Interview with Voicu-Stefan Cretu, Nord Arin designer
What inspires you most in the creation process?
When I create a furniture design, I am always trying to find the appropriate connection between the current global cultural context and our local roots and traditions, by innovation and novelty, while striving to translate our creative ideas with the help of wood and other sustainable materials. Local places and symbols, specific to our country and region as well as elements of the world's culture and design have been the best inspiration for Nord Arin yet into creating pieces of furniture that answer the aesthetic and practical needs of our customers.
How would you define the process of creating design furniture from scratch?
We use different methods and approaches. From simple lines on the paper to CAD software, from the latest and most complex wood-carving technology to traditional sculpture and craftsmanship, each method has its own part to play in the process. It's about constant experimentation and finding the perfect balance between all these elements in order to get the optimal results.
What is success for you as a designer?
I think success is best measured by the external reaction of those around you, by how it is received by customers, partners and design specialists. You can use different methods of quantizing it, first and foremost from direct customer feedback, to awards, requests, collaborations, sales, etc., but, in the end, it all comes down to how much work and thought you're willing to put into it, and the people who are supposed to receive it will notice that.
And, to be honest, it's also about luck. You can spend months or even years on a design that you consider to be adamant and it's not going to make it after its first exhibition. Other time, something that just crosses your mind and you just want to give it a shot and you will get an overwhelmingly positive feedback. It's not always in the designer's hands. Nevertheless, luck's only that 1% atop the 99% of hard work.
Design is very subjective, and I think that’s actually one of the best parts of it. Each time someone creates something, he puts in a small piece of himself into it and that piece is meant to be found and related to by other persons with similar views, tastes, goals, aspirations and so on. Through a personal, subjective approach, we get to connect to each other, and that's a truly amazing thing.
How will product design change in the future?
It’s obvious that more and more often, customers are seeking smart products, with smart design and smart functionalities and this is what we aim to accomplish with the Nord Arin products in the future. We are already researching and testing the integration of new technologies into our solid wood furniture, while we focus on delivering a premium design at global quality standards.
What interior design trends you think will prevail in the next years?
In the following years, product design will become even more human-centric and will remain loyal to the principles of biophilic design, as more and more people are looking for authenticity and sustainability. Our approach to these new market requirements is a minimalist and organic furniture design, produced out of sustainably sourced wood. The new Nord Arin 2021 collections, to be released this autumn, are sculptural pieces of furniture with a strong focus on authenticity, that emphasize the natural beauty of wood.