This new series, Design bites, unveil the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of Collectible design on the global design market; these bites offer different views to suit all tastes. Today we talk with Beirut-based designer Carla Baz. 

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COLLECTIBLE: Can you talk about a new piece or a collection that you release for COLLECTIBLE SALON?

Carla Baz: The Monarch lighting series has been developed with the idea of opulence and fine details while keeping our intention of overall lightness. In these specific designs, marble was used as a luxurious decorative detail whereby we decided to use it as an adornment, giving the intricate pieces more panache. We decided to push the embellishment further by opting to start with a white veined marble that we then tainted into flamboyant colors which gives these pieces their unexpected quality.

“ Amidst the extremely prejudiced and challenging time Lebanon is going through, our studio wants to engage more than ever in local crafts and preservation of our cultural heritage and identity.”

C: How did you get into collectible design? Why did you focus your practice on this type of design rather than industrial design?

CB: My practice is rooted in finding a way to nurture the bond between the hand that draws and the hand that makes. The process is therefore at the core of that dialogue: through experimental approach and decontextualisation, we truly push the boundaries of the material or craft. It is a constant exchange that produces unique creations.

C: Are you more result or process oriented?

CB: Process because it is the only way to make sure the result is authentic and genuine.

C: What have you been up to recently? What are the next projects or exhibitions you wish to highlight?

CB: The pandemic has sadly stunted many projects that we were developing. Furthermore, the devastating August blast followed by the calamitous economic recession has not permitted us to recover and as a result, the creative industry’s survival is at stake. Therefore, amidst the extremely prejudiced and challenging time Lebanon is going through, our studio wants to engage more than ever in local crafts and preservation of our cultural heritage and identity.

About Carla Baz

Fascinated by l’artisanat d’art, Carla recognizes the importance of the artisan’s hands within her work, acknowledging the intricate relationship that ties together the hand that draws with the hand that creates. Together, they form a strong bond where designer and craftsman explore the balance between form and function. Carla styles her work as a truly collaborative and complimentary dialogue between designer, artisan, and client. This noble trinity enables Carla to create products that encapsulate the sum of such valuable exchange.