Meet Carina Iten

Editor-in-chief of Swiss metermagazine

Meet Carina Iten - illustration 1

Carina Iten, Credit: Mirjam Kluka 

The high-quality edited online magazine for art, design and home decor, metermagazin is considered a digital extension to the print media of the Swiss Archithema publishing house. Get to know the editor-in-chief Carina Iten and dive into her cosmos of personal design affinity and the urge for mindful living.  

1. Hello Carina! You're the editor-in-chief of metermagazin, can you tell us about the publication and how you got involved?

Yes, metermagazin is an absolute heart project of Archithema Verlag and was launched in 2018. I myself started at Archithema Verlag seven years ago as an editor and was allowed to help develop the concept of meter. With metermagazin, we wanted to create an online platform that on the one hand publishes articles from the publisher's print magazines - Das Ideale Heim, Atrium and Umbauen + Renovieren - online, but also offers space for independent articles and new formats. On metermagazin, we want to rethink and retell our universe from the subject areas of design, architecture and home decor. meter takes a fresh look at exciting topics that surround us every day - in the magazine as well as on our social media channels.  

2. As an editor, writing about inspiring topics is in your blood. When you chose your career, how important was it to you to connect it with design, interior and art and what were your motives for doing so?

My background is in lifestyle and entertainment journalism and I had previously worked in radio, TV and various daily newspapers. But I would say that I have always had a strong affinity for design and interior topics. Above all, I am interested in people and their stories. As with everything in my life, I have always been guided by my intuition in my professional life and came to Archithema by chance through a former work colleague. But I always had the idea of working for a magazine and being able to interview interesting personalities. From the very beginning, I was fascinated by the creative processes, the examination of design and everyday culture, but also the encounters with exciting people. A few years ago, I started the "Atelier" section for Das Ideale Heim magazine, in which we portray young, up-and-coming designers. I love the complexity of my job and that I don't always know what to expect in the morning. 

3. You started your career as an editor in the online sector. What do you see for the future of the online art market and the media industry? 

A lot has changed since I started working in the online sector, so it's difficult to make any predictions. The possibilities offered by the web are certainly far from exhausted. In the past few years, we've seen a shift from still to moving images, and an enormous speed in terms of output. Also, the last two years have shown that spatial or temporal barriers can be overcome digitally and resources can be saved such as airfare, real estate, transportation, etc. and this also benefits the environment. I'm getting more and more involved with Metaverse and NFTs and I'm sure there will be some surprises coming up and we'll see untapped potential - especially in connection with the art market. 

Meet Carina Iten - illustration 1
Meet Carina Iten - illustration 1

On the Left & Right: Carina Iten at imm Cologne (International furniture and interior fair), Credit: Sabrina Rothe, 2018

4. You're based in Switzerland… What artistic or cultural attractions inspire you there or elsewhere in the world?

Switzerland is a place of contrasts - tradition is closely interwoven with innovation. I like the pragmatic and reliable side of Switzerland, but sometimes I wish people would call a spade a spade more. Switzerland is a compact country, we have always had to take our cues from neighboring countries, I think that gives us openness and also foresight. In Switzerland I like that it's feeling sheltered, but at the same time I have to break out of it again and again, because it often gets too crowded for me. Then I like to be inspired by metropolises like Singapore or New York, and at the moment I also find Dubai very interesting. I find inspiration in all areas of life - in art, in design, in cuisine, in conversations with people or at a concert. But what is often underestimated in our everyday lives is silence. We need a place where we can process all the information and impressions from our everyday life, new ideas and projects need space to flourish. That's why meditation has been part of my daily morning routine for years. There I can not only recharge my batteries, but also organize my thoughts, experiences and draw new inspiration. 

5. Do you have works by contemporary artists in your home and workspace? If so, which ones currently inspire you the most?

