10 to Watch 2017: Studio Robazzo
A few short years ago, Sarah McFadzen spent her free evenings hanging out in the living room of Andrew Azzopardi and Christina Robev, sanding or gluing whatever weird or innovative project the two architects happened to be working on. By 2014, she was their business partner in Studio Robazzo, a multi-dimensional design studio that takes on everything from interior and graphic design to industrial design and prototyping.
At Robazzo, design isn’t divided into siloed disciplines, nor is it anchored in the past. Typical of this innovative studio, they inform themselves of traditional design, then turn it on its head. “That’s where things get fun,” says Azzopardi who, during our interview, fiddles with the small dragon head that’s just been printed on the new 3D printer.
“How do you break design down and use it in a different and novel way that people aren’t expecting?” he muses aloud. “It usually ends up different from what [our clients] originally came in for.”
McFadzen easily finishes his thought, as is their habit: “But they’re always happy.”
The team’s magic lies in its ability to take broad problems and look at them from every angle. The result? From the cut plywood Stalagnite Installation for Westshore Arts Council to retail displays for Elate Cosmetics to the stage display for TEDx to the graphic identity for the 2017 film festival — it’s impossible to look away from Robazzo’s work.
And that makes their clients very happy.