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Q1 What made you decide to be a designer?
I've been drawing since I can remember and have memories of positive support from my teachers in art class. When I found out that it is possible to make a living making things I knew that is what I wanted to do. If I thought I could have made a good living being a magician I would have done that. I feel like being a designer is very close to being a magician. |
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To conceive of an idea and then to make it a reality is very much MAGIC to me. So since I have some stage fright I think being a designer was the next best thing!
Q2 What inspires you to design?
Everyday life, other artists, and a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I have to leave some small positive mark on the world.
Q3 Can you talk about the various creative aspects of your job?
I am a flash designer/illustrator, fine artist and soft toy designer. To pay the bills I create illustrations mostly for children's educational websites and book publishers. My passion is working with color in the form of portrait paintings, creating crochet toys and currently screen printing on textiles.
Q4 What's a highlight of your recent design career?
Receiving acknowledgement for some of my work in a few magazines and having my softies exhibited in Japan and San Francisco. |
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Q9 Music to live by
If I had to choose some favorite bands I would say Radiohead, Coldplay and The Beatles. But honestly, I can appreciate absolute silence just as much. Oh, and French polka music! |
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Q10 Favorite store?
Every art, craft and fabric store in town! For clothes- I am a big fan of H&M because of the styles & affordability. For books- I love the Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya. You can usually find me there on my knees searching through every single Zakka magazine like a rabid animal. For the home- Ikea, they always have something good to offer me.
Q11 What do you see about Japan?
I've only visited Japan in my dreams but what I see is a culture that has seamlessly incorporated the ideals of the past with the technology of the future. Also, I truly appreciate the simply designed fun and quirky items that emerge from Japan and the general sense of humor of the people.
Q12 What is your favorite guilty meal? Any good restaurants?
I am a big fan of fresh mozzarella brick oven pizza. I think I could eat a whole pie by myself if no one was watching! I recommend Peppino's in Brooklyn and Nick's Pizzeria in Queens. |
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From a designer, Marilyn Patrizio- "Hi, my name is Marilyn Patrizio. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I am a freelance Illustrator, fine artist, soft toy designer and perpetual experimenter. I graduated from the School of Visual Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration in 2000. After 4 years of working as a staff illustrator I decided to go off on my own a bit and dive into the world of freelance illustration. In the beginning of 2005 I discovered the art of crochet toys also known as Amigurumi. This was perfect for me because my mother had taught me how to crochet many years before, and this was a great way to incorporate 3-D items into my work. After a few months of making some wacky freeform creatures I decided to start a company called So Softies in March 2005. I've grown the So Softies line to now include stationery, t-shirts and accessories featuring the original characters that I've created. When I am not designing I enjoy stuffing my face with pizza, scavenging the internet for cute items, and sipping coffee at a cozy cafe." |
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Q5 Who is your favorite designer (or an artist)?
My current favorite is Lotta Jansdotter. I am really impressed with how she was able to parlay her love of design and textiles into a thriving business.
Q6 Tell us about a project that you are working on right now
Commercially I am working on a website for the Dr. Seuss book "Horton Hears a Who!". It should be live within the next few weeks. For my personal projects I have been experimenting with screen printing and bookbinding.
Q7 Is there a dream project that you'd like to do?
I would love to do some collaborations or license my work for products. I've also been daydreaming about putting a book together with all of the work I've done in the past 5 years and a children's book featuring my characters.
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Q8 What's coming up in 2008? Any plans?
I plan to lay low in 2008. I want to get back to basics and work on my drawing and painting skills. I've decided to stop wholesaling large orders of my Softies (for the year at least) so I can focus on creating more unique softie designs and products for my shop. This year I plan on perfecting my photography skills and to continue to experiment with new mediums. I want to teach myself to edit videos and make little movies featuring my softies! |
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Q13 If you could rewrite your history a bit and take on a totally different career or lifestyle, what would it be and why?
I would either be a social worker involved with helping children or a scientist. A social worker because I think about every criminal in jail and I feel like if someone had helped them and listened to their feelings when they were younger they wouldn't be in the position that they are in today. I would have wanted to be a scientist because I love experimenting and problem solving! One of my biggest joys in life is figuring out solutions to everyday problems. Like just the other day I figured out if I wear a pair of rubber gloves while trying to open up a stubborn jar lid it opens much more easily!
Q14 What is your aspiration?
I hope to make a decent living bringing to life my design ideas and to inspire others to do the same.
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