Interview with Maria Blondet

Since I remember, I always dream to become a package designer for products like soft drinks, soaps and other similar products. After graduating from high school I went straight to an Art and Design school to achieve my goal. Exposed to so many art studios, workshops and materials the love for metals grew. While completing my graphic Design program I took as many metal classes and start to work as monitor in that metal studio that I was in love with. There, I help everyone to solve their ideas. My passion for metal was so obvious that when I graduated with high honors from graphic design the university offered me a full grant to finish the metal program. It was a wonderful time and opportunity. I love what I do and I am grateful to be able to create jewelry.

When I create a piece of jewelry I want that piece to be a piece of art. I have to take many things in consideration. First of all is a piece of art, but no for a public space or a wall. This art is going to be displayed in a person, so I have to work around the shapes of the human body. I work with the positive and negative spaces of the body, I pay attention of the size and weight of a piece for it to be comfortable and I study the functionality of a piece before completing it. I make many changes in the process to achieve all of this and a piece of jewelry is finish.

As I said before, the feeling I get when I develop and idea and the transformation of that idea while I am creating it is fenomenal. Something that can't be described with words. I am fortunate to be a designer and have the experience to share that feeling with others through my work.

I come from a family of artist and in my life art and music have always been present. My mother is a renown sculpture, her sister a painter, my grandfather played guitar, violin, piano and was President of the Festival Casals for 18 years and we visited him in the theater around and were around the musicians. At the age of 7, I painted a Christmas scene that was chosen to represent Puerto Rico and then the it was chosen to represent a campaign in The United States and was invited to Washington to the White House and met many people from the politics and art as well. As this first experiences from childhood, many others have come and make what I am now.

I what to design for people. I want to share my great experiences with others. Each piece that I make is filled with energy and people react to it. What else can I ask for? What I would love is to be able to create faster so I can spread that feeling to more people. In that, I am working now.

I would advise to designers at the beginning of their career to be themselves and to express their creativity. To be sure of themselves and not afraid to be extremely different. Get out of the box!

I would suggest to fellow designers to follow their steps one at a time. Enjoy and share the triumphs of fellow designers, NEVER put them down. Your success is about what you are doing, your efforts, focus on it and you will succeed.

I think about new ideas every day even if I am out of the studio and with my family. A designer is always thinking in way to solve a specific task in a piece. A designer does not have a 9-5 job, a designer concludes a days work depending on the muse and mood. In a non creative day, I try implement the finishes to pieces or cut shapes of pieces that I planed already but are not done.

My clients are people who appreciate art, architects, designers, people who wants to have something different so, I don't design my jewelry around trends. I like to keep my work timeless. I do research and like to see what is happening in the world of jewelry design because I love the theme and want to know about other artist and technology in the field.

Harmony, balance, a piece that evokes a pleasant feeling and does not disturbs your emotions in a negative way is a great design. If something makes you uncomfortable, does not work, is not a good design. As simple as that.

I decide that a piece is ready when it feel finished. If I want to try a different approach to a piece then I make a new one and make the changes on that other piece. If not I would never finish any piece.

My biggest design work is the one that I am working right now. It is a large collection of pieces and have many challenges. I can not wait to complete it and show it to the world.

It is hard to mention just one. There are many designers around the world that influence us. If I have to mention one that I do admire is my mother. Her sculptures are monumental and as small as she is (5' tall), she does everything herself. Her vision, knowledge and the greatness of how she works with the space is unique.

I love nature, specially the water. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, that is a tropical island, water is around us. From the Rain Forest to the coast you are always around water and textures. Texture from the sand, leaves, tress, waves, rain drops, etc. My work is for sure influenced by that. I like to give my pieces a variety of textures coarse ones, softer ones and smooth. You can see the shine of the sun is the highly shinny parts and the roughness of the sand in other parts. Those contrast give the piece a warmth feeling like the one you get in this tropical island.

In the creative part I like to work alone. For others shores like marketing, photography, etc, I do like the extra help.

I have donated my work for auctions, events, and special charities. Live is about giving.

It was a great experience attending the A'Design Award. It is rewarding to be around other people with the same interest in design even thought their cultures are so diverse. The gratification you get to be able to share your work with others around the world is fabulous. Being chosen designer of the day makes a GREAT DAY!!

My company is a design and make jewelry studio. Every piece is designed and delicately crafted by me. I like to keep the warmth of uniqueness and no two pieces are the same.

