Barbara Sala
1. Please give us a brief bio of yourself and your background.
After completing my high school education at an art school, I attended a specialization course in illustration and comic book art at Castello Sforzesco in Milan.
Upon finishing my studies, I worked as a packaging designer for several companies, gaining experience and furthering my knowledge of the industry.
Currently, I run my own design agency in Monza, located in the beautiful setting of Villa Reale, together with talented collaborators.
2. What made you become/why did you choose to become a product designer?
I love creating, I enjoy drawing and seeing something beautiful come to life where there was nothing before.
3. Tell us more about your business/company, job profile, and what you do.
My agency is RSTB Group. It's an agency that I describe as SMART because it's agile and fast and manages to deliver effective and high-quality projects in a short amount of time.
We are a very close-knit team that has been working together for several years. We love our job and always give our best, even for small projects.
4. What’s your favorite kind of design and why?
I find it stimulating to be able to move between various product sectors, finding the right approach each time. I really enjoy creating the brand and visual identity, expressing the project's essence.
5. To you, what makes a “good” design?
Clarity, essentiality, and innovation.
6. Describe your design style and its main characteristics.
I like clean and simple lines and fresh colors.
7. Congratulations! As the winner of the 2023 NY Product Design Awards, what does it mean to you and your company and team to receive this award distinction?
It's a great honor for us and a stimulus to always do better.
8. What was the biggest challenge with this project?
Breaking away from a color code and a design system to create a completely new image while still maintaining brand recognition.
9. What are your top three (3) favorite things about our industry?
Analysis, innovation, creativity.
10. Who has inspired you in your life and why?
My father. Because he is tough, he is a man who built his company from scratch. He has tremendous energy and always wants to create and bring new projects to life even now that he's not a young man anymore.
He taught me to believe in what I do, to put my all into it, and not to be afraid to face difficulties but to fight to overcome them.
11. Do you have anything else you would like to add to the interview?
Yes, I would like to thank two important members of my team, Sonia Vanin and Stefano Ciceri, who actively collaborated on the project, and Mellin Italia's marketing team, thanks to whom it was possible to bring it to fruition.
