Interviews with Mónica Pinto de Almeida
Designer profileDesigner of the Day Interview
31 October 2023
My experience as a designer starts around the year 2014 as a natural follow up to that date. I have education in Decorative Painting, Mural Painting, frescoes, furniture restoration, 15th century tile making, drawing and art history. All my life I have been surrounded by art and design. I opened my first atelier in 1997, and I had this evolution and passage to design in a very organic way and even as a challenge from my clients who wanted me to design different pieces for them.
I became a designer as a result of an evolution and professional growth, it was a natural passage, a move from painting to creating pieces, a discovery of new techniques driven by much personal restlessness. This is how my passion for design truly began. Gradually I learned product design in a self-taught way and in 2014 I started to outline a new professional path and together with my partner and mother we created the brand Mokki Design. It has been a very arduous path, I'm always in continuous learning, but at the same time it has been extremely rewarding and very interesting to see how all my background and training in the arts plays an enormous influence on the design that I do today.
My drawings are very much inspired by my emotions, my passions, the things I admire. I think that any designer, artist has this characteristic, there is a greater force that impels us to create and that is out of our control. Then comes a more rational part that helps us structure a design. It's important to know what we want to transmit with a design and if its function can actually be beneficial, what it can bring to the world. I usually start the designs with drawings, sketches by hand, and then move on to a more technical phase with the help of 3D programs, and then for some designs I make full scale models to understand the volumetry and proportions. The final phase of any piece will be the direct collaboration with the manufacturer to start the first prototype and study if there are changes to make or not and the study of the light in the case of lamps.
The emotions I feel when designing are several, usually there is an initial excitement, like when we are in love, in which even sleeping becomes difficult because my head won't stop, then comes a calmer phase of consolidation, to finally have again an explosion of excitement when we see the first real pieces in front of us, that is, to see the materialization of the idea is very overwhelming.
What shaped me most as a designer was my experience with materials due to my artistic background. Knowing where the materials come from, knowing how to work with them manually, knowing how they behave is extremely important and enriching nowadays when I make a design. I know how colors behave, I know how to work with natural pigments, I know how to make natural waxes for wood, I know how to work with shadows and perspectives due to Trompe L'oeil painting. All of this is carried to my current experience as a designer, all of which have become invaluable tools that shape my designs as well as the influences I can bring from my passions, such as architecture and the great painters.
My growth is everyday, with each new design or project I learn. In my plans is the presence of the Mokki brand in more and more countries and I embrace more and more projects that can be creatively challenging. In the future I want to continue to be myself and that people can look at a piece of me and feel a connection to their story, that arouses some emotion is always my dream and of course continue to work with light which is something that fascinates me.
The advice I would give to young designers is to always stay true to their language, without that we don't have a truth and without that we don't have true design or soul. Always try to create a support network around us is also extremely important, to have good collaborators by our side is what allows us to propel ourselves, to have people by our side with whom we can learn and grow, they can be friends, colleagues or teachers, it doesn't matter, the important thing is that they can always show us a different point of view and that we can grow.
What can I suggest to other designers? To remain true, to always try to bring something better to the world, not to follow fashions or trends, to think about the future, and to be kind to each other.
My daily routine always starts with a big cup of tea and after catching up on the normal household chores and family logistics I go to my office and go over the list of tasks I have for that day, chat with my partner, check the mails, design news...and then the concentration starts. I have many hours of office and computer time, but my favorite things are the meetings with the manufacturers, the meetings around a cup of tea in Sintra and being with people, just observing the day.
I always follow my line and vision without following the trends, but I am always up to date with the latest news, the latest materials, the new emerging designers and to understand what are the trends or phases we are in, because it also gives us a social-economic-environmental notion of our days. I don't follow trends at all, but rather adapt or evolve in what makes the most sense to me, such as sustainability issues in design and its entire sphere. My inspiration always comes from subjects very dear to me, nature, the arts, materials and colors, and architecture.
What makes a good design a really good design I think should be the combination of beauty and function and the capacity to surprise us
The decision about whether a design is ready or not, is very intuitive, it is something we feel and sometimes we can also verify supported by a strong method of experimentation, of questioning everything and listening to opinions. When we have the feeling and have the verifications then yes, we can think that a design is indeed finished. But there are also cases of some designs that can always be evolving over time.
