A life for style
I would like you to meet Roberto Mineo, our Chief Designer. A couple days ago, I sneaked into his office to discover new things about him and his job.
I found rolls of cloth and leather, panels with photos, travel notes, objects and other things that inspire our designers’ work, and then big tables full of sheets and sketches. Roberto told me that nothing is better than a pencil and a rubber for hand drawing, because thoughts are more fluid and ideas don’t need to be filtered!
Today everyone is sitting at one end of the room, around a big table, fervently talking.
In the middle of the table these three photos:
These represent the objects and atmospheres, sources of inspiration in the creation process of new products for our designers.
They link ideas coming from their travels, their researches, the fairs they visit and what the Marketing dept. says. Roberto, Sara, Francesco and Carla combine these inputs and create the objects which will arrive to shops in the coming seasons. What they are doing today is one of the fundamental moments of the creation process, they call it “concept meeting”: everyone shares his thoughts and, pencil in hand, they begin drawing the heart of the product and its details on papers.
Roberto is discussing with Francesco about zips – in Mandarina there’s an obsession about this little detail - while Carla draws the handles and Dania caresses a new material, waiting for an inspiration.
Shhhhh! Let’s leave them work…
Technorati Tags: Roberto Mineo, style, design, bags, concept meeting
9 June 2007 at 01:26
I am so excited to find this blog by Mandarina Duck employees. I am a huge fan of the company’s style and products.
Look forward to see more postings about the company culture. I am a young designer for a small outdoor company in the United States doing soft goods. I often look to Mandarina Duck for inspiration.
11 June 2007 at 11:39
Hey Patty!
I’m very happy you aprreciate so much our products! I hope you’ll come to visit us again
Take care!
Ducky
28 October 2007 at 20:41
Roberto - I have a Mandarina business/laptop bag I picked up on a recent trip to Florence. Love it. However, I have an idea for an even better bag. Why not combine both a business/laptop bag with a garment bag? Think of it as a 2-in-1 bag for a maximum of 3 day trip… I travel extensively, but most of my trips are overnighters with the occasional 3-5 day stint. A fine sportscoat, two slacks, and 3 dress shirts usually works for me. Throw in a pair of fine cordovan shoes and I’m good to go. The business/computer bag could be removable either by zipper, buttons or velcro for day use. Leave the garment bag at the hotel and you’re good to go! Zip all together and now you’re cruising through the airport in style with your Madarina 2-in-1 in one hand and a latte in the other. I’m telling you, it’s time! I’d be happy to be your test case, so feel free to reach out for further ideas. All the best,
Mario