“All of a sudden you have to sit in a lot of meetings that have nothing to do with design, and we’re like, wait a minute, we’re designers!”
“The more chaos there is in my life in terms of new experiences and things to do and see, the more productive and relaxed I am.”
“The two share the same aesthetic, which Pereyra says is inspired by classic 1980s Dutch graphic design and a board game she used to play as a child.”
“Sometimes incredible buildings disappear behind the cars on the street or the branded coffee shops around the corner. I wanted to showcase them as the architect had intended.”
“We learned by making mistakes. Every time we lost a pitch, we would request a call with the client to ask where we went wrong and why they didn’t choose us.”
“We saw this project like a personal research project. We wanted to tell this story, and we were curious about the data that would come in afterwards.”
“New York City’s most famous architectural monuments are isolated from the existing urban fabric and re-situated in the middle of deserts, on the tops of mountains, and in the depths of the ocean.”
“We deliberately named the studio after ourselves so that it would be clear that we’re designers, and not an agency.”
“The project’s aim is to explore and develop ideas for shared living to solve current housing problems, like affordability, rapid urbanisation and loneliness.”
“Through experimentation we get out of our rut and out of our comfort zone and become stronger designers because of it.”
“My favorite part of the job is the blank page, the thinking time. My least favorite is the the very end, the dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s time.”
“There are a lot of buildings designed in New York that are very beautiful, and within a year they turn into shit.”
“We wanted to make sure lighting designers and architects would be able to quickly find the right amount of information at the right time.”
“Sometimes it really helps to start somewhere completely differently and allow yourself to be really open about where this new route might take you.”
“Designer Anton Repponen places Manhattan buildings in desolate landscapes, inviting viewers to see them as if for the first time.”
“We always start at 9AM, yes, even having your own studio, discipline pays off!”
“For our new site we wanted a combination of playful imagery mixed in with clean typography and striking colors.”
“We live in our own little echo chambers of information and are surrounded by so much like-mindedness. It’s lovely that despite this bubble creation, people prefer to live with those who are different to them.”
“I chose Anton and Irene because they seemed the most progressive and there was a sense of ease about their work and them personally. I must like the people I work with always.”
“Excitingly, nothing is here to stay. The hyperspeed at which technology accelerates is absolutely fascinating and not something anyone should feel nostalgic about.”
“Together with the client we made very bold decisions. We did things that we knew people were probably not going to be comfortable with.”
“One of the main influences for me were my parents. They’re both fashion designers and I grew up surrounded by textiles, fabric patterns and sewing machines.”
“You can be tough, you can be charming, and there are times when you can tell the client that they are wrong. As long as you can communicate clearly, you will usually get your way.”
“Mostly what inspires me are the things that are done wrong or don’t work at all, that gives me ideas on how to fix them.”
“I spend my money on experiences like cameras and lenses and music equipment. Anything that allows me to create and learn new things. Same story with traveling.”
“I’m allergic to social media. People that are now in their 20s, are so narcissistic. I feel it brings out the worst in people. It almost scares me.”
“All interaction should feel like Fisher Price. When you make things bulky and oversized and for fat fingers, it will automatically be easier to use.”
“I don’t think I would like to have the same wrist watch you have.”
“We really dislike grand reveal type presentations. Typically we work for a day and then record a video walkthrough and send it to the client.”
“Next time you’re designing your research, ask yourself if you’re being experimental enough. Are you experimenting with your experiment?”
“But what do people really want from co-living? Do they want to share their bathroom? How about the costs of food? Who would they want to live with?”
“Don’t underestimate the power of the presentation. Clear communication eliminates a lot of feedback and makes the client feel like you have everything under control.”
“The documentary maps Irene’s childhood experience of growing up in a communal house in Amsterdam.”
“The thing that worried me most about attempting to be part of this communal living revival, was the potential for what I imagined to be a cruise-ship mentality to fun.”
“As successful as the project was, it wasn’t without challenges along the way. Midway through the project, USA Today was rebranded by Wolff Olins.”