I consider that I don't have a greater work than another in terms of design, all of them are very important to me at their moment, there is a great passion always for all of them during their creation and development. All are very special to me and all have very different characteristics. Right now I'm working on several new designs simultaneously which is really exciting, one of them is all metal and involves metalwork, manual handling on my part, and the others involve different materials like glass or textiles for example.
I don't have a favorite designer, I have many. I love Jaime Hayon, for me he represents very well Spanish design and the influence of culture, colors and characters in design. I love architecture, so Corbusier, Ricardo Bofill, Zaha Hadid, Walter Gropius ,are some of my favorites. I love Philippe Starck's personality, I love to listen to Kareem Rashid's lectures...There are so many, I also love fashion design and also ancient architecture and to know the geniuses behind some cathedrals and of course the great artists like Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Gauguin, Matisse, Rodin, Camille Claudel or photographers like Imogen Cunningham.
I currently live in Sintra, Portugal, next to Lisbon, Sintra is a town, a Unesco world heritage site, and has a mountain range that goes all the way to the sea, due to these characteristics, a microclimate is created where we have almost every day some fog and a somewhat melancholic atmosphere. Curiously, this reminds me a lot of my hometown in Spain, Vigo, in the region of Galicia, where we also have a very particular climate, with a lot of humidity, fog and the smell of the sea. For me to live I have to be in a city with sea, the Atlantic influences me a lot, the landscape, the characteristic smell of the sea...it is something that inspires me. I also use music in my daily life, I never work without music! It is very important to be surrounded by what makes sense to us as individuals, so that creativity can flow. More and more I look at things with a more critical eye, a more "design" look where we question more the function of everything and the emotions or experiences that a piece brings us.
In my work culture the human factor is always above all, it is the most important for me to work, to collaborate with people I really like and with whom I identify in work methods. I am very demanding at a professional level, there has to be a seriousness, education and respect underlying everything.
As a designer I have a great responsibility to contribute to this field in a positive way, creating pieces that can have a positive impact and contributing to the education of young designers and beyond to understand the impact good design has on our society. I love it when I am given the opportunity, to speak to young people who may be starting out on their journey.
By participating in the A'Design Award the learning I get from each application is enormous! During the whole process I am forced to see and think about the piece in a deeper way, and I learn to express many of the things that sometimes stay only in our heads, such as the concepts behind a design and its inspiration. I consider the A'Design award extremely important in that we grow as designers when we are given feedback by other professionals, when we are evaluated by such an extensive jury it gives us other certainties or raises questions. Finally, of course, when we are awarded, it consolidates our vision and recognition of our capabilities and helps our design to have a huge visibility platform. Being the designer of the day makes me feel immensely happy, recognized, and I hope I can continue to give back for many years to come with good design!!
Design Interview
14 June 2023 · U Table Lamp
As a designer, my main principle and inspiration behind the U table lamp was to blend art and design, with a focus on color and its emotional impact. I drew inspiration from artists such as Matisse and Josef Albers, as well as the visual effects of stained-glass windows. My goal was to create a lighting piece that compels people to see colors in new ways, using colors to interact with the human perception and to interact with the physicality of the spaces.
My main focus in designing the U table lamp was to create a lighting piece that blends art and design, with a focus on color and its emotional impact. I wanted to achieve a balance between the lamp's expressive element, color, and its simple, original aesthetic, achieved through the use of rectangular shapes. Additionally, I aimed to explore the ways in which colors can be used to create different effects, moods, and relationships in spaces. Ultimately, I wanted to create a lamp that compels people to observe colors in different ways, adding character and appeal to any interior space. The lamp's clean aesthetic creates a unique atmosphere, changing perceptions of the environment through the change of shades caused by its own light.
I would like to continue researching and developing the design to explore new color palettes, materials, and shapes that can be incorporated into future versions of the lamp. This could include experimenting with different sizes, finishes, and textures to create a more diverse and customizable range of lamps for different interior spaces and preferences.
This particular design took me about a year to develop, which included several experiments with different types of acrylics, different colors, and a deep study of the light I wanted to create in conjunction with the reflections of the colors of the acrylic.
I design this particular concept very much due to my academic studies in mural painting, trompe l'oeil and "grisaille" where perspective and light are of enormous importance, and also due to my passion for color. I decided then, to pursuit this inspiration and to reflect and study in more detail the effect of color and light combined, using as inspiration the great masters of color such as Matisse, Josef Albers, the color studies of Johannes Itten and the ancient and modern works of stained glass.
