PROFILE | Oana Maria Paraschiv - Dedicated Designer and Qualified Urban Architect. Driven by passion for space design, Oana Paraschiv perceives it as the art of creating narratives that go beyond time and scales, blending expertise from urban to interior spaces. From cityscapes to interiors, she focuses on making places where social and natural choreographies can happen. Her focus is on crafting immersive settings that engage the senses, challenge perception, and create embodying experiences, allowing the unexpected to unfold. Her goal is to develop spaces that can adapt to challenges over time and help people reconnect with their environment.
PHILOSOPHY | Design is an explorative act of creation, challenging boundaries between disciplines and scales to enrich experiences and protect environments. With experience in various domains, including public spaces, landscape and architecture, she is consistently seeking opportunities for creativity and exploration.
IKIO STUDIO is a creative hub initiated by Oana Paraschiv as a collection of art impressions, reflections and ideas. Functioning as a platform for artistic exploration, Ikio Studio engages in materialising emotions into perceptible visual form through diverse design projects and different case studies. Spanning across a broad spectrum, from digital art and exhibition design to urban and landscape design, it introduces a fresh perspective on visualizing and immersing ourselves in environments. The primary emphasis lies in crafting narratives throughout the design process and bringing ideas to life by using mixed-media art (photography, video, sketching, digital art) and Generative AI.
The platform’s name stands for:
• Iki (粋/いき,"chic, stylish") the Japanese aesthetical ideal of style,spontaneity and originality •
MISSION | The mission is to craft captivating immersive designs by materialising emotions and ideas into perceptible visual form through various projects and case studies. The designs serve as advocates for heightened awareness of our surroundings through the medium of art. Through research and experimentation these studies are emerging as a way of addressing the challenges of today to define new perspectives for tomorrow. Ikio Studio uses case studies to identify ‘the unknown’ by using imagination+research and projects to explore ‘the known’ by analysis+design+materialisation. Starting with a simple idea, found usually as a juxtaposition of different matters and subjects, research is engaged and narratives are created in order to widen perceptions, challenge emotions, increase awareness, stimulate social and sustainable placemaking.
‘‘ Minding the gaps…finding the contrasts…designing for the in-between spaces ’’
by IKIOstudio
VISION | Establishing an online setting as a creative hub, a safe space for imagination and artistic expression that goes beyond space and time in order to bridge cutting edge technologies in design thinking with space design knowledge and principles. Through collaborative projects and visual case studies, the platform fosters an exchange of knowledge and inspiration, illustrating how design connects people to their environment. By challenging disciplinary and spatial limits, IKIO Studio aims to enrich experiences and promote deeper connections between individuals and their surroundings.
‘‘ By challenging our ‘status of quo’ and by translating emotions into space and matter, new grounds are emerging for us to explore ’’
by IKIOstudio
PURPOSE | The purpose of Ikio Studio is to bring alive ideas, impressions and reflections through imagination and research by creating written and digital story telling. The platform operates in two key directions: Case Studies, where research and generative AI are integrated to create visuals that best capture the essence of the study, and Projects, which serve as an ongoing testimony to the collaborative design process. Here, ideas evolve through mixed media, drawing on knowledge from space design, urban, and landscape design to shape meaningful, immersive experiences.
OBJECTIVES | The Ikio Studio’s roadmap is dominated by the aspiration of designing immersive environments ranging from urban landscapes to indoor spaces and illustrating the connection human-environment through mixed media and by the use of generative AI. The platform's primary objective is to delve into diverse topics, constructing a compelling case through imagination and research, by showcasing the potential and opportunities within an artistic language. These environments come to life through the design process, effectively communicating their messages to viewers and engaging their senses through the digitalised expressions. The main focus extends beyond the end product, prioritizing the design process and shaping ideas in the most effective way to express the intentions. Ikio Studio believes in the freedom of expression, and with each project, it’s a consistently push of boundaries in what concerns imagination and use of cutting edge technologies in design thinking.
‘‘ Creativity unfoldes through the freedom of expression ’’
by IKIOstudio
METHOD | Ikio Studio's portfolio is built on diverse case studies amd projects aimed at addressing current challenges that influence our perception and conditions of our environemnt. For each case, Ikio aims to propose a shift in how we perceive our surroundings, turning existing challenges into tomorrow's opportunities. With a particular focus on the design process, Ikio Studio approaches each case through the following steps:
Idea: Everything starts with an idea…
Research: Thorough examination of the theme and subject to define the case's profile. This step, considered a primary pillar, involves gathering information to structure, define, or justify the case further. The story is developed based on this information.
Exploration: Utilizing the gathered information, exploration involves delving further into the idea both physically and digitally. A moodboard is created, establishing the foundation for AI testing. Creating series of imaginery to define the most effective and engaging way to express the intentions and ideas.
Design: This is where ideas take shape and form. Alterations are made to clearly express the story and the main idea of the project visually.
Post-production: After thorough iterations and consideration to communicate the idea strongly, the focus shifts to details and finishes. This stage may involve mixed media artistic expression.
Communication and visibility: The final stage involves increasing awareness and visibility about the case, through images and text as a source of inspiration.