Interview with Cristina Ramella
Born and raised in Italy, Cristina Ramella spent her life in Milan where she completed her studies up to a Master’s degree in Industrial Design at the Milan’s Polytechnic.
Designer Interview
17 June 2014
I studied to become a designer more for my passion about art and arquitecture, rather than knowing what kind of designer I'll become. I have always works with Contemporary arts Museums and Arquitects, like my husband and also had the privilege to be an intern at Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Vesima.
It was until later that I discover a passion for designing jewelry and decided to move to NY to become an expert in the field. Once me and my family moved back to Mexico, i started Artelier, my company and become a young entrepreneur, designing, promoting and distributing my new brand Artelier.
It was until later that I discover a passion for designing jewelry and decided to move to NY to become an expert in the field. Once me and my family moved back to Mexico, i started Artelier, my company and become a young entrepreneur, designing, promoting and distributing my new brand Artelier.
Artelier by Cristina Ramella is dedicated to produce high quality yet inspirational and very design oriented pieces. The new success of the brand is due to the new approach to the piece of jewelry, not only a shiny piece of embellishment, but also a philosophical and ideological piece that's telling a story about ourselves.
Design is a concrete and practical instrument of landing an idea or project from pure inspiration to tangible artifact. A designer has to be creative but also prepared, practical and visionary.
Jewelry, although I have made a line of leather bags with jewelry applications.
My favorite is the Globe Ring, that I have nominated, along with the world cuff that is actually my best seller.
Books and catalogues.
I love working wit wax. Its such a responsive and vulnerable material. It allows you to create the impossible with your hands and see it realized in precious metals. Working with wax is like working miniature sculptures, it's relaxing and actually lots of fun.
When I see the surprised and astonished reaction of a friend or client, looking at my jewelries and almost not believing what they see!
At the end of the day a design has to be beautiful and also sellable. I don't set easily for compromises and I keep researching until I get the product I want, the one I would wear.
It's a place where I'm allowed to loose my self for a moment and forget about the rest. Makes me happy to project my ideas. Like arquitects, I believe designers and artist are visionaries, can see what's not been envenomed or produced yet!
Satisfaction, accomplishment, happiness.
A successful design specks all languages and cultures, doesn't define one, excluding another. It's a conversational pieces, a universal beauty.
First is quality.
I believe it's important that design communicates and express our reality. Working with recycled materials it's always been a priority for my company. Also the message that our earth is our most precious jewels I think it's pretty important!
I honestly have no idea. What we can accomplish today will be completely turn over in the next few years, and that exciting. New technologies will surprise us as designers and inspire new unimaginable creations.
Internet it's my primary source of inspiration. I'm a mother of two living a regular family life, and internet it's my gate to the world, to see whats going on, what people want and aspire. The world collection was actually inspired by a world map tattoo I find on the internet! I bought it was such a great expression of our culture, universally, that I wanted to create a jewelry with the same message.
I don't think I have a particular style. Style is evolving all the time.
I'm Italian but I'm established in Mexico since the last 7 years. Yes every place I have lived (Italia, Australia, NYC, Mexico) has left a mark and a change of my personal vision and life habits. Off course it reflects on my designs and perceptions.
First I collect images that inspires me, then I sketch for a while nonsenses until it hits me. Once I have a strong concept I sit down and make it real in wax or with my executive designer in Rhino.
Be prepared, punctual, focused, try many different variation of your job before settling down, but mostly read a lot!
Enthusiasm. If you lack of a technical skill it can always be compensated by a good team member, but love and enthusiasm are rare to find.
Books, Note books, Internet, Rhino, Illustrator.
Can take months for a difficult design
Intern at Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Vesima, Genova. 2006
Showrooms, boutiques, private costumers
A good team is essencial.
Yes, I'm working on the City Collection for 2015. The idea is to collect cities we have been to or we are dreaming about.
hola@artelier.mx