It’s been two years since you moved to Portugal. What do you consider as the highlights of your relocation so far?
Moving to Portugal has been an incredible experience. On a personal level, the move has allowed me to explore a new culture and a more self-reflective way of life. Porto is a beautiful city with a rich history, and I've enjoyed getting to know its people and traditions. I've also travelled a bit throughout the country and explored the neighbouring [cities in] Spain. Professionally, the move to Portugal has opened up new opportunities and collaborations for me. With its well-connected airport, my relative proximity to major design cities such as Milan, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and even New York has enabled me to build closer relationships with the furniture brands I design for, or have been wanting to collaborate with. I've also been able to work with Portuguese artisans and manufacturers to start our own brand Origin Made, exploring new materials and techniques.

How would you describe your design philosophy and how it has evolved over the years?
My design philosophy centres around striving for essential and emotional designs that are grounded in an understanding of materials, craft, and culture. I believe that good design should be accessible and enduring and that it should enhance our daily lives in a meaningful way. I am always in awe of the richness and diversity of craft and design the world over, and am inspired by the attention to detail, materiality, and cultural symbolism in traditional crafts, especially in Asia; I also appreciate the minimalism and simplicity of Scandinavian design, as well as the elegance and sophistication of Italian design. I seek to amalgamate and integrate some of these experiences and values into my work.

How did this collaboration with B&B Italia begin?
I first visited B&B Italia's headquarters and factory in 2019, where we had a productive discussion about our mutual interest in creating furniture that responds to the changing needs and lifestyles of people today. We kept in touch, met again in 2020, and they suggested that I explore designing a family of furniture for the bedroom. I spent almost a year thinking and working on the design of this collection, and eventually presented my concepts to them in 2021, where they agreed to embark on this collaboration. My domicile in Porto allowed frequent trips to Italy to meet with B&B Italia, and this sustained engagement from concept presentation to product development, prototyping and reviews allowed us to refine the designs together and ensure that the final products met our shared vision.

Tell us more about your B&B Italia Quiet Lines collection.
Quiet Lines is a four-piece collection of furniture that is designed to enhance the daily rituals we engage in around the bedroom. Each item is designed with a focus on simplicity, functionality, and timeless elegance. The inspiration behind the collection comes from the idea of creating a sanctuary in the bedroom, a space where we can retreat from the world and connect with ourselves. The Quiet Lines collection is designed to facilitate this sense of peace and tranquility through clean lines, soft curves, and thoughtful details.

What were some challenges that you experienced while working on this collection?
Working with B&B Italia's team in Novedrate in Italy was a unique experience, as they do things “the old school way”, as their R&D director likes to put it. The prototyping process was not focused on adhering to technical drawings or CAD files provided by me, but with an acceptance that this was going to be an evolutionary process and the end product could be quite different from the initial design. We reviewed each round of prototypes at their factory together, making changes to the prototypes on the spot, this process was made possible by their in-house R&D Lab. I benefited greatly from their wealth of experience and every change we made was always about how to improve the end product: to make it more beautiful, easier to use, visually lighter, or structurally stronger, and never about cost cutting. 

How does this collection address climate concerns?
We designed the collection to be timeless and adaptable so that it can be used and enjoyed for many years to come. Each component in Quiet Lines has been designed to be easily disassembled and separated so that each part can be individually repainted, reupholstered, refinished, or repaired when needed. This results in the reduction of waste and an extension of the product‘s lifespan. For a hotel or a consumer who values longevity, this is a game changer. We take care to select materials that are biodegradable or recyclable, such as natural leather and steel so that they can be safely disposed of or recycled. We opted not to select chrome as one of the finishes for this collection because of its environmental impact. We also took care to minimise waste in the production process, using efficient assembly methods and optimising material usage by using the thinnest steel profile possible.

What does “quiet time” mean to you, personally and as a designer?
To me, quiet time represents a moment of “me time”, of peace and contemplation in our busy lives. As a designer, I believe that creating spaces and objects that facilitate this sense of tranquility and introspection is an important part of my work. I try to bring this sense of calm and simplicity into my work, whether it's through the use of natural materials and finishes, or by creating spaces and objects that encourage a sense of stillness and reflection. Personally, I find that spending time in nature is one of the most relaxing and rejuvenating activities I can engage in. Whether it's going for a hike in the hills or swimming in the river, being in nature helps me to slow down and connect with the world around me. I also enjoy reading and long walks, which are both activities that help me to cultivate a sense of inner calm and focus.

How much does circularity shape your overall design philosophy?
It is important for designers to consider the entire lifecycle of their products, from production to use to disposal. This means designing products that are durable and long-lasting, and that can be easily repaired, reused, or recycled. Circularity is an important part of sustainable design, and designers have a responsibility to consider the environmental footprint of their work. 

Which is your favourite B&B Italia design of all time?
The Up armchair and ottoman by Gaetano Pesce. I love the bold and surprising forms of this design, its powerful symbolism of womanhood, but also the innovative way it was originally produced; it is delivered flat with the foam self-inflating at the end user's home. The Up chair genuinely challenged our expectations of what furniture can be and was far ahead of its time. 

What’s a material or colour that you find most timeless?
Wood has been used in furniture design for centuries, and it has a warmth and natural beauty that is hard to replicate with other materials. Sustainably sourced wood is an environmentally-friendly and durable choice for furniture design. I am drawn to earthy, natural tones, as these colours have a calming and grounding effect, and they are versatile enough to work well in a variety of different spaces. Natural materials and colours from nature can help to bring a sense of connection to the natural world into our interiors, which is becoming increasingly important in today's high-tech and digital world.

Is there a craft technique that you find most interesting right now and why?
Weaving is a technique that has been used for thousands of years, and it has a timeless appeal. Hand-weaving is also a traditional craft that might be in danger of being lost due to a move to industrial means of production. I am particularly drawn to incorporating weaving and other traditional craft techniques in contemporary design, to create meaningful and authentic products. An example is the Meia Lua armchair and the Weaver's chair I designed for Origin Made, both launching at Milan Design Week 2023.

What keeps you inspired?
I love to explore new places and cultures, and I find that traveling can open up new ways of seeing and thinking about the world. I like wandering off the beaten track and am always looking for inspiration in the sights, sounds, and textures of the world around me, observing people, and finding inspiration in the everyday objects and rituals of life. 

Could you share a bit more about your upcoming projects in the following months?
I have completed a lounge seating and occasional table collection that is launching this summer with a renowned American furniture company, as well as a sofa with a German brand that will be launched by early 2024. There are strong business relations between Portugal and its former African colonies, and this has also brought me to Mozambique where we are now working on a hospitality design project.

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