality, etc. our whole life is set and we act accordingly. Those limiting definitions of the labels are just a perspective but not the whole truth. If we choose to look at them from a different point of view we can be the one in charge of our life. That is the whole point behind Identity. To inspire people to believe in themselves and reach their fullest potential. The perception we have on whether we can do something or not determines our action and that is the key to living the life we are living. Identity is designed to break that negative thought cycle, telling ourselves we can't do something. We have heard limiting definitions of labels many times since our childhood that it has become the story we tell ourselves and justify why we can't. And if we only change that story of why we can't, the can't changes to a can.
PR : What I wanted to achieve is to remind people of the power of their thought and being able to bring awareness on the issue of stereotyping all the labels. Our mind creates shortcuts and creates bias so that it can keep us safe and in our comfort zone. It is our job to be aware of it and do not fall into these traps and sacrifice our dreams. Identity is about practicing everyday to observe out thoughts for our mental fitness and well being.
PR : The whole purpose with Identity is to raise as much awareness as possible. In our world today, we face a lot mental stress. I believe with a little bit of self care we can train ourselves to stay on a healthy path. Just like it is important to physically take care of ourselves, it is as important to mentally take care of ourselves. There are countless number of people that all their life believe the stories they are told since their childhood. As a result, they live in despair because they cannot have the life they had envisioned for themselves.
PR : It took about a year considering all the research phase until its full completion.
PR : All my life I have lived with labels and paid a lot of price for their limiting definition. As a woman, as an immigrant and as a Iranian, I have experienced first hand how it feels to live a life of being told who you can be or should be. I have always known that these labels do not define me on a conscious level. But one day, I realized that on an unconscious level I am limiting myself because of these stories I am told. These stories come true not because that is a fact, but because it stops us from even trying. Having studies and learned a lot about human behavior and mind, I decided to create something to be able to raise awareness on this. So Identity became an every day reminder for everyone. Because we all have these labels in one way or another. We are told that we can't do something and then justified by a label.
PR : Anyone interested in mental fitness and well being. Self-care is the most important thing in our life. We all are aware of that when it comes to our physical wellbeing but not when it comes to our mental health. But our mind has the power to even make us physically sick if we are not living in a good place mentally.
PR : Identity is about showing who we are from different perspectives. From our point of view and the society's point of view. It is about the importance of our choice in choosing the one that is empowering.
PR : The design is based on researches done in the field of social psychology, human behavior and design. It highlights the connection between the labels and their effect on self perception. Limiting labels hurt both the person and the society. They prevent people from reaching their full potential and serving their community. Labels also separate people by making it all about us versus them and this causes conflict. An empowering way to perceive labels creates a sense of inclusion and makes our world a more balanced place.
PR : The first challenge was having two opposites coexist in one form with harmony. The design bridges the gap between two opposites with changes in perspective and showing the reality from that point of view. It is designed in a simple and direct way to bring the attention to its message. The second challenge was to engage people and involve more of their senses. The design should be assembled and it can rotate to change perspectives. This builds a sense of discovery and has an element of surprise.
