Marion Chatel-Chaix or creative infusions…
Auteur : Ariane | 05-28-2011
I met Marion where she grew up, 3 years ago now. A beautiful contemporary house but could always been there, nestled in a natural setting, on balconies of the Belledonne mountain range.
During dinner, we discussed at length about her studies and experiments as a designer. She shows me her competition projects, her first creations. I discovered, with pleasure, her calm determination and passion. Seduced by her eyes filled with light, we discuss her future ...
Great, and today, thanks to the Cocotte-Design blog our paths cross again...
What made you choose and evolve in the design field?
As a child, I «Fell into the pot» of creation with an architect father and a colorist for mother. They quickly got my hands involved, land, paper, colors, glue, staples, fabrics, rolls ... And my eyes were opened to the aesthetic dimension of things around me. Small, I dreamed of becoming «Bidouilleuse.»
My sense of color and taste for materials oriented my studies towards textiles in Lyon, a city historically rich in expertise and innovation in this field. I obtained a degree DSAA, a creative designer, which allowed me to consider textiles as a sensitive medium to be applied in different fields of applied arts : fashion of course, but also the design of objects, spaces and images...
Why choose this little phrase «sensitivity to textile design»?
I am neither an «industrial designer, who dreams of chairs or cars, nor a « textile designer» who works only on patterns on flat surfaces.
What I call «sensible textile design» is a whole, combining the work of shapes, colors, materials, images, which by association create a sense, and sensations. These fields of competence are to be linked with those of object or space design, for which they provide more.
What assets have taken from your early experiences or encounters?
I worked as fabrics and accessories designer for Cotélac.
By discovering their collections, I was sensitive to the strong relationship that can exist between the designer and the fabric. I learned that the phase of creation and research can be a true state of mind, even for a fashion brand, who understand the constraints of industrial production.
A «year of exile» in the region Drome, I had a totally different experience, not on a professional level but rich in human relationship which made me aware that my profile was in some ways «unlabeled». With these experiences, I decided to move to Paris to begin my work as an independant designer looking for a new variety of projects.
Ariane Berger and Martin have been part of the chance encounter and precious encouragements who supported me from one crazy project idea to another: labelled as during a «good» job, and in a financially difficult time, to follow through on desire.
The relationship to creative project. Your inspiration? Your parallels between textile, material, space?
I usually say «I’m like a sponge»: I’m curious about everything from the aesthetics of things, their functions, why, how ... I watch everything. I travel, I bring»favorite» objects home in my luggage. I’ll see a lot of shows, I can’t go into a bookstore without leaving with a bag full with books! «Nothing is really created, everything just transforms. «
My inspiration comes from a concept, image, color, material. But I also think to bring that «something special» with my flair of sensitivity that will push a project to fruition.
Your approach to photography is often complementary to your design, why?
It’s a way for me to store information that will help me later. I «frame and focus» on what affects me in a place: an ambience of color, materials, or a detail that one would perhaps not notice if it does not become the main subject of the photo .
I like to take things that are not considered normal.
Your workplace? Workshop? How do you work?
For now, I work at home. I have a very large desk occupies a prominent place in the middle of my living room. I have an incredible number of boxes full of scraps of materials, colors, ideas that I keep «just in case» ...
I usually reflect at length an idea in my head. I quickly sketch «silly» ideas. I also write a lot. I move on quickly to an image, a lot of early drafts, that are later tweaked.
I recognize things that are sometimes salvaged from here and there, which come out of one of these famous boxes, transformed from one form to another. Photo collages also allow me to quickly see a solution.
I dream of having a real workshop, where there would be enough space to organize these thought provoking materials.
Women’s role in the decoration, what do you think?
There are few. But I find that the creations made by women are identifiable. Feminine aspects emerges, often associated with a sensitivity that she feels. But maybe, i see that because it is two female perceptions that identify with each other?
Do you read blogs?
No. I have subscribed to some blog feeds that I identified with and in which the postings are interesting. But I do not spend hours reading them.
A female artist that you admire?
Lidewij Edelkoort, the sensibilty in dialogue with design by excellence.
The places you like to go downtown or elsewhere?
Rather urban, it is the cities that I like to discover in general. When traveling, I prefer to see environments «built» and «populated» with neighborhoods, lively squares and markets rather than large open spaces. I like to feel the places’ «story»
In the countryside, I had the chance to discover a wonderful site Domaine de Boisbuchet thanks to a research project. A place beyond our world and time!
Anything that you must do in decor or that you do not like at all?
The decoration is for me «beyond fashion. « It is a story of the universe, balancing, spaces.
I aspire to mix design pieces recognized with unique items and sentimental ones returned from travels. trip report. (see my project «Objects (of) countries»)
I like the idea of intelligent storage space.
A favorite item?
Shoes
Your current projects? Your Inspirations, color and material that motivate you?
I went through a fairly intense period where I juggled freelance contracts in fashion design materials and accessories for the clothing boutique 1.2.3, and projects with the Bureau of trends, Nelly Rodi.
Working on accessories for me is the part of fashion that is closest to design. Shoes and bags are also seen as «objects», beyond their size to accessorize your figure.
I finally found some time to get refocused on my desires, and projects focused on object design, spaces or photos.
I just returned from Milan and the program for June: discovering the «famous» Berlin ... In short, I need inspiration to get new ideas.
What would you create in that time if you did not have any limits?
It is the culinary design that attracts me. To add taste to my sensitivity materials and colors would be a fine contribution. Culinary design are just as strong in senses in all senses!), and imaginary concepts. This is consistent with my approach of «sensitive design».
But in terms of creation, nothing is impossible ... Moreover, the workshop that I signed up for this summer is with Marc Brétillot!
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