IHA gets acquainted with Julie Smith-Clementi, president/CEO of notNeutral. Based in Los Angeles, notNeutral blurs the boundaries between the figural and abstract, the decorative and functional. The pieces they design are durable, playful and imbued with a clever take on the ordinary that is unquestionably not neutral. Since its conception more than 15 years ago, notNeutral has gone on to become an industry trendsetter in coffeeware and tabletop products. As a new exhibitor, notNeutral will be a fresh addition in Discover Design at booth N8522 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show .

Julie Smith-Clementi views the multidisciplinary design process as an opportunity to create iconic objects and spaces that both engage and inspire. Uniting her passions for architecture and interior design, Julie creates holistic environments, designing not only the boundaries of a space, but also the graphics, furnishings, and fixtures that make it inviting. This passion persuaded her to start notNeutral — a line of bold, idea-based, accessible objects for the everyday modern lifestyle.

Frank Clementi, co-founder and design lead, has spent his professional lifetime exploring the ways various design disciplines inform one another. While living in Milan from 1984-86, he joined Memphis Group founder Ettore Sottsass and Matteo Thun in conducting aesthetic experiments with ceramics, graphics, packaging, and architecture. Since the beginning of his career, Frank’s contributions to design have been just as prolific and diverse. As an integral leader in product design, notNeutral would not be possible without his talent for creating items that inspire their users.

Where do you find inspiration when designing new products?
Anything. There’s no one place to find design inspiration. I’m generally inspired by the world around me and it’s usually sparked through travel and new experiences from new places. We have a philosophy here at notNeutral — You can’t expect inspiration to come to you… You have to find it.

 Are there any specific designers, places or eras that influence you?
As an architect, I’m influenced by many architects who also designed products. First among them is Eero Sararinen, who designed the St. Louis Arch and the TWA terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport. I also have a huge appreciation for the designers who worked in the Wiener Werkstätte era (1903-1932 in Vienna), including Josef Hoffman. Both of them are designers who can’t necessarily be pinned down to one particular period in time. Their work still looks and feels fresh today.

How do you choose which idea to take to product development?
There are three questions we ask ourselves when we start to develop a new product: 1) Will this be a new aesthetic for us? 2) How can we enhance its functionality? 3) How will it fit into the culture that it’s intended to be used (coffee, dining, etc.)?

How do you identify the key user audience for your products?
We’ve been lucky enough to work in and develop products for specific markets. The coffee world, for example, gives us a specialty group and a niche audience that makes it very clear who our targets are.

How do new technologies influence your product design?  Do you use 3-D printing, Kickstarter or other platforms to develop or launch products?  How do you use social media?
We definitely use new technologies to aid in our product design and development — rapid prototyping being the biggest influence. We have some laser cutters and 3D printers that help us test our designs and make prototypes to test. Social media has definitely been a focus of ours as well. Our customers in the social sphere feed us more information and inspiration than we could ever imagine. They definitely help with the direction we decide to go in. We’ve also learned that everyone loves latte art!

Where are your products manufactured?
All over the world! We try to find as many manufacturers in the U.S. as we can, but we also focus on where the best craftspeople are located, specific to each product. Our ceramics are made in Sri Lanka. Our glassware is made in China. Other important pieces of our product lines are made in Long Beach, Ohio, Chicago, Poland, Turkey, and many other places.

How do you see design’s importance in our industry as it moves forward?
Design is the synthesis of culture, function, and beauty. A product’s ability to maintain beauty while functioning proficiently in its respective role is paramount when it comes to design. One of our partners always says that design is about taking things down to their essence and stripping them of anything that’s not necessary to making it better. Every one of the aforementioned design aspects needs to emphasize the overall concept. Take our dripper from the GINO collection, for example. It’s handle-less and completely made of double-walled glass for safety and heat retention. It fits well into traditional pour-over coffee-making, but remains original because we chose to take away everything that wasn’t essential to the product’s function while enhancing its beauty with a few simple changes. That’s how you move design forward. That’s what we’ll continue to strive for — products that are functional, beautiful, and culturally iconic.

Can you give us a preview of what you will be showing in your booth in Discover Design?
We’ll be showing all coffeeware from the LINO collection as well as pitchers and vases in brand new colors. We’ll also be showing our GINO dripper, server, and filters, our CICLONE glassware collection, our collaborations with the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and a collection of plates celebrating American Craft Cities.

Thank you, Julie, for giving us some background on your approach and your aims. We look forward to meeting you in your first appearance at our Show. Your presentation in booth N8522 is sure to be an attraction! Your Chicago plate will feel right at home!

See more about their products at www.notneutral.com

Discover Design is the premier destination at the International Home + Housewares Show for trend spotters who make design their priority. Retailers looking for the unique will find early 200 design leaders at Discover Design located at the front of the North Building.

Anchored by renowned brands such as Alessi, Blomus and Charles Viancin, Discover Design welcomes new exhibitors, such as Victoria Lekach, Luckies of London, and S’well Bottle, and introduces 10 emerging companies at the Design Debut incubator. Additional fresh offerings from veteran design-focused exhibitors such as Kikkerland, Zoku and Magisso will also inspire your choices for the coming year. Find more information on Discover Design exhibitors online.