Today, Volatile Design is very excited to sit down and present a human being who has found an elevat

Today, Volatile Design is very excited to sit down and present a human being who has found an elevated voice of design reason in an industry filled to the brim with hefty competition and unlimited design choices. While these feats are no object for Tiffany Gomez of Gomez Design Studio, we felt necessary to enter into an in-depth interview to understand the mastermind behind her sustainable practices. Sure enough, her responses revealed what we already knew to be true of this humble NYC-based Artisan. Her humble approach to craftsmanship, natural ease into teaching and geometric creations that push on the edge of 4D magnificence, are only a few things that make Gomez Design Studio a ray of light for any entrepreneur with a vision.——V: Hi Tiffany, we love your work and the process you go through to reach your results. Can you tell us a little about how you approach creation, how you manifest your vision and what you feel when you are executing the final pieces?T: My approach to creation and how I manifest my vision is actually entirelydependent on what I find. I allow the material itself to guide me becauseit’s how it exists in that moment. I don’t go out and buy the perfect pieceof wood or much of anything else for that matter and so I accept what isessentially “given” to me in its current state. I look at what’s in front of meand ask myself “what need can I fulfill with this? can something useful becreated here? how was this used before it ended up in the trash?”. Andby asking myself these questions I’m developing a better understanding ofhuman relationship with the objects that surround us. As a result, my workis always evolving and I’m essentially never really done with a piece. Tome, none of it is final. It’s a continuous cycle of creation and each piece isjust a new phase within that creation. I guess it’s why I’m always excitednearing the “end” of a phase, as each design has been executed, I seemore possibilities and how far I’m able to explore with a single material.After each phase, I’m just ready to see what I can do next.V: Your take on sustainability is very human-forward and tactile (allowing the customer to be closer to your process). What would you say are the three elements that push you to be a sustainable designer?T: Knowing that my choices affect others is the driving force behind it all.Every single thing I do, use or make will directly impact someone orsomething. So I feel it is my responsibility especially as a designer to besustainable. I don’t want to create anything that will negatively impactthis world. And as my business grows and continues to take on newdirection. I am working to integrate sustainability initiatives that will impactour community not just environmentally, but socially and economically aswell. The thing I love about design is that it has the ability to address allthree of those elements in such an profound way. It goes back to thatcontinuous cycle of creation I mentioned earlier within my own process.V: Who is your favorite creator or artist and why? It can be from any discipline.T: It is terrible of me to say that I don’t have one? I honestly don’t think Ihave a favorite anything lol. I’m one of those people that can love andappreciate anything and everything, so putting a “favorite” label on oneis next to impossible.V: I know you are quite the hunter for materials to make your art. Do you feel like a forager when out exploring to get your goods? Is the finding process of your materials almost like digging for buried treasure?T: To be quite honest, I don’t have to hunt or look very far for materials at all.It’s one of the benefits of living in NY. I sometimes get overwhelmed withhow much there is to choose from and will actually have to decide whichpieces to take and which to leave behind because I simply can’t fit all ofit in my car or my studio.V: Every time I visit your website to see the new products you produce, I always say the same thing, “these really merge form and function!” I want to get into your beautiful and imaginative mind for a moment. If you could build or design one epic, functional and sustainable piece today whose purpose is to contribute to a more socially conscious world, what would it be? T: Now this is my favorite question lol. I have been dreaming of creating amobile studio and I’m actually in the process of establishing that. I don’twant to divulge all the details prematurely but It’s something I’ve wantedto build for quite some time. It’s definitely much larger than one of mywood panels that’s for sure.V: What is the most complex and the most fun part of being a designer in 2019?T: I’d say the most complex part of being a designer is staying above thecompetition. Everything moves so fast these days and pretty muchanyone can go out on their own and make something, so staying relevantin the midst of that is a real challenge. But I’d also say that taking myconcept and running with it in my own way is so much fun. I try not toimpose limitations when I create and so I have a blast just exploring andexperimenting every day. I’m living my dream!V: If you could transport yourself into any past era of design and be part of an important movement, what do you gather you’d choose? (Don’t worry- you get to come back, its temporary! Unless you fall in love and want to stay there!)T: Definitely Bauhaus. Hands down. The core of this movement waseducation. Not just in theory, but in actual practice. Students got theirhands dirty. There were workshops for numerous trades and designbecame a united front between all of the arts. Clearly I am connected tothis movement. And who knows, maybe I’ll be creating my very ownversion of the Bauhaus in the near or not so near future.V: What is your wood species spirit animal?T: No one has ever asked me this question before. It’s a tough oneconsidering wood in general is so beautiful, but if I had to choose from aspecies I’ve worked with before, I’d say cedar. The grain is like layeredsediment and that pinkish hue is just absolutely stunning.V: Tell us more about your workshops, where new students can sign up and what inspires you to teach? I imagine getting the one-on- one time with you is quite the treat!’T: To be honest, I never thought I’d be teaching in a million years, but I’vecome to really enjoy it. What I love most is how empowered my studentsfeel by the end of class. For those that have never worked with powertools before, a class like this can be pretty intimidating at first, but by thetime they’re all done, you see such a shift in their confidence and that tome is motivation enough. I’ve even done an after-school workshop with afew 5th graders in a local Montessori Charter School here in the Bronx andit was such a positive experience for all of us. I’m hoping to expand theworkshops over the next few months, not only by offering a wider range ofclasses, but integrating these programs into local schools throughout thecity. Once I have the classes designed, I’ll share all of the info via socialmedia (Instagram, facebook, twitter) and sign ups will be available on mywebsite.V: What music do you like to listen to when conceptualizing? Or do you prefer to create in silence?T: Most of the time, I conceptualize and develop my designs in silence. Thatquiet space in my mind is vital during this phase and it helps to even thinkout loud. Any other noise would totally disrupt the process. But once I startbuilding, I’ll bounce back and forth between music, audio books,motivational speeches and biblical teachings. I find that depending onwhere I am in the creative process, each of those motivates and helps mein a profound way.V: What are the future goals for Gomez Design Studio? As a designer myself, I admire that you have created your own lane that is unique to you (without paying mind to the vast quantities of products/designers out there). Your bravery to make honest products shows strength and belief in your craft.T: I appreciate your kind words and view of me in such a positive light. WhenI created Gomez Design Studio, deep down I never really wanted this tobe about me and so my goals are really all about establishing acommunity within this business through education and collaboration. Ifeel like I’m here to help change our perception and relationship with thematerial world. There are so many ways that I want to accomplish that butall of it requires community. We honestly cannot have a sustainable worldand restore our planet without it. I’m actively working towards creatingprograms that will help empower and educate our community onsustainability through a creative lens.V: Tell us a funny or interesting story about a day on the job with Tiffany!T: I lose my things constantly in the studio. Even if I just had it, I lose it. And Ihave to literally stand in one spot and scan the room for whatever I’ve lostthis time. Be it my safety glasses, my tape measure or my left glove. I can’ttell you how much time I’ve wasted looking around for stuff. It alwaysmakes me laugh to think how funny I must look to someone else were theywatching me on camera.——————–Visit Tiffany today at her social media platforms:https://www.gomezdesignstudio.com -- source link

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