Joelle Hançerli

Joelle Hançerli is a social, curious and colorful designer. “I read, travel and taste. I like travelling, discovering new places and doing things that can inspire me. I’m interested in art; I go to exhibitions and galleries as much as possible. I like live performances. I can’t work, draw, wake up without listening to music. I studied industrial design at Accademia di Belle Arti in Milano. I took an interest in design when I was a child. I took an interest in materials by using something outside its own function. For example, I used to make a model with my mother’s make-up stuff or paint with her powder or lipstick. My uncle is a successful architect; I used to help him with his models. My grandpa is a stage designer and he used to paint; my mother is a jewelry designer. So, it comes from my whole family. I have been doing this for 10 years.” He studied design because he liked creating a new product, discovering the product before creating it, doing research about its past, learning about the material and creating a brand new one. He describes the best part of his profession as realizing his dreams. He says “I design mostly furniture or tabletop accessories. I usually prefer designing products with a story. I try to reflect the story that has inspired me on the design as much as possible. I like exploring new materials and play with them. It’s also great to use and reinpret existing material in a way that has never been used, and hence design a product. Thinking outside the box and using a different material change my perspective. Every design has a story even if just a small. Design exists either out of needs or other innovative reasons. If a designer can deliver his/her message to the consumer in the best way and if the product makes a difference with its function and quality, then that’s a good design. A successful design should make a difference with an important feature to be an icon. This could be with a material, even one that has never been used before or could be with its form. It could even be its ergonomy and function. No doubt that a successful design with a potential to be a classic would be born when those important elements blend together. I think every design should be able to be global. A local design can have local elements but the important thing is to make that design global. Again, here the aim and the message is important. If the message is localization, then the design can turn out to be local. Adding the aim to be also global, not only local, can make a design in world standards.” Hançerli also says that he follows the trends. “Following the trends is important to be updated and active. This will always lead to success. Even if I follow the trends, I don’t use them in my designs. However, I always follow Pantone colors every year and might use them. I dream of designing a practical, handy, budget-friendly product that can becaome a classic. If everyone can buy that product, if it’s budget-friendly and if it makes lives easier, then it means it’s a successful product. Every designer would like to design a product like that some day. I’m working on a backgammon design these days. It’s a folding backgammon for travel. One of the best things my mother taught me is the expression ‘Let nature take its course!’ Whatever happens happens in life. Things happen spontaneously and guide you. Because I’m this way, the world is this way. That’s my philosophy of life.”