i+D - September/October 2019 - 49

In Support of Wellness - By Michele Keith

Nani Marquina,
nanimarquina,
and Ilse Crawford,
Studioilse,
collaborated to
bring the Wellbeing
collection to life.

Supporting the Human Experience

(Image: nanimarquina;
photography
by Albert Font)

Since establishing nanimarquina in 1987, Nani Marquina, based in Barcelona
and New York City, has had only one aim: "to create rugs that convey
emotions and a sense of wellbeing."
A global thinker who not only manufactures in India and Pakistan, but does
her "bit to improve the lives of the people there," Marquina recently brought
out her new Wellbeing collection designed by Londoner Ilse Crawford of
Studioilse. The two had previously worked successfully together, no doubt in
part due to the women's similar takes on life; Crawford is known for putting
human needs and desires at the center of all she creates.
"The main goal for the Wellbeing collection," says Marquina, "was to create
a wellness atmosphere through different products. The set criteria for
the rugs, cushions, indoor hammock, throw, and wall tapestry that we had
decided upon were natural, sustainable, and local fibers; hand spinning;
no bleach; and no dyes."
Crawford adds that these choices were made "to minimize the impact
on people and the environment and to create a system of wellbeing."
She elaborates: "We look at everything from the point of view of the
human experience, and also how we can make changes in the way things
are made-not just designed, but made-so it affects the whole system.

The Wellbeing collection
uses handspun Afghan
wool, nettle, jute, cork,
wood, raw cotton, and
more-all of which are
carefully sourced by
the nanimarquina team.
(Image: nanimarquina;
photography by Albert Font)

"I am interested in wellbeing in its systemic sense," Crawford
continues. "After all, we are the system. Every dollar we spend,
every decision we make as designers, is a vote, and affects the
bigger picture for good or bad. But, it is possible to create a set of
design and economic tenets that work towards human happiness
and wellbeing. As designers, we need to take responsibility."
While all nanimarquina projects require research and
experimentation, Marquina notes the challenge in creating the
Wellbeing collection was "to get an attractive and desirable product.
We already had the knowledge needed for rugs, but our artisans
hadn't made a hammock or a tapestry before. The result was an
amazing journey of learning and motivation."
As to the future of wellbeing in design, Marquina says, "I think
people need products they believe in, that make you feel good
when you buy them, and provide a sense of wellbeing. Westerners,
who live primarily in cities, need to be surrounded by beauty in order
to connect with nature and craft. What could be better than the
products of our daily lives evoking nature? We all live with so much
technology; we need to find balance with handcrafted things."
"Ultimately," Crawford states, "our values are embedded in the
material world we make. This means creating environments where
humans feel comfortable, public spaces that make people feel at
home, and homes that are habitable and make sense for the people
who live in them. It means selecting and designing furniture and
products that support and enhance human behavior and actions in
everyday life. The things we use [and] the spaces we inhabit change
the way we feel, the way we behave, the way we connect. But,
this is not only about the people who use them, [it is] also about
how they are made and their environmental impact."
"The Wellbeing project," Marquina adds, "doesn't have an end.
Ilse and I have already discussed the possibility of continuing our
collaboration." They most likely will be joined by many others,
for, as she says, "not only does interior design need to be created
to make people feel better, but architecture, urban planning...
everything has to be designed to make people feel better."
MICHELE KEITH
is a New York-based writer whose work has appeared in
The New York Times, ASPIRE Design and Home, Luxury Listings
NYC, and DESIGN, among other magazines. She also has written
two coffee table books for The Monacelli Press: Designers Here
and There and Designers Abroad.

i+D - September/October 2019

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i+D - September/October 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of i+D - September/October 2019
