Alex Lerian, a New York City native and the General Manager for Ege Carpets Americas, draws profound inspiration from his surroundings. His upbringing in a dynamic urban environment honed his perception of light, textures, and various spaces, influencing his deep appreciation for design. Lerian champions the power of thoughtful observation, encouraging a deliberate pause to refresh one's creative perspective. He believes this period of mental and visual recalibration ultimately leads to heightened clarity and innovative ideas.
As a mentor, Lerian emphasizes the importance of stepping away from constant output to allow for a reset. This philosophy informs his approach to both his personal creative endeavors and his leadership role at Ege Carpets. His methods underscore a belief that sustained creativity requires a cyclical process of engagement, reflection, and renewal, all of which are fed by his diverse interests and experiences.
In his professional capacity, Lerian values simplicity and intentionality. He relies on a pen and paper to capture nascent thoughts and sketches, finding that these imperfect doodles serve as powerful visual cues, helping him quickly revisit and expand upon previous ideas. This analog approach to idea generation reflects his commitment to a hands-on, reflective creative process.
Music plays a crucial role in Lerian's daily routine, acting as a bridge between his professional and personal life. He finds that music's rhythmic qualities offer a distinct mental space, allowing him to detach from the day's demands and enter a different emotional and creative atmosphere. His eclectic taste spans many genres, though he has recently developed a particular fondness for Japanese funk and jazz, highlighting the evocative works of trombonist Hiroshi Suzuki.
Beyond his professional life, Lerian is a dedicated collector of vintage cameras and an avid analog photographer. His commitment to film photography is rooted in its demand for present-moment awareness and trust in one's artistic vision, devoid of instant gratification. This practice, he notes, cultivates a sense of calm and a deep connection to the craft, reinforcing his belief in the value of deliberate engagement and the tangible process of creation.
Lerian's journey through art and design books is a weekly ritual. Each weekend, he selects a new book to explore throughout the week, using this practice to refresh his visual perspective. He highlights “Building Blocks” by Messana O’Rorke, admiring their respect for materials, proportions, and architectural precision. This firm's work reinforces his conviction that design should be both purposeful and enduring, continuously sparking new creative insights.
Food is another profound source of inspiration for Lerian, particularly his ritualistic visits to Burritos La Palma in Los Angeles. He sees eating as a primal form of communication, where a single bite can evoke powerful memories and feelings. The restaurant's mastery of a single dish, executed with simple, focused perfection, offers a creative lesson in clarity and uncompromising quality.
Museum travel serves as a vital avenue for exploration and discovery, providing an immediate sense of a city’s cultural pulse and creative heritage. Whether revisiting cherished institutions or discovering new ones abroad, Lerian meticulously observes how space, light, and curation intertwine to shape the visitor’s experience, influencing his thoughts on atmosphere and intentional design.
The immersive nature of live music profoundly resonates with Lerian, pulling him fully into the present moment. He cherishes the communal energy generated by artists and audiences, especially in outdoor settings where the environment becomes an integral part of the performance. This shared experience, he notes, cannot be replicated digitally and serves as a powerful reminder of the collective joy in creative encounters.
Finally, Lerian finds endless inspiration in the tactile engagement with materials. By touching, understanding the weight and mass, and experimenting with how different materials interact, he uncovers possibilities that visual observation alone cannot reveal. From wool to stone, each material possesses its own unique language and memory, deepening his appreciation for craftsmanship and influencing his approach to creating lasting spaces and objects.