Whether its art direction, styling, or designing a product or interior, a project by Elisa Ossino and her team (7 people joined by other collaborators when necessary) is mentally articulate and aesthetically sophisticated. Never predictable. The creative process takes a fine tooth comb to the details and continues, through process of elimination, to achieve a formal simplicity that is always stunning. With space as its ally, consistency as its weapon, and a striking creative talent as its flag, the intensely theatrical aesthetic that develops crosses the boundary of the metaphysical and brings with it a strength that is instantly recognisable. Question and answer with Elisa Ossino.
Your creations are very similar to works of art.
For quite some time now I have sought an abstraction of space. I believe it’s important to free space from the excessive imposition of objects. I love to build environments that are extremely rarefied, yet that are characterised by strong elements in which light and space communicate with one another.
In these terms, what role does the object play in the space it occupies?
The object is a fundamental component of the space and becomes an integral part of it. For me its difficult to separate these two elements. Both of them determine the construction of the project.
What inspires you?
Definitely the worlds of art, architecture, design, photography, and fashion, in an ongoing dialogue between the past and the present, as well as geometry and nature.
What is the cornerstone of the widely diverse styles that you experiment with?
A love for the project, in every scale possible and in various forms, from the object to the space to the image. I believe that for a designer it’s very interesting to be able to travel through these various worlds.
Like a canvas for a painter: what do you begin with?
It depends on the kind of project. The setting is absolutely an important starting point in defining the mood and the selection of materials. Then other content is added.
Like an artist’s palette: how many brush strokes do you give to symmetry, proportion, wow factor?
Proportion and composition are very important in any project: whether designing an interior, constructing an image, or creating an object. The use of unexpected elements makes the project more interesting.
What are the stories behind your still lifes?
Small suspended worlds.
How do you balance aesthetics and function?
By always trying to pay enormous attention to both. The relationship between form and function is a delicate topic, but I lend an extra eye to aesthetics when possible.
Are you able to reconcile artistic creativity and business requests?
Business requests are always the starting point and we also seek to make them our strong point. We work very hard on company identity, emphasising it as much as possible and always seeking to construct a highly targeted story.
What are three words that define your work?
Abstraction, lightness, elegance. These are the first three that come to mind.
What what you like to design that you haven’t yet?
A restaurant. If anyone is interested, please contact us.
Is there a project that’s special to you, that expresses you personality more than others?
Salvatori Apartment, which includes two important pieces of site specific artwork, a kitchen project with inlays, various pieces designed for the company. I’d say that this is definitely the project that best represents the studio’s versatility and eclecticism.
What are you working on now?
Various interesting interior design projects, the staging of several hotels, styling projects, and lots more…