Design is one of the elements that give structure to the world. Everything that surrounds us was designed by someone. Design is essential in this world.

Since I am in the jewelry line, I have to say that I love to design rings. They can be little sculptures.

I don't have a "most favorite" design, but a really love a design that no matter where you put it, it always work.

While I was saving money to get my jewelry tools, equipment and materials to make jewelry I work as graphic designer. At that time I was designing logotypes, and catalogs for different companies.

I love to work with Argentium Silver, its property to retard tarnish is great. I like to construct the pieces rather than casting them. I get to see the transformation step by step and make changes as I like.

I feel most creative when I have may space to work by myself. I don't like distraction.

I focus on the weight and shape of the piece to make it comfortable to the wearer.

Fenomenal. Something that can't be described with words. I am fortunate to be a designer and have the experience to share that feeling with others through my work.

It is wonderful the feeling of a finished design. And that does not end there, the feeling you get when other like your creation is ever greater.

Harmony, balance, a piece that evokes a pleasant feeling and does not disturbs your emotions in a negative way is a great design.

If something makes you uncomfortable, does not work, is not a good design. As simple as that.

As designers we are responsible to keep harmony and balance, to make things work and be functional. All that keeping in mind the materials we are using to be caring with the environment and to protect the nature that surrounds us.

The design fiel is evolving really fast as technology develops. The future has no limits but we have to be conscious and design respecting the world.

My last big exhibition was last year but I have two places that are constantly exhibiting my latest pieces.

I get a lot of inspiration from nature. I like to give my pieces a variety of textures coarse ones, softer ones and smooth. You can see the shine of the sun is the highly shinny parts and the roughness of the sand in other parts. Those contrast give the piece a warmth feeling like the one you get in this tropical island (Puerto Rico).

My clients are people who appreciate art, architects, designers, people who wants to have something different so, I don't design my jewelry around trends. I like to keep my work timeless.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, that is a tropical island, water is around us. From the Rain Forest to the coast you are always around water and textures. Texture from the sand, leaves, tress, waves, rain drops, etc. My work is for sure influenced by that.

Sometimes I get special requests from companies to do a special pieces for them.

Companies should evaluate and make a research of what designer they will hire. It must be a designer that goes along with their believes. That way a company will let the designer do his/her job and will be pleased it the results.

I love to construct my pieces of jewelry from sheets of different gauges of silver or gold rather than casting. That way I can see the transformation step by step and make the changes that need to be done for the piece to be finished.

A sculpture of my mother, a chair, a floor lamp, my bed, a set of wine glasses that makes everything taste great. These and many other items, they all work together and make my place home.

I think about new ideas every day even if I am out of the studio and with my family. A designer is always thinking in way to solve a specific task in a piece. A designer does not have a 9-5 job, a designer concludes a days work depending on the muse and mood. In a non creative day, I try implement the finishes to pieces or cut shapes of pieces that I planed already but are not done.

I would suggest to young designers to follow their steps one at a time. Enjoy and share the triumphs of fellow designers, NEVER put them down. Your success is about what you are doing, your efforts, focus on it and you will succeed.

The good thing about being a designer would be that you can create new ideas and make those real. The negative part is that I myself am very demanding of what I want and do not like to have what everyone have.

Perfection.

A good designer should be able to make a product that is esthetically pleasing and works perfectly.

sketchbook, paper, pencil, paper, marker, paper, metal, wires, paper, modeling clay, paper, tape, did I mention paper?

I manage my time through joy. I don't think about time when I am in my studio.

It varies, depending on the muse, the piece, and the technique.

Where my inspiration comes from.

The one that I have now. I have my own jewelry studio where I create my own designs of jewelry.

My clients are people who appreciate art, architects, designers, people who wants to have something different and appreciate a one of a kind piece of jewelry.

I love designing and making rings. They become like small scale sculpture that you enjoy and take anywhere with you.

I am working now in a very large collection of pieces and have many challenges. I can not wait to complete it and show it to the world.

I work by myself. I get creative when I am alone and have no distraction. Is a date with the music the metals and I.

I am working now in a very large collection of pieces and have many challenges. I can not wait to complete it and show it to the world.

People can contact me through facebook (Maria Blondet Jewelry) / my web page : www.mariablondet.com / email: info@mariablondet.com

I would like to thank A'Design Award for promoting design and designers around the world. And make them meet.