materia.lise.design : design.magazine

Atelier A1 Interview

Atelier A1 was holding Christmas Sales in December. We payed them a visit and gave them the opportunity to tell us about what they have been doing during 2006 and how they feel about all the rest.

materia.lise.design : So you’re the people behind Atelier A1 : Sylvain Willenz, Elric Petit, Marina Bautier, Diane Steverlinck, Nathalie Dewez. Only Benoît de Neufbourg is missing. And, you’re basically nothing but a bunch of people sharing the same workspace, right?

Marina Bauthier : Exactly.

m.l.d : Right, and Marina, I think you were the one who found the place, and the group started forming little by little from there on.

Marina Bauthier : yes, the five of us came first and Benoît joined a year ago. Sylvain Willenz : I think that’s what can disturb people, that we’re six designers working under the same roof, and that’s where it stops. M. B. : And our priority is our individual work, above all. The dynamic of a shared workspace does lead to us being proposed common projects. But that’s not the goal. Nathalie Dewez : Reactions from the outside are often to ask us what common paths would be. These questions do come up now and then.

m.l.d : And, do you feel there’s a sense of contamination between you, seen the promiscuity?

S. W. : Possibly influences. I mean, positive influence, we share tips, information, experiences. N. D. : And worse experiences too, and by sharing those, everyone learns from it. Elric Petit : But I don’t think it can be felt in our work. S. W. : Everyone keeps his own path, direction and language.

m.l.d. : And when you come up with new projects, I mean, do you criticize each other?

M. B. : It depends. E. P. : Sometimes we dare to, sometimes at our own risks [laughs] M. B. : I think everyone knows when he wants to share with others, in order to have critique. E. P. : And I noticed that when nobody says anything, it’s rather a bad sign. I had put a chair here, and nobody said anything. [laughs] I think when something is looking good, it’s easier to say. N. D. : But it wasn’t ready at all! We didn’t know what it would look like. E. P. : I know, I’m just livening up the debate [laughs] M. B. : But that’s what I mean. We’re so visible to each other already, it’s important that we leave each other develop projects at our own pace, and with our own views. That’s why I wouldn’t comment on something that’s in progress. E. P. : Yes, that’s important indeed. N. D. : It’s good to avoid confrontations, and having to explain everything. Diane Steverlinck [ironically] : We should hold a jury. [laughs]

m.l.d. : Right, so you’re not a collective, but sharing a workspace does seem to have its advantages in terms of visibility. If we think of DesignBrussels for instance : you were invited to show your works together, which wouldn’t have happened had you all been separate.

M. B. : Yes absolutely, as soon as you look for any of use, you immediately get confronted with six designers. N. D. : And if you’re looking for a bunch of designers, you immediately get a selection of six here, with six different works.

m.l.d. : So, what did you show there, I recall Nathalie showed a new lamp, Diane, I think you made a wallpaper, but I don’t think I’ve seen it.

D. S. : It’s the giant notebook hung at the entrance, full of children’s drawings.

m.l.d. : Right, now I see. So it’s more like “paper on the wall”. I was actually expecting real wallpaper. And, Marina, you, designed another lamp, while Sylvain designed a bag a few months ago. And we’re waiting for what Elric will show in the upcoming Big Game collection. Put all together it does feel as if you’re all taking the road to self-edition.

M. B. : Not really, that was actually just for that one project. S. W. : We knew we were going to be able to sell things. M. B. : So some of us that had nothing particular to sell decided to make something new.

m.l.d. : ...that you could manufacture yourself. How many did you actually make, by the way?

M. B. : I made hundred lamps. D. S. : I made ten. Everyone had his own figures [laughs] N. D. : I made close to twenty pieces.

m.l.d. : Marina, hundred !? Fifty of each? Because there were two version, right?

M.B. : Yes, exactly.

m.l.d. : Since we’re coming close to the end of the year, how would you look back on it? How did you like it?

E. P. : let’s see, what was very good… N.D. : The conference by the Bourroullecs! [all agree] It was fun. We should have more of those good quality conferences.

m.l.d. : Yes, and it’s actually strange, because Brussels has loads of conferences on graphic design, architecture,...

E. P. : Yes, I’ve heard about those. Maybe design is the next market for conferences… There was Interieur too this year, which on itself stands for a good year for Belgian design. We had the honor of having Moniek Buckoye inviting us to present some of our works at Interieur, like carpets and Diane’s curtains, which was rather good! S. W. : That’s what I call a good event. It’s all centralized, which gives it more resonance. D. S. : After all, it’s the same foundation that has been organizing it for forty years. M. B. : The Brussels Year of Fashion started off a bit late. N. D. : Yeah, how awkward to start a year in March. S. W. : Everyone wants to have its own little event, and the result isn’t always very strong. I think they could better have joined efforts into one big event. D. S. : They should have centralized everything.

m.l.d. : Has it had an immediate positive effect for you?

M. B. : Not really since we didn’t participate on any of the events associated with the budget. N. D. : There was press, but not necessarily more than other years. M. B. : The attention was more going to the events. N. D.: Maybe we got a bit more attention during the design week than other years. Perhaps not. M. B. : We would have had it even it wasn’t Design Year.

m.l.d. : So how do you experience being designers in Belgium? I know most of you have had experiences in foreign countries, so how do you compare it to Belgium?

M. B. : Things are too shattered. Especially on the French speaking side. There are too many different institutions. But they’re starting to put things together I think.

m.l.d. : So, we should have something like the British Design Council?

M. B. : Sort of, but that’s what they’re trying to put together with WCC-BF. It’s the french community that tries to centralize awex and Wallonie Design. It’s not obvious, since many things exist already. And I think some do good work. The solution is not to do something big from scratch and to stop all the rest. E. P. : The other problem is that there’s nothing for the whole country. M. B. : That’s impossible I think, since it are regionalized competences. I’m not bothered by the fact that there are dutch and french organisations, as long as they’re willing to cooperate. S. W. : And it has happened before, like at Grand-Hornu and Imperfect by Design. M. B. : I don’t think people behind those organisations are reluctant to work together.

m.l.d. : What are you all up too at the moment?

M. B. : I’m getting prepared for Milan. N. D. : So am I, but we’re not going together. We have our own stands. Elric is coming with Big-Game too, on a huge stand…

m.l.d. : ...thanks to Switzerland.

E. P. : Yes, thanks to Switzerland for once. I change my nationality once in a while (laughs).

m.l.d. : And Diane and Sylvain ?

D. S. : I will go but I don’t have a stand. S. W. : No, I won’t be going this year. N. D. : You’re not even going to pay us a visit? S. W. : Of course I will; I’ll go and have a look. But I want to prepare some new projects really well before going again… possibly not before 2008, except maybe if Design Vlaanderen sets up something. But we’re also going with Elric to the Cologne fair in January with Designed in Brussels.