We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Salvatore Solito about their original and creative toy design work. Salvatore Solito is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original toy works.
Salvatore Solito ("SS") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Small dogs toy. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
SS : My design it’s emotional and instinctive. The inspiration for my works became from a desire, an emotion or a memory.
SS : Create an object that looks real and alive. Dog it’s a toy which become a piece of furniture, you can find everywhere, when the hosts arrive.. it doesn’t hidden itself in the toy box, because otherwise it’s a mess, it is not ashamed to be a toy, it is dignified in manners, in colors and materials, it can stay in the living-room, in the kitchen, in the bedroom.
SS : I would like small dogs were produced in series, and distributed.
SS : from the first idea to the prototypes I spent 6 months.
SS : The project was commissioned by my daughter Giorgia; The desire and emotion of Giò were to have a small dog, like all children, I suppose
SS : I think these products have to be accessible so they have to be produced in series, this will bring me to plan to sell or lease the production rights.
SS : Satisfy a child desire.
SS : for this project, I think at young families, children and gathering places, like children garden, playground. people who wants to give a cheerful touch to their home.
SS : Unique is the sentiment which inspired the object and urged my instinctive creativity, my daughter’s desire for a dog. Normally, I put attention to the little things, little daily needs, little emotions, in this way I create healthy, pure and simple objects, aimed at the satisfaction of children and pleasantly useful for adults.
SS : To draw the small dogs I was inspired by real dogs, Hector and Dudu Tobia Small dogs are the most simple and direct way to group them into one project
SS : Starting from hand sketches, I refined them using CAD software.
SS : the forms, which, although minimal, give the feeling of a dynamic, real objects.
SS : on production phase, I had a support of numeric control machine technician, who help me to finalize the shapes, working on prototipes.
SS : technology will be absolutely important to made this project a success, finding ways to produce them in series with quality and accessible price.
SS : My design is istinctive, so not influenced by cold statistical needs. I tried to reach the most easy and recognizable shape, then, I played with layers to give three-dimensional aspect.
SS : Of course, the main problem it's still the budget, specially for the proto phase, the economical moment don't help young designers to express themselves with all the potentiality they had. So I spent a lot of efforts and time to finish the project with a low cost budget.
SS : Pushed by all the people who appreciate my work and the desire to have one of my dogs at their home, I'm trying to made this project visible to a company which will bet on the possibility to produce and distribute them. I hope this award will give me this possibility.
SS : Following the different phases I discover that a real designer have to think at 360 degrees, looking at the aspect but in a realizable way.
