We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Ali Sharifi Omid about their original and creative Table design work. Ali Sharifi Omid is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original table works.
Ali Sharifi Omid ("ASO") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Ravaq Table. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
ASO : 1.The concept of ravaq table is driven from a geometric form which has played a significant role in the ancient Iranian architecture. This form which is known as “Muqarnas”, in addition to the function of holding the dome of mosques, was basically used to decorate the buildings, but later its decorative and ornamental aspect prevailed and now it is established as one of the main elements at the entrance of Iranian mosques.
ASO : 2.My main focus in regard to ravaq table is to link a modern product with the elements of ancient culture. Since studying at university, most of my classmates and I had a concern of how to apply and use our cultural elements in the industrial design projects, in the way that we would not be trapped in the imitation of the past. I believe that such a concern resolved itself properly in the concept of Colonnade table.
ASO : 3.Under my supervision and with the cooperation of the other members of “Haf design”, this design and its other variations have been manufactured with an excellent quality. Accordingly, it has gone on selling in Iran and has received a warm welcome from its audience. Our plan is expanding the sale to global market.
ASO : 4.In fact, designing the original concept of this product was a sudden thing to happen and it took about a month to develop it and coming up with the final design.
ASO : 5.The other members of our group who work in the sheet cutting factory using CNC machine, decided to provide a value-added production and present it to the market. Also, they specified the product classification, and in my turn as a designer whose main priority is the manufacturing, I tried to coordinate the ideas I had in my mind with the existing facilities. Therefore, colonnade design was the result of the coincidence of all those affairs.
ASO : As I have already mentioned, this design has been produced by a group of which I am a member, but due to the sanctions that Iran has encountered, currently it is difficult to sell and expand this product to global market. If a reputable company desires to manufacture and supply this product globally, I am ready for the cooperation
ASO : Love for the decorative objects and the previous work experiences in the field of interior design, and the missing design with the characteristics of colonnade.
ASO : 8.With the internet space and the enormous opportunities that it offers, we are under the constant bombardment of the other designers’ designs and ideas, and the main challenge is to get rid form those designs we have already seen. But as a designer who is interested in manufacturing and implementation details, I have learned a lot form the way that other designers deal with the design details in the world
ASO : I think the audience of this design will be those people who are interested in the Middle Eastern architecture and culture, specifically the one of Iran. Also, they might have a special tendency towards the luxurious and modern design.
ASO : 10.The story of the geometric forms of this design which is inspired by the centuries-old motifs and muqarnases, gives a unique characteristic to this design.
ASO : 11.Ravaq is an ancient name given to a roof, placed on columns which used to surround the mosques, schools, and old houses. One can trace this term in the poems of Iranian poets such as Saadi and Hafez. Ravaq table also wants to associate with those ancient roofs standing on the columns and muqarnases, and in its modern use, it wants to appear elegantly while serving a guest or a friend.
ASO : I have used Rhino software for modeling, and 3ds Max for rendering.
ASO : A complicated form tends to look simple
ASO : In Haf Group, we have capable experts and professionals in the field of working with metal, and the support of this team had a significant role in the sound and intact implementation of this design.
ASO : In manufacturing this design, CNC laser cutting technology plays a fundamental role. In fact, without using this technology, no manufacturing opportunity or economies of scale could be considered. The Physical vapor deposition technology known as PVD, has a significant role in the intact coating and the high quality of the stainless steel material.
ASO : 16.Given the knowledge and the ability of manufacturing that I have acquired in the field of materials and manufacturing methods, and with the help of the other members’ capabilities, there was no need for a vast research on the manufacturing of this product. Actually, I have to say that it was due to the two-year research study on the similar cases that I could gain this technical knowledge.
ASO : Obtaining the final proportions of the form was somehow challenging.
ASO : Since years ago, I have been interested in participating in a prestigious competition to test the popularity of my design and to gain experiences in this regard, but there was no opportunity to make it. The unique feature of colonnade table was the reason of this starting and participation.
ASO : I have learned that in order to create pure forms, I should observe my surroundings with more attention. Sometimes the perfect great ideas are so close to us that we cannot see them.
ASO : At the end, I would like to thank the Jury for their kind attention to this colonnade design.
