The Chairish Podcast: Episode Summary
Title: What Do Artisans Wish Designers Knew?
Release Date: October 25, 2023
Host: Michael Boudreau
Guests: Cindy Symes (Symes Studio), Jonas Everett (Superstrata), Leah Beth Fishman (The Society of Guilders)
Introduction
In this engaging episode, host Michael Boudreau delves into the intricate relationship between artisans and interior designers. As the interior design industry faces rapid changes, the collaboration between skilled artisans and designers becomes increasingly crucial. Boudreau is joined by three esteemed artisans—Cindy Symes, Jonas Everett, and Leah Beth Fishman—who share their experiences, challenges, and insights on fostering meaningful partnerships with designers.
Journey into Artisanal Craftsmanship
Cindy Symes on Becoming a Decorative Painter
Cindy Symes explains her path to founding Symes Studio, highlighting her early passion for artwork and decorative painting techniques. After meeting her husband Jorge in Buenos Aires and gaining exposure to various design projects, Cindy transitioned from solo work to establishing a full-fledged studio employing multiple artists.
Notable Quote:
“I think I always did artwork... we kept getting busier and busier.”
—Cindy Symes [02:48]
Jonas Everett on Founding Superstrata
Jonas Everett discusses his background in fine arts and how his natural talent in decorative plaster led him to start his own business in 2003. Recognizing the need to balance creative work with business management, Jonas pivoted to founding Superstrata—a collective that represents and supports fellow artisans, allowing them to focus on their craft.
Notable Quote:
“I really try to create a space that they can thrive in.”
—Jonas Everett [05:36]
Leah Beth Fishman on Gilding Expertise
Leah Beth Fishman shares her journey into the art of gilding, sparked by her studies in art and a chance discovery of antique restoration courses. Apprenticing under a master gilder, Leah honed her skills in architectural gilding, becoming an integral part of Superstrata.
Notable Quote:
“I didn't even really know what [gilding] was at the beginning.”
—Leah Beth Fishman [06:12]
Awareness and Collaboration Challenges
Limited Awareness in the U.S. vs. Europe
Jonas Everett highlights the stark contrast between the U.S. and Europe in valuing handcrafted decorative work. Europe boasts numerous organizations supporting artisans, whereas the U.S. lacks such widespread recognition and infrastructure.
Notable Quote:
“I happened to have a call earlier today with the European nonprofit the Michelangelo foundation... it's just designed to support artisans.”
—Jonas Everett [09:19]
Difficulty in Finding Skilled Artisans
Designers often struggle to locate artisans with specialized skills, limiting their creative possibilities. Both Cindy and Jonas emphasize the scarcity of artisan guilds and the fragmented nature of the artisan community in the U.S.
Notable Quote:
“There are not a lot of artisan guilds in the United States.”
—Cindy Symes [10:18]
Building and Maintaining Client Relationships
Designer-Driven Projects
Both Cindy and Leah note that the majority of their projects originate from collaborations with interior designers, predominantly in the residential sector. This partnership ensures projects are well-defined, aesthetically aligned, and within budget.
Notable Quote:
“Most of ours are residential... 90% through interior designers and architects.”
—Cindy Symes [12:45]
Educating Clients on Craftsmanship Value
Cindy and Leah stress the importance of educating clients about the time and effort involved in handcrafted projects. Demonstrations and sample interactions help clients appreciate the uniqueness and personalization artisanal work brings.
Notable Quote:
“When someone comes into the studio, it's like all of a sudden they light up... it's a candy store for designers.”
—Cindy Symes [20:20]
“And they start to understand, oh, this is not a two hour... No, until they see the work being done...”
—Leah Beth Fishman [21:29]
Expanding the Artisan Community
Finding and Supporting New Artisans
Jonas Everett and Cindy Symes discuss strategies for recruiting and nurturing new talent. Superstrata offers support in the business aspects, enabling artisans to focus on their creative work. Cindy emphasizes long-term employment and apprenticeships to cultivate skilled artists.
Notable Quote:
“We take over on the business side of things... so the artisans can focus on being creative.”
—Jonas Everett [33:08]
Educational Pathways and Apprenticeships
Cindy advocates for a well-rounded education that includes not only fine arts but also courses in marketing and accounting. This approach equips emerging artisans with the necessary skills to manage their businesses effectively.
Notable Quote:
“Pick a school that has a good art program, but isn't necessarily only a focused art school where they could take a class in marketing...”
—Cindy Symes [39:20]
Overcoming Industry Frustrations
Bureaucracy and Project Complexity
Cindy and Leah share frustrations related to complex contractual agreements and multiple layers of communication between designers, clients, and contractors. This often leads to miscommunication and diluted project visions.
Notable Quote:
“We're getting contracts these days that are 70 pages long or 80 pages long, or NDAs...”
—Cindy Symes [28:10]
Protecting Artisan Work and Samples
Jonas raises concerns about artisans being reluctant to share their best work due to fears of copying. He suggests that better protection and trust between designers and artisans can lead to showcasing more diverse and high-quality samples.
Notable Quote:
“Designers would start to see better and better and more interesting, diverse, unique samples from artisans.”
—Jonas Everett [29:18]
Fostering Creativity Through Collaboration
Personalized and Unique Designs
Cindy and Jonas highlight the importance of personalized elements in projects, allowing artisans to incorporate clients' narratives and preferences into their work. This collaboration results in unique, story-rich interiors that stand out.
Notable Quote:
“Weaving a little story that personalizes... it's really important to us to make it meaningful.”
—Cindy Symes [25:49]
The Future of Artisan Spaces
Jonas envisions creating a dedicated space for artisans to showcase their work, facilitating face-to-face interactions and fostering deeper collaborations with designers. While currently relying on meetings and presentations, a physical space could enhance client-artisan relationships.
Notable Quote:
“We have plans to have a space for people to come to eventually... it's really powerful.”
—Jonas Everett [23:50]
Encouraging the Next Generation of Artisans
Supporting Aspiring Artisans
The guests discuss the challenges young artisans face, such as high student debt and the lack of comprehensive training programs in the U.S. They emphasize the need for mentorship, apprenticeships, and organizations like Superstrata and The Society of Guilders to provide support.
Notable Quote:
“If you've gone through a basic BFA program, you probably have a good basis on understanding of the materials and processes where you could jump in.”
—Jonas Everett [36:48]
Elevating the Status of Artisans
Cindy observes a growing appreciation for skilled artisans, partly due to platforms like Instagram that showcase their work. This visibility helps shift perceptions, recognizing artisans as valued creators rather than mere construction workers.
Notable Quote:
“It’s been growing probably because of Instagram and some of the social media...”
—Cindy Symes [38:42]
Closing Thoughts
Michael Boudreau wraps up the episode by emphasizing the richness and beauty that artisans bring to interior design projects. He underscores the significance of collaboration and encourages designers to explore the vast array of artisanal talents available to enhance their creative endeavors.
Final Notable Quote:
“I think that if I had my life to do over again, I think I would wanna be an artisan.”
—Michael Boudreau [41:10]
Conclusion
This episode of The Chairish Podcast offers a profound exploration of the symbiotic relationship between artisans and designers. Through candid discussions, Cindy Symes, Jonas Everett, and Leah Beth Fishman shed light on the challenges and rewards of artisanal craftsmanship in the modern design landscape. Their insights advocate for greater awareness, education, and collaboration to foster a thriving creative community.
For more episodes and insights into the interior design industry, visit The Chairish Podcast on Acast.