Yes, I have a brass world map on my wall. It comes from the USA, unfortunately I can no longer find the artist. The proportions of the map don't fit and that always gives something to talk about when we have visitors. But it also always reminds me to think outside the box - we are often so caught up in our microcosm that we lack foresight. Looking at this world map always reminds me to change my perspective. 

Meet Carina Iten - illustration 1
Meet Carina Iten - illustration 1

On the Left: Carina Iten's apartment in Zurich . On the Right: Carina Iten's book collection

6. In the context of contemporary art, are there any topics that make your heart beat faster when you write about them?

I like art that pushes the boundaries and shows us new perspectives and possibilities. I love to sink into someone else's work with my thoughts, emotions and imagination. Art comes alive through the emotions we associate with it.  

7. In editorial work, keeping an eye on the world is essential. In regard to sustainability: What changes are you currently noticing and do you have any advice to share with us?

I think we need to get away from the trend that everything has to be faster, cheaper and more. Deceleration and mindfulness are the buzzwords of the hour - even if some may think "the topic is already through". I think we as a society have not even begun to take up or integrate these topics. For me, too, it is an on-going process, I try to consume less, but more consciously in all areas of life. It starts with consumption in everyday life and ends with reading. We have to be much more selective with our energy and time. In addition, I also ask myself more and more - how useful is my output? In the mass of everything already circulating on the web, to what extent can I still offer added value? These are also questions we deal with at meter. Instead of churning out an article every day, we also reflect on how useful or relevant a story really is - and how sustainable it is. 


Their favorite artworks

Photography, Far Enough from Home, Anthony Harouet, Thomas Lodin

Far Enough from Home, Anthony Harouet

Thomas Lodin

Photography - 80 x 120 cm

$1,016

Photography, Le Barachois, Marine Kerbidi

Le Barachois

Marine Kerbidi

Photography - 40 x 60 x 1 cm

$438

Photography, Chance/Fall (4), Richard Caldicott

Chance/Fall (4)

Richard Caldicott

Photography - 127 x 102 cm

$10,930

Print, En Cuba, Julio Larraz

En Cuba

Julio Larraz

Print - 70 x 90 x 1 cm

$2,033

Photography, Le cours particulier, Muriel Bordier

Le cours particulier

Muriel Bordier

Photography - 90 x 170 x 0.3 cm

$6,211

Photography, Lost & Found, Maud Chalard

Lost & Found

Maud Chalard

Photography - 80 x 60 x 2 cm

$2,484

Photography, Man on Water: from the Blanco Series. Archival Pigment print, Sepia, Ricky Cohete

Man on Water: from the Blanco Series. Archival Pigment print, Sepia

Ricky Cohete

Photography - 91.4 x 61 x 0.3 cm

Sold

Fine Art Drawings, Venus 2.0, Pauline Di Valentin

Venus 2.0

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings - 28 x 39 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Photography, Le Calin, Charlotte Abramow

Le Calin

Charlotte Abramow

Photography - 45 x 30 cm

$1,694

Painting, L'Ostriconi, Pauline Guillemard

L'Ostriconi

Pauline Guillemard

Painting - 97 x 130 x 2.5 cm

$1,073

Fine Art Drawings, Terrazzo, Pauline Di Valentin

Terrazzo

Pauline Di Valentin

Fine Art Drawings - 70 x 50 x 0.1 cm

Sold

Painting, L'air #2, Marion Sagon

L'air #2

Marion Sagon

Painting - 40 x 30 x 2 cm

$452

Photography, The Oracle, Delphine Diallo

The Oracle

Delphine Diallo

Photography - 90 x 60 cm

$6,324

Photography, Éclipse, Sandrine Elberg

Éclipse

Sandrine Elberg

Photography - 45 x 30 x 3 cm

$1,355

Photography, l' amie, Yevgeniy Repiashenko

l' amie

Yevgeniy Repiashenko

Photography - 80 x 120 x 0.1 cm

$2,959