We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Ioannis Solomozis about their original and creative Themed Lounge Area design work. Ioannis Solomozis is an award-winning service designer, that makes our world a better place with their original themed lounge area works.
Ioannis Solomozis ("IS") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work The Two Spirit Themed Lounge Area. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
IS : The main principle was to create an atmospheric lounge area, the idea of the design was to have versatile uses and the inspiration was the Native American culture.
IS : Our main focus was to create a space with a unique ambiance, to be used in public areas within the hospitality industry. We wanted to achieve the creation of a design with respect to culture, diversity and inclusivity, while at the same time having the feeling of a universally recognize culture trademark.
IS : Its presence in hospitality services, and an example on how different cultures can be used in creating atmospheric spaces in contemporary way.
IS : Around 5 months.
IS : We were commissioned to modify a print, with respect to the original design by La Maison Pierre Frey, and use it to create a themed lounge area, from there on we decided on pursuing our inspiration from the culture of Native Americans.
IS : The products were designed by us, their production by Solo Athens and the fabrics used by La Maison Pierre Frey.
IS : We were commissioned to produce the themed lounge area, having as a principle a particular print.
IS : The movie "Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring" with the director Kim Ki-Duk, influenced us in producing the ambiance.
IS : Companies in the hospitality sector.
IS : Using just one bold pattern and one colour, as well as blending the culture of Native American people, reviving it in a more contemporary way, with today’s material creating products that will be useful and unique in our culture and lifestyle.
IS : The Native American culture and more specifically their belief in the Two Spirit People; A gift from the Creator, born with the spirits of both genders in one body. As history suggests, Europeans who arrived in the Native American Garden of Eden in the mid of 15th century witnessed for the first time a land so uncorrupted. The first tradition they targeted to eliminate was the one of the Two Spirit people, since their kind of gender variance was not tolerated. Europeans and eventually Euro-Americans demanded all people to conform to their prescribed two gender roles. In this project setting, our first priority was to emphasize the importance of being able to see the world through the eyes of both genders at the same time and considering the necessity of respecting diversity -as a prior value- and honoring the ethics and traditions of native Americans.
IS : Photoshop and 3D Studio Max
IS : The unique aspect is based on the Two Spirit people that were able to see the world through the eyes of both genders, and this is what we did - as a man and a woman - during the design process of the project.
IS : Solo Athens, offered the team for the production of the design products.
IS : In the quick process of producing our modified pattern.
IS : We mainly used the internet in order to learn about the Native American culture into more depth.
IS : Some of the challenges were the approval of La Maison Pierre Frey regarding the modification of the fabric, we wanted the design and production of the tent and sofa to be of high quality, totally functional and ergonomic, as well as some aspects of the Native American culture had to be materialised into design products.
IS : It was not our first time and it's a process that communicates our design in a wider audience.
IS : In the process of research we learned how respectful Native American culture was and we improved our selves through understanding the importance of different views in a particular matter.
IS : no, thank you
