AN INTERVIEW WITH LEAD DESIGNER JITKA HORCICKOVA.
AYSAN has been established as a brand of high-end crystal lighting designed specifically for prestigious Residential projects. The purest Bohemian crystal, worked on by precise diamond cutting and other traditional handmade techniques of production ensures uniqueness and matchless quality of the final product.
Kindly introduce yourself? Hello, my name is Jitka Horcickova, I am a Lead Designer and owner of AYSAN, which is a brand of high-end lighting from Czech Republic. Our mission is to make authentic pieces using traditional Bohemian handmade techniques like precision diamond cutting, glassmaking and gold-painting.
What are your creative philosophies? I view every individual as capable of developing his or her own kind of creativity. We are made that way. One’s responsibility is to discover one’s talents, employ these skills and put them to use in the most effective way which could benefit the world.
What inspired you to do what you do? Nature is truly among my top passions and sources of inspiration, it gives you a sense of the infinite. I could spend days walking through forests if I weren’t so busy with my business. This inspiration is very obvious in my collections, particularly the MYTAMO Contemporary Collection, where every design is inspired by some natural phenomena, like rippling circles on water or storm clouds.
Why do you do what you do? I have always been very active and self-reliant, and been lucky enough to have a lot of contacts worldwide. Becoming the designer of my own brand is perhaps a natural consequence of this. I enjoy doing what I do very much.
Tell us about your brand? AYSAN is kind of my alter-ego, a place where I can express myself according to the best of my own ideas. AYSAN is a female name coming from Turkey/Iran, meaning “moon-like” or simply “beautiful”. The name defines the brand’s DNA.
What industry changes have you noticed? We are a very young company – we’ve only been in business about 4 years. Nonetheless, I’ve already seen a big change in the mentality of the client. They are more demanding, interested in all the details, features and processes behind every product. I consider this a good thing, because it pushes designers and manufacturers to even greater efforts.
Tell us about your projects so far. Since our lights are designed specifically for residential projects, i.e. villas and palaces, most of our projects are connected with domestic interiors, especially for homes located in the Arabian Gulf region. We have also worked for a very prestigious clientele, such as members of royal families.
What makes you different? I think I’m able to approach every challenge without prejudice – I simply do what seems right. I also think I represent a somewhat unusual mixture of designer and businesswoman rolled into one.
What projects have you got coming up? Currently, I am travelling a lot to China and US. Both markets are highly promising for us and we are already working there on several residential projects for private mansions.
What trends can you see ahead? I see a big trend in searching for new materials and the emergence of unusual, eclectic concepts. The industry is moving very fast, which is good. Let’s see what the future will look like – or rather, let’s make it.
View the Aysan Gallery below and Visit the Website: www.aysan.com