Design is a universal language that is everywhere you look. It’s the way you choose to dress or decorate your home, the bay windows on a building, a box of cookies, the font in this page, your cell phone itself, and the decision whether it will be made of metal or plastic. Everything around us was designed by humans and this act is design.
Good design is timeless and provides a solution to any existing problem, graphic design serves visual communication, it also solves the chaos that wants to become material, it is the ‘Swiss army knife’ that contains tools such as typography, composition, semiotics , the colour harmony and the aesthetics. Being an integral part of our lives, one could say that it is the very air we breathe, and at Redy. in Exarchia, they know this well. And they pay tribute to it.
Redy. is the project of two young people – Donna Hatzidakis and Argyris Athanasiadis – childhood friends from Crete, who were destined to love and study graphic design and visual communication. After their tenure in various creative offices, several participations in exhibitions, awards, collaborations and everything else a graphic designer needs to undertake to equip his quiver, they decided to form their own team.
Initially, they opened an office in Exarchia. A design studio that has contributed to several tasteful Athenian – and not only – ‘moments’. Entering you will see many of their models framed, everywhere colour, pop mood, drawings, drafts, prints, embossing. Their motto: ‘Never Standard, Sometimes Teasing, Always Redy.’ surrounds the creativity of a talented person and a professional in an era where rhythms and demands run faster than time.
Recently in the space right next door, a former butcher shop they open their own store. Everything was remodelled except for the metal windows and the old butcher’s cutting board which now serves as an intriguing display.
What is on display? Anything that inspires and is inspired by a designer, English-language publications from Niggli and other established houses, clothing, ceramics, calendars, tote bags, their own illustrations and posters, fabrics and scarves, all aimed at beautifying the environment and our lives, to give us a smile or to teach us something more about the history, schools and aspects of design. Embracing the culture of visual language, the beauty in something simple, but not simplistic like a design.
Their venture has already been embraced by the neiborhood – after all, Exarchia has always been a hub of creativity and thought – their guests are people from all aspects of life, mothers with their children, youngsers, older people, Donna and Argyris are there to discuss their passion with you, to answer your questions, to make something custom for you, exactly as you had dreamed of it.
While glancing over their posters, designed by them, modern, special, original and memorable, posters that could enhance and stylish any space, we take a look at the bespoke mugs for your coffee or tea, creations of other designers collected together under a curated roof.
‘I’ll come to you for coffee to discuss design,’ I say to Argyris. ‘Whenever you want,’ he replies heartily as he puts two prints I bought into a bag. And this in itself surrounds the aura of Redy.Shop, a place where everyone is welcome and everyone leaves with something special in mind, soul or shopping bag. You can also catch them online at redy.shop or on instagram @redy.design.shop.
Redy. Design Studio + Shop
Zoodochou Pigis 117, Exarchia, tel. +302103804619
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