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Craig Anczelowitz recently moved to Bangkok from Chiang Mai where he had been contracted as a trend consultant for Prempracha a leading creative ceramic art studio. Previously he had been he has worked globally on home decorative product development assignments for distinctive American retailers such as Urban Outfitters and ABC Carpet and Home New York.  Because of his personal experience and artistic eye he has often been requested to come in as a design and marketing consultant for U.S and Asian manufacturer groups and training centers like the Department of Export Promotion Thailand, Product Development Center Bangkok, Parsons School of Design New York and the Fashion Institute of Technology New York.
Brendan Jai sat to swap the fat with Craig and score some hot tips for the Bangkok Recorder. Here are the results:
What periods of art history most interest you?
As an “artist”, I appreciate and get inspiration from many different eras of art history - I am particularly drawn to 20th century movements of Abstract Expressionism, Russian Constructivism, Merz, and Bauhaus. As a designer, I most enjoy studying traditional Japanese and Korean design and architecture.
What ceramic designers influence you?
I cannot say that I consciously look to certain ceramic designers for inspiration but I can say that I love what I saw while in Copenhagen and continue to be impressed with what I see coming out of there. I am also a big fan of “wabi-sabi” Japanese ceramics.
What other materials/mediums would you like to use in a home collection?
I enjoy the delicate balance of hard and soft in the home. On the “soft” end - I am looking forward to developing carpet, leather, and Indigo textiles for home - On the “hard” end; I am looking to develop new pieces from indigenous Thai woods, marble, and stone.
What concepts of space do you work with when furnishing interiors?
Less is sometimes more - It is always better to invest your money in a few great well made pieces including 1 or 2 “statement” pieces rather than to clutter it with a variety of small and insignificant things. Great natural lighting and live plants are also musts
What colors and textures are you interested in this season?
I just am finishing my Spring/Summer ‘06 ceramic collection that features 3 predominate color schemes: whites, blues, and greens - with textures inspired from the ocean (coral, fish scales, shells, sea urchins) and the earth (bark, leaves, birds nests, and sand)
What predominant interior decor trends do you see as on the way out this season?
Strictly black/white interiors - we all need to let some dash of warmth and color into our homes. You have developed products all over the world.
What in particular do you see as a strength inherent to Thai designers/manufacturers?
The Thai designer I have worked with so far are eager to gain knowledge and understanding of the Western design sense, however I strongly believe that the government needs to continually develop and procure its design talent both here and abroad through more investment in design oriented schools, workshops, and forums. Thai home designers must learn to develop an inherently “Thai-decor” style that cross culturally combines the best of traditional Thai design with contemporary design movements and concepts. As for Thai home decor manufacturers - they are eager to gain a foothold of the huge Western market so they should become more aware of the fickle nature and shifting trends of the industry. They also need to be flexible and adaptable yet at the same time maintain a high level of craftsmanship and quality
To the same sphere of Thai design, what do you think can be strengthened or improved?
Thailand is a great place to work, develop, and design because it has such a wealth of natural raw materials. Thai designers and manufacturers need to look at what natural resources are here to work with and continually develop, season after season, new collections using this wealth of natural materials. They need to look both inward (traditional Thai design) and outward (Contemporary Western design) to create and develop their own collections that are a reflection of this dichotomy and not just copy what they see out there in the marketplace.
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