#MCCOTInterview {4}
The Very Simple Kitchens designed by Riccardo Randi
Kitchen used to be the place where we cook. But not only. As our kitchens are now most of the time part of an open-plan space which integrates the dining area and the living room, it is also the place where we live. An happy space where we receive our family and friends. Open kitchens have totally changed our daily routine. Kitchen designers and manufacturers had to rethink this room from scratch. Today it has to be cosy. But first, it has to be functional, resistant and durable and, of course, it has to be beautiful to see. Italian Kitchens are often considered the best ones on the worldwide market. And some, as the Very Simple Kitchens designed by Italian product designer graduated from the IED, Riccardo Randi, firmly stand out of the crowd. They are colorful, high quality, customizable, modular and Made in Italy Kitchens with a minimalist aesthetic. From the first very simple kitchen he designed and manufactured himself when he came back home to the arty and prestigious collab with Swedish Artist Tekla Evelina Severin, let's talk kitchen with a curious and stubborn creative and talented Italian guy born in Bologna.
By Hélène Battaglia
Who are you?
As I like to tell, ‘My name is Riccardo and I kinda design things’. I don't actually consider myself a designer. I am just a super curious and stubborn creative guy. If I want to do something, I find a way to get the result, even with unconventional methods for the world of design.
Which type of career was yours before becoming founder of your own firm?I’m a product designer, graduated from IED in Milan but I didn’t really have a specific career as a designer as I always work on projects that strike my curiosity whatever areas they are concerned. I’m extremely interested in everything that gives me the chance to use all my creativity and find new ideas to solve problems.
How and when Very Simple Kitchen was born?
After my degree thesis for Schiffini (with a group of classmates, I designed a modular outdoor kitchen), I came back to live in my hometown where I needed a new kitchen for my home: so I designed the first Very Simple Kitchen modifying some industrial workbenches.
By the way, why did you call it like that?
Compared to the standard kitchen system, this is really a game changer for what it concerns the design process and mounting. From one side, the strong point is the modularity, that allows to move and reassemble the kitchen almost everywhere. On the other side, this kind of kitchen has a minimalist aesthetics and functional design principles.
You are the founder. Let’s talk about the team beside you.
I have a young and smart team that went bigger last year; everyone makes a special part of the job that contributes to our constant growth. I have two other co-founders now : Federica and Filippo; I really wanted them to come on board because we have really complementary skills and, this way, we can grow our business faster. In total now we are a team of 10 people and in 2022 we will probably be 18/20 people.
Very simple. Not but only. Also very requested. Which is the secret of your commercial success?
I think we designed something that changes the perception of the kitchen. Something that is really recognizable and fits really well in an open space. Something iconic, but that can be personalized a lot with colors and finishes. Last but not least, we have a direct online selling strategy, this gives us the possibility to have lower prices compared to similar quality stainless steel kitchens.
For what kind of clients are your kitchens designed?
For a young client that wants to have a kitchen that responds to the latest and most current lifestyles, customizable and that has a high resistance and durability over time.
As you propose a bespoke service, is there an anecdote concerning a very special kitchen you were asked to create?
A client really liked our kitchen but the wife didn't like the stainless steel surface, so i decided to produce a wood version of it. Now the wood version has become part of our catalog.
You have collaborated with the Swedish Designer Tekla Evelina Severin. Do you plan incoming new arty partnerships soon?
We are in constant contact with many designers that make great works and products and we are working on many different collabs that will be shown in 2022.
Could you please tell us more about your home kitchen?
My home kitchen is always the place where I test our products first, every new module, every new prototype is always put there so I can understand for real how it works. At the end, I have a transforming kitchen with new parts almost every year.
Very Simple Kitchen in three words…
Colorful, Made in Italy and Flexible.
As a kitchen specialist, what are the types of requirements for the perfect kitchen?
The perfect kitchen has to be functional, not just a furniture. Is something that you live and use everyday. It doesn’t have to be simply beautiful, of course it is an important part but it has to be also practical and durable.
You are also the owner of the hotel ‘Lí da loro’ located in Bologna. Could you tell us more about this other project?
It’s a project started in january 2020... now due to the pandemic we had to slow down for a bit and find a temporary solution to hold the business but it is something in which I strongly believe. Bologna is an amazing city and I want to let the people know about it. We will probably start again the project in 2023, maybe with a strong collaboration with Very SImple Kitchen.
All the pictures are Courtesy of Very Simple Kitchen
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