ROMAN ALONSO — Soul Safari

"I've always been open to, and grateful for, the opportunities that come from collaboration...the people and experiences that bring me here...today."

Roman Alonso was born in Caracas, Venezuela. Upon graduation from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in film and art history, Roman began working in publishing at Connoisseur and Mirabella magazines in New York. He then moved on to public relations and marketing, first at Barneys New York where he was the Director of Corporate PR and then at Isaac Mizrahi & Co where he was Vice President and Image Director. In 1998, he co-founded Greybull Press in Los Angeles, an art publishing company focusing on photographic books. In 2004, he co-founded Commune in Los Angeles with Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri and Ramin Shamshiri. With a reputation for holistic work across the fields of architecture, interior design, graphic design, product design and brand management, Commune values the strength of the collective mind, believing that authentic creativity and innovation come from collaboration.

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What was your pivot point?

A sake-filled dinner with three friends who became my partners. On that very night we started Commune. (Photo by Lisa Eisner.)

What's your advice for other designers?

Follow your gut...fearlessly...and with good intentions. (This is my current moodboard. Things seldom come off...they just get added.)

Where is your soul spot?

For the past 18 years that place has been California...where I'm lucky to live. It never fails me. The nature, the beauty, the freedom...it's almost become a cliche...but it's true. All I need to do is hit a trail and everything is OK...the restorative powers of nature are key to my well being and happiness. (This is a photo from Inverness, California.)

Have you had mentors? Who?

I've been lucky. Throughout my professional life, which started over 30 years ago, I've had great mentors...starting with my years at Barneys (Gene Pressman, Mallory Andrews, Ronnie Cooke, Glenn O'Brien, Doug Lloyd...), later Isaac Mizrahi and Nina Santisi, and in Los Angeles Lisa Eisner has been a huge influence. I've worked with my business partner, Steven Johanknecht, since 1989. I've always been open to, and grateful for, the opportunities that come from collaboration...the people and experiences that bring me here...today. (This is Lisa Eisner's garden in Los Angeles...for 20 years it continues to be an inspiration.)

If you could do anything in the world, what would you do next?

The dream is to create a situation where I can mentor young people and pass on my experience, while at the same time learning from them. I've been obsessed with Black Mountain College for a while...I would love to one day transform or create an extension to what we do at Commune that is more based in education. (This is our space, where our work happens today.)

All images used with permission of Roman Alonso.