February Student: Ben Peleg

Get to know our Februrary 2016 Student of the Month, Ben Peleg!

What is your name, or any nicknames you go by?
Ben Peleg

Where are you from?
Tel-Aviv, Israel

What brought you to Parsons?
A few years back, I decided to leave my career path in the world of technology (then the Israeli intelligence forces, and later on in the private sector) to pursue my life-long dream – fashion.  I researched several schools worldwide and decided that Parsons and its location in New York were the absolute best for me.

Where do you find inspiration from?
My technological background is certainly a strong source of inspiration. Also, I like using the quirkiness of Cubism, Surrealism, and extreme photography as sources of inspiration. They all started from the urge to present nature and society from a different point of view, which I feel is a vital quality for a designer or an artist.

How would you describe your work and design style?
Thoughtful, meticulous, smart. I put a lot of time and effort into the research and development of a design in order to make sure it perfectly fits its intended purpose and the wearer’s personality. Also, highly multi-disciplinary; I always draw from photography, illustration, and writing into my designs.

What do you aspire to do in the future, why do you design what you design?
I’m a huge believer in both fashion and technology as lifestyle revolutionaries. In the future, I hope to use the two in order to find solutions that will improve and enhance people’s everyday experiences. Wearable technologies are used today mainly for medical and active-wear innovations, but are rarely seen in the area of lifestyle design.

What is your Instagram handle, and/or website?
Instagram: @bpeleg

What special courses are you taking?
Textiles is a pretty exciting class. Every week we learn a different fabric manipulation and bring examples of fabric manipulation from our other classes, so little-by-little we are building a pretty cohesive “Textile Journal”. I’m also looking forward to next year, when I can take classes in menswear tailoring and wearable technologies.

How would you describe your experience so far as a Parsons student?
Intense and eye opening. I’m learning a lot about myself as a designer and about any given subject constantly, including architecture, history, business, art and of course, fashion design.

What is one of the most important things you have learned/experienced at Parsons?
The other students. It’s always fascinating to see how other designers work and where they draw their inspiration from, especially when it is completely different from my own.

What keeps you motivated when there is too much work load?
The challenge, my friends and family who always support me, and the promise that I will treat myself to a slice of pizza once I’m done.

If you could offer one piece of advice to an incoming student, what would that be?
A piece of advice I received in my freshman year – always discard your first idea and start with the second. It helped me avoid “obvious” choices and come up with something truly original.