We're excited to share an inspiring conversation with Vivi Lamarre, a talented jewelry artist and woodworking designer from the Quebec Laurentians, Canada. Vivi's artistic journey began in the world of jewelry design, where she ran a successful line of wooden jewelry for eight years. Over time, her creative vision expanded, leading her to explore more sculptural and bespoke pieces for interiors. Dive into Vivi's world of design, where jewelry transcends its traditional form to become stunning pieces of home adornment.
1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us how you got started in design?
- I'm Vivi Lamarre, I'm a jewelry artist and woodworking designer based in the Quebec Laurentians (Canada). I started my journey in design as a jewelry designer. I ran my line of wooden jewelry for about 8 years before focusing on the creation of more sculptural design pieces, and bespoke work for interiors.
2. What inspires your designs, and how do you stay inspired?
- The medium of jewelry is still a very rich source of inspiration to me, even when the pieces I design are unwearable. As I started expanding the format of my work to more sculptural pieces, I came up with the idea of Home Jewelry; wall sculptures that act as interior adornment. I'm very much drawn to the idea of adorning your walls as if they were getting jeweled. A piece of jewelry can hold so much meaning, history, and memories. I'm very much inspired by that sensitiveness when I design my pieces so that they carry significance beyond their aesthetic quality.
3. Can you share a recent project you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of? Please describe the project and what made it special to you.
- My recent series of wall chains is a project I'm very fond of. At the intersection between contemporary jewelry and wall art, these pieces are intended to be worn as statement necklaces as much as to be displayed on the wall as objects of expression or meditation. The format that I developed perfectly embodies that, hybridity between jewelry and interior design that I'm seeking to explore.
These pieces are geometric metaphors carried by themes of connection, belonging, heritage, and transformation. The project originated as part of a group exhibition in which I participated alongside several members of my Lamarre family and was inspired by the unique individuals that make up my kinship. The piece that I created for this exhibition became the starting point for the whole series. This project has really become a turning point in my career as a designer.
4. What has been the most challenging project you’ve worked on, and how did you overcome those challenges?
- After 8 years in the industry, transitioning from jewelry to sculptural objects has been quite a challenge in terms of communication and marketing. I've been through a whole process of repositioning and rebranding to return to operating under my personal name. I gave myself the permission to reinvent myself, to explore new creative avenues and it allowed me to completely redefine my practice as an artist and designer. For a while, I had the impression of starting from scratch, and that felt nerve-wracking at times. Looking back, I realize how much my artistic vision and the visual legacy I developed over the years have followed me, it simply expresses itself under a new form.
5. How do you stay current with trends and changes in the design industry?
- Social media has definitely allowed me to stay connected with an international community of designers who are constantly innovating and shaping today's design scene. I'm a fervent reader of local design and architecture magazines such as Magazine Ligne, and reference books such as How to Live with Objects. I like to stay in the know on what is being created but I also like to distance myself from trends. I'm interested in creating timeless pieces that will age gracefully and outlast fads and trends. I like to see my pieces as meaningful objects that can be passed on like a family heirloom to the next generation.
6. What are your goals as a designer in the next few years?
- I would like to continue designing adornment pieces for residential and commercial interiors and enlarge even more the scale of my creations. I dream of designing large-scale murals and suspensions for hotel and restaurant spaces.
7. What advice would you give to someone just starting out in design?
- Getting started in design can feel overwhelming. Some may find themselves overrun by the frantic passage of trends or the feeling that everything has already been made. Staying true to myself is what has kept me going. It has allowed me to bounce back and grow at my pace, in alignment with my aesthetic tastes and core values. Just keep going, every day is an opportunity to make it work.
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