This design is currently being produced by me and is part of the collection of my brand Mokki Design
What made me design this type of piece, in particular, is the continuous search to create objects that connect with people, ways to see the world with a scrutinizing eye, ways also to express my preferences and desires, and that is what makes us unique, our language.
What really influenced me in the design of this piece were great artists in the use of color and light, Matisse, Gaudí, Josef Albers, Johannes Itten and my own environment, which is always full of color.
The target customer for this design is likely to be someone who appreciates the combination of art and design and is interested in unique and expressive lighting pieces for their interior spaces. The design's clean aesthetic and emphasis on color may appeal to those who seek to create a particular mood or ambiance in their living or working spaces. It could be particularly attractive to those who appreciate modern and contemporary design styles.
Several factors set the U table lamp design apart from other similar or resembling concepts.
Firstly, the design emphasizes the expressive element of color, creating a unique blend of art and design. The lamp is formed by simple rectangular lines in the shape of an inverse u, which gives it a clean aesthetic.
Secondly, the use of frost colored acrylic for the larger body and opalescent acrylic for the smaller element creates a graphic effect when the light is on, diffusing light in a harmonious way and adding depth to the visual environment.
Thirdly, the design was inspired by the designer's academic background and passions, as well as artists who mastered color and light, resulting in a unique interpretation of these influences and finally this approach ensured that the balance of color, light, and shapes was just right and created a piece that is both beautiful and functional.
Firstly, the design emphasizes the expressive element of color, creating a unique blend of art and design. The lamp is formed by simple rectangular lines in the shape of an inverse u, which gives it a clean aesthetic.
Secondly, the use of frost colored acrylic for the larger body and opalescent acrylic for the smaller element creates a graphic effect when the light is on, diffusing light in a harmonious way and adding depth to the visual environment.
Thirdly, the design was inspired by the designer's academic background and passions, as well as artists who mastered color and light, resulting in a unique interpretation of these influences and finally this approach ensured that the balance of color, light, and shapes was just right and created a piece that is both beautiful and functional.
The name of this drawing is very simple, because of its shapes it reminds me of the letter U, inverted, and at the same time it plays with the YOU sound.
Working on this project I used computer aided design (CAD) software, watercolors on sketches, prototyping tools, graphic design software and in its production, molded acrylic is used and laser engraving for the logo.
Above all I think it is a design that transmits joy due to the colors of the material and its effect on the spaces
For this design I worked together with the specialized team in the acrylic factory, to understand the possibilities that we had in terms of material and its behavior.
The role of technology in this design is mainly in helping to visualize the part after the first artistic sketches and drawings have been defined and to create a design scheme that can be easily produced in the factory.
My design was not influenced by data or analytical research, but rather in the form of inspiration, it came from my passions, academic background, and the work of artists who mastered color and light. The research conducted for this design was focused on studying the effect of light and color through different translucent acrylic sheets and exploring the ways in which colors can be used to create different effects, moods, and relationships in spaces. I’ve also researched the art of stained-glass windows of the Middle Ages and the contemporary approach to this technique, which can be seen in Gaudi-designed church, the Sagrada Familia, in Barcelona, Spain.
During the design of this piece there were no great technical challenges, but rather, challenges to achieve the final goal which was to create a design that was functional, aesthetically pleasing and accessible to the intended audience, always in touch with the initial inspiration and always striving to unite art and design.
As a designer, submitting my design to an international design competition can be a fantastic opportunity. It allows me to gain exposure, recognition, and feedback from industry experts and peers. Additionally, it can be a great way to showcase my skills and creativity to a wider audience.
Participating in an international design competition can provide me with valuable insights into the latest design trends and techniques, as well as allow me to network with other professionals in my field. The feedback I receive from the judges and my fellow designers can also be incredibly helpful in improving my work and honing my skills.
Overall, submitting a design to an international design competition can be an exciting and rewarding experience for any designer looking to grow their career and showcase their talents to the world.
Participating in an international design competition can provide me with valuable insights into the latest design trends and techniques, as well as allow me to network with other professionals in my field. The feedback I receive from the judges and my fellow designers can also be incredibly helpful in improving my work and honing my skills.
