Elke Weston

MEET THE MAKER

After an apprenticeship as a traditional printer/reprograph, I studied Product Design at a time, when computers were more or less in the beginning of becoming helpful to designers and most designs had to be drawn up and changed manually.

During the following years, I specialised with my studio in glass design and architecture / public art, working on projects in Germany, France, Columbia and Spain and developed basic skills in digital printing and computer graphics.

I was teaching computer programmes like FreeHand, QuarkXPress and drawing at University Level, when I decided to follow my love for the material glass and deepen my knowledge through a Master of Arts qualification in Glass Design at the National College of Art and Design, graduating in 2002.

I always had and still have a strong interest and a curious attitude towards traditional crafts, art and new technologies:

My large-scale public artworks integrate traditional skills (stained glass, leaded glass, hand-cutting) and contemporary materials and techniques (optical lighting film, fibre optic light systems, dichroic glass, glass coatings, bonding of glass). I am also working with double- and triple-glazed units towards the reduction of energy use and passive housing solutions.

All designs are always developed by myself, experimenting with colour, light and optical illusions to find the best solution for the environment they will be integrated in.

The works are mostly executed in teamwork, often on an International level with craftsmen/-women, designers, architects and technical engineers, utilising and sharing highest skills and knowledge as well as technological resources to find the best, contemporary solution for the project. Digital fabrication processes, as for example printing, enlargements, cuttings, are a day-to-day business and are used where possible.

This year, I will launch a series of small-scale glass paintings.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE PART OF iATELIER PROGRAMME?

The iAtelier project particularly interests me; I think this is because of my international background and my hands-on professional craft and design expertise. Another reason is I am  well-used to working collaboratively and with curious interest towards new technologies will help to develop a vision of a “Crafting Europe”.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE?

I am generous in exchanging information and skills and hope to receive the same openness towards knowledge and expertise during the work on the iAtelier project. I hope to develop new products and gain inspiration for new (design) ideas for my own work.