All that glimmers

Rodrigo Otazu.
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Did you enjoy working in Dubai?

I always like to be able to find new and improved designs that break the rules. Dubai is the perfect place to do this – it’s a place where you can make dreams come true through design. Dubai is the future. It’s not even halfway to being what it can be. I believe that in Dubai there are still so many things to be done... so bring it on!

What spaces have you seen in Dubai that offer the ‘wow’ factor that you so often talk about?

I’ve stayed at The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai and I think that definitely has the wow factor – I think it is beautiful. The Burj Al Arab is not really my taste but is a very inspiring place, globally. It has been a real inspiration in some of the work that I am currently busy with. I want to take some of those elements and introduce them back to the world in more modern forms.

How comfortably did you make the transition from jewellery to interiors and how easy was it?

Actually, it was very simple. Beautiful things are beautiful things. It is a matter of having taste. Being able to choose beautiful pearls and beautiful stones and being able to choose the right shapes for cushions and chairs and tables is very much the same thing to me. And I really love it.

Do you have any other interior design projects in the pipeline?

I’ve designed a wine bar in Europe, which has actually already won an award for best design. I am also busy with a five-star hotel. The secret is to always embrace the drama of creating something different.

What drives you during the whole design process?

I want to be happy and I want to entertain myself. I want to be able to look in the mirror and be proud. I think perhaps a little bit of ultra ego is what drives me!

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How did your partnership with the Swarovski brand come about?

Swarovski has been an extremely influential partner in my career because it has supported creativity, and everything that is different and new, since day one. Swarovski essentially gave me wings and allowed me to fly.

What do you have in common with Swarovski?

The drive to be different. And a love of the spark of life.

What recent projects have you worked on with the company?

I recently worked with Nadja Swarovski on Swarovski Runway Rocks, a very prestigious show in London where 16 of the best designers from around the world created specially-commissioned jewels for the catwalk.

What are your future plans?

I am now working on the launch of my diamond collection in New York, which should take place in September.

What will be the defining characteristic of this new collection?

Wow! The wow factor is the most pointed element in all my work.

What other words would you use to describe your creations?

I would say avant garde, different and unique. My creations are full of personality and their own sense of style... They are spectacular, and always something to be seen.

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