Kaveh Najafian : "La nature est ma source d'inspiration"

22 April 2024

LIKES

Kaveh Najafian (Studio Contingency Plans): “Nature is my vital source of inspiration”

Kaveh Najafian is the visionnary founder of Studio Contingency Plans. Born in Tehran (Iran), he now innovates from Hamburg, where he fuses architectural precision with artistic sensibility across several disciplines, including design, sculpture and fashion. In this interview for Pearls magazine, Kaveh shares his philosophical approach to beauty, his deep-rooted connection with nature, and how AI amplifies his creative expression.

What is Studio Contingency Plans and when did you create it?

Studio Contingency Plans is an interdisciplinary design studio focusing on a variety of themes including AI-assisted processes in architecture and design, digital fabrication, object design, sculpture and fashion design. I founded the studio in 2022 in Hamburg, Germany, with the vision of following what I love to create, independent of any specific field of study or professional expertise.

What is your vision of beauty ?

Here I want to refer to one of my favourite thinkers and writers of all time, Joseph Campbell. He points out that alongside beauty, there is another emotion associated with art, which is the sublime. He goes on to explain that anything that is too big, too vast, too frightening or even too ugly for us to understand is sublime. I always think of beauty and the beautiful in art, architecture or design as just part of what you can conceive.

What is your relationship with nature and organic forms?

My relationship with nature and organic forms is fundamentally linked to the natural processes that govern life itself – birth, growth, formation, deformation, ageing and decay. These processes are a vital source of inspiration for my work. I see natural forms not just as aesthetic elements, but as embodiments of these underlying processes, which offer profound insights into the dynamics of the natural world.

Could you explain your creative process? What is it and what inspires you?

My creative process is a confluence of personal emotions, theoretical insights, advanced technologies and a deep respect for nature. Every project begins with an intuitive emotional response, which often acts as the initial spark for creativity. This emotional base is then supported and shaped by design theories – principles that help translate feelings into tangible forms. On a technical level, my process is strongly influenced by the latest technological advances. I use tools such as AI and digital fabrication to push back the boundaries of what is physically and aesthetically possible. These technologies allow me to experiment with complex shapes and structures that might otherwise be unattainable, bringing a level of precision and innovation to my work that is crucial in today’s design landscape.

You define yourself as an architect (not a fashion designer). Do you think your art can be integrated into the fashion industry?

Absolutely, I believe that the principles of architecture can transcend traditional boundaries and find meaningful expression in fashion design. Although my initial training and professional expertise are rooted in architecture, I approach this field not just as a practice limited to buildings and physical spaces, but as a general framework for thinking about design and aesthetics. This broad perspective enables me to navigate through a variety of disciplines, including fashion, allowing me to express my creative vision without being constrained by the specific technical requirements of each field.