Designer: Crystal meant to be used

A piece of crystal, no matter how lovely, was designed and created to be used. And, if it breaks, that's OK because it was just a piece of glass.

"That's how it is. That's life," said Martti Rytkönen, a designer for Orrefors.

That philosophy has served Rytkönen well. Recruited right out of college, Rytkönen, who was guest speaker at this month's First Fridays seminar presented by the Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center, has been creating designs for the Swedish glass and crystal maker since 1994.

He said he strives to create simple, basic designs that touch each user, allowing him or her to interpret the shape through his or her own eyes.

His drop design, for example, tells a "really emotional story for everyone, but it's a different story for everyone. It could be a drop of rain or tear drop," he said.

Despite the fact that there were more than 100 designers and professionals associated with the interior design trade listening to him speak, Rytkönen's presentation seemed more like an informal chat among friends. He graciously answered questions and passed his work around so that those attending could get a true feeling for each piece.

Rytkönen, one of six designers for the company, said he is influenced by everything around him and that he never knows when inspiration will find him. He said the hard part is not finding ideas, but rather finding the time to fine tune all of those ideas.

"Most often, I sketch the designs in my head, then I go to the studio to put it on paper. After several drafts, I go to the hot shop and get the first sample. It's kind of like being pregnant. You know there's something that wants to come out."

He said it takes an average of two years to complete a design from its initial concept until it is ready for production.

"We have to feel what will happen in the market," he said.

Even with such a long process to define a piece, he said he can still be surprised when a design is finally created in glass and crystal.

"You never really get to know glass. There are always surprises. You have to have open eyes and open minds," he said. "Sometimes the mistakes are better than the original design."

The native of Finland was asked to join the company while he was finishing his college studies, where he specialized in ceramics. He said painting was too two-dimensional for him and he prefers being able to examine a piece from all sides.

He calls his designs four dimensional because you can see through them and the glass and crystal pick up light. "It creates the shape by picking up the light."

Rytkönen presented his latest designs from the Fashion family, a series of plates named after cities worldwide that are associated with fine design.

Holding up New York, a square plate with curved sides and intersecting lines that dissect the piece into smaller squares, he said, "You should use it as I want to -- for sushi."

To help people feel more comfortable about using the crystal pieces, Rytkönen noted that several years ago the company developed a special process that gives them the same qualities of lead crystal but without the lead. It's good for the environment, too, he added.