Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia

Studio AHEAD is a San Francisco-based art and design collective founded by Homan Rajai and Elena Dendiberia.

Elena Dendiberia is an internationally exhibited artist with a sensual approach to art and design. She brings together the tactile experience of her art with a design vernacular that evolves through close collaboration with artists, craftsmen, and fabricators.

Homan Rajai is the driving force behind Studio AHEAD. Informed by his Persian heritage, his travels, and his background in landscape architecture, he crafts spatial narratives that tell unique stories.

How would you describe your design philosophy?
Homan & Elena- Our approach is “borderless” in that our roots are far-flung yet deeply embedded in Northern California’s history. Drawing from our diasporic experiences, we believe strongly that there is no universal idea of functionality that fits all cultures and people. What remains constant is an appreciation of tradition and craftsmanship.

Who are three designers you follow on Instagram?
Homan and Elena- We get our inspiration from artists/estates/galleries/furniture makers. I follow @crosslypka, @idoyoshimoto, @jbblunkestate. And there are so many more @gaykiss___, @kate.hands.co, @altmansiegel, @pt.2gallery

Give us some context about where you live: How long you’ve been there and how does it influence your work?
Homan- I work in SF and live in Marin. I like coming to the office in the Mission, feeling the cultural pulse of the city, doing studio visits, dinners and then going back across the Golden Gate Bridge and letting my nervous system relax surrounded by oak trees, a view of the Bay, chirping birds and allowing everything that I experience to soak in.

Elena- I‘ve been living in Noe Valley in San Francisco for the last 10 years since I moved to the States from Russia. It is definitely one of my favorite places to be in San Francisco. It has a slower pace and charming feel while being surrounded by busy active neighborhoods like Castro and Mission. There are still a handful of places that keep the old neighborhood spirit and make you feel a part of the community, a feeling I especially value being a transplant from a different country. I think we translate that feeling a lot in our practice: feeling local while coming from multicultural backgrounds.

Which of your projects or products are you most proud? Why?
Homan and Elena- We are so proud of all we do. We are proud that we use sheep wool that is sourced from local sheep communities in Sonoma and West Marin. We are proud we have a journal that shows the lives and gives a voice to our Northern California artists, gallerists and culture creators. We are proud we have exhibitions that showcase these people’s work and bring it to the public. We are proud that our clients become patrons and build homes that support this community. We are working hard!

What is the most pressing issue in the design world today?
Homan & Elena- Design is creating the physical form, how people interact and feel. We need to be way more aware of the connotations of what we are creating. Most things have become void or insidious. We need to be integrating what we design with culture and nature again. That’s what we try to do with our practice

What’s now? What’s next?
Homan- I’m loving our team, that’s what is happening now. Studio AHEAD is a bunch of eccentric sweet goofballs that are passionate about our ethos. We work hard for our community, our clients and each other with a goal of raising the vibration. I love this. The process of making something together should be just as joyful.

Elena: Studio AHEAD was created with an intention of celebrating a spirit of collaboration.
Now we have our hands full not only working on projects for our clients , but also partnering with an inspiring community of artists, makers and designers on creating objects that manifest that collaborative spirit. Collaborations with a boutique speaker brand Western Acoustics and Berkeley-based fashion designer Erica Tanov are underway to name a few.

And just curious: What is your favorite movie? And your favorite band or/and song?
Homan Rajai- I love movies because they are world creating at its fullest. When I want to feel excited by the randomness and beauty of life and people I watch Pedro Almodovar. When I want to feel safe and cozy I watch Nancy Meyer. When I want to feel the rapture and madness of love I watch Luca Guadagnino. When I want to feel the subtle nuance of emotions I watch Majid Majidi. So many I love to be taken into an alternate world of visuals and feelings. I light my candles and take my edible and I’m there.

Elena: The Color of Pomegranates by Parajanov has always been the movie I return back to for inspiration. It is rich in so many layers from captivating visuals where each frame becomes a work of art to the historical and political context it was created in. When it comes to music I am such a creature of a moment. Recently I’ve been enjoying playing Solo Piano Works by John Steven Morgan in my car, especially driving through the soft hills and redwoods of west Marin.