Aspire / Anatomy Of A Design: Avram Rusu Studio Looks To The Sea For The Marea Collection
Designer Andreea Avram Rusu looked below the surface for inspiration for her new Marea lighting collection. Translating to “the sea” in Romanian, the Marea collection is informed by Andreea’s childhood summers on the Black Sea and her love of scuba diving. We spoke with Andreea for this week’s Anatomy of a Design to see how the design came to life.
Raymond Paul Schneider: When did you first start to develop this new collection?
Andreea Avram Rusu: The collection development started in the spring of 2023 with sketches and the first experimental glass pieces that ultimately became the Aurelia pendant. It was further developed to include the Leidyi pendants and sconce in late 2023 and early into this year. I felt that the Aurelia pendant could use some friends. Color options were finalized last, in the spring of this year.
RPS: What was your initial inspiration, and where did the idea(s) come from?
AAR: This new collection was inspired by my childhood summers on the Black Sea and my love of scuba diving. I have always been drawn to the organic forms of marine life and underwater seascapes – this collection was an opportunity to explore these influences; notably, the Moon Jellyfish which is native to the Black Sea. Jellyfish in general are a long-standing obsession. There are even bioluminescent varieties, and the colors are unexpected. I have seen huge violet, rose, and coral-colored jellyfish in Tasmania, it was amazing.
RPS: Please describe your overall creative and design process.
AAR: My approach is frequently shaped by my observations of distinctive patterns in the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it. For instance, this collection titled “Marea” translates to “the sea” in Romanian, which informed the unique shapes of the pendants and sconce, reminiscent of marine organisms.
RPS: Did you have a specific audience or theme in mind?
AAR: When developing a collection, I consider vibe and function over a specific audience. Would this look great over a dining table, in an entry, or bedside? Would it look great in interiors of varying styles? I imagine how I might want to live with these pieces. Hopefully, that resonates with both designers and private clients.
RPS: Please describe the methods, tools, and materials you used to develop and prototype this design.
AAR: We work closely with our glass artist from the design concept through prototyping. I have learned through expensive experience to first ask if something is possible before getting too caught up in an idea. Hand-blow glass is full of surprises, which is part of its charm. Given its versatile and somewhat unpredictable nature, the forms and unique color layering process inherent to Marea ensure that no two pieces are the exact same.
RPS: Did you utilize a new technique or technology to conceptualize or create this product? If yes, please share the details.
AAR: I have previously used layered glass colors to achieve a variety of colors, but this is the first time I have used two contrasting colors to highlight the unique aspects of a form. For example, the open end of the Aurelia pendant squeezes down and widens again, giving a great view of the contrasting color on the inside of the scooped form. The sconce has a diffuser that peels back to reveal its inner surface while expanding the view into the bowl where the primary color is found. The sconce is basically the inverted version of the lower section of the Aurelia pendant.
RPS: Describe your overall brand DNA and Ethos.
AAR: I enjoy large-scale, bold, sculptural compositions grounded in beautifully engineered and crafted structural systems. Informed by my background as an architect, tango dancer, world traveler, and child of scientists, my creative process is rooted in sculptural intuition and specific formal concepts, combined with technical precision and an affinity for organic flow and natural materials. We usually work with full-scale mock-ups when developing new works rather than relying on digitally rendered models. I believe in a fully hands-on approach and taking time to refine the work with an emphasis on innovation and quality. All my work is made to order and built by hand in our Brooklyn studio.
Read Aspire’s full feature on Andreea Avram Rusu here.
By Raymond Paul Schneider / August 28, 2024