Overall, submitting a design to an international design competition can be an exciting and rewarding experience for any designer looking to grow their career and showcase their talents to the world.
Although I already had a strong academic background in color theory, designing the lighting colored piece in acrylic allowed me to apply and expand my knowledge in a practical and creative way. I was able to experiment with different color combinations and techniques to create a visually striking and aesthetically pleasing work of art. Through this project, I further developed my skills as a designer and artist, particularly in the area of acrylic manipulation techniques. Overall, it was a challenging and rewarding experience that helped me to grow both as an artist and as a person, and I am proud of the final result. and that allowed me to closely perceive the effect of color on people.
Thank you for asking, but I don't have anything additional to cover at the moment. However, if you have any further questions or topics you'd like to discuss, please feel free to ask and I'd be happy to assist you.
Design Interview
20 May 2022 · Cubes Lighting
The main idea behind this design and its inspiration is the interplay of lights and volumes. The inspiration came directly from architecture, especially from schools like the Bauhaus or brutalist and minimalist styles.
My main focus in this table lamp was to be able to translate my inspiration to the piece and achieve a balanced unity, an interesting shape, a different view in its different angles and an interaction between shapes and light.To show a piece of lighting in a non-obvious form.
My future plans for this piece are first to make it known to more people and then to continue to develop it, and who knows, maybe to start developing this design in other sizes to become a wood sculpture with light.
This concept took around two to three years to be finalized; there were many experiments with the size of the shapes and their balance until the desired result was achieved. Then it also took a lot of time to choose the definitive woods and finishes before starting production.
This design was the result, as it has almost always been until now, of following through with the expression of my inspirations and restlessness. At all times I am influenced by my environment, I am very sensitive to all that surrounds me, and my mind never stops! I really need to express myself through design, just like other artists who may need to sing or paint, it's something you can't control.
I intend to produce the piece myself for my brand, Mokki
I designed this piece out of the need to express myself, to show new points of view and interpretation in a piece.
In this particular case with the Cubes table lamp, what influenced me most were the great masters of architecture and philosophies such as those of the Bauhaus school.
I think the people who are most attracted to this design will always be sensitive people, people with a desire for different things, with new approaches to the field of interior lighting.
I think that perhaps what makes this design stand out from other similar concepts is the use of wood in a very minimalistic and clean way and the balance between the various volumes as well as the light that is not noticeable at first glance and is only seen when the piece is turned on.
The name of this design, Cubes, comes from its shape itself, and the way I played with geometric shapes during its development
The tools I used most during the development of this piece were hand drawings, 3d software programs, and a lot of work with models until I got the final sizes and shapes right.
Perhaps the most unique aspect of this lamp is its very different shape, its homage to wood, and the light in the form of a surprise.
In the development of the piece and its subsequent production I worked with people very specialized in woodworking as well as in the area of luminotechnology.
The role of technology in this piece will be in the importance of the use of LED technology that allows us new ways of working with light, allows us to work in tighter spaces, and gives us a diversity of solutions that we can create.
In the design and development of this piece I did a lot of research in the field of architecture. Architecture is something I have always been passionate about but now with this piece I really needed to deepen my knowledge to understand the concepts behind each architectural art movement and understand how I could translate certain concepts into a piece. I have particularly studied the architecture of the Bauhaus school, Brutalist architecture, and minimalist architecture. I am very attracted to these styles by the purity of their lines and the different approach in the use of materials.
The biggest challenges I had with this piece were always around the final balance I wanted to achieve with the use of several volumes together.
As in previous years I have participated in design competitions, and having received awards, I could see the benefits that these awards have for designers, for their recognition, for opening new markets and our consolidation as professionals. The competitions also help us grow tremendously as professionals and artists because of the demanding application process and being able to get feedback from a jury in the field is always a great help and a process also of great humbleness in accepting constructive criticism.
I learned that we must always follow our instincts, that we must strive to do our best, and that we must always continue to study and understand deeply why things are the way they are.
Just thank those people who have helped me and always believed in me and a sincere thank you to all the people who contribute to the Design field and congratulations to other winner designers!
Design Interview
7 May 2022 · Lorca Lighting
My idea behind this design was to bring the art of literature into focus, to take one of my passions and create a dialog between design, light and my vision.
My aim was to be able to translate my idea and inspiration into a moment of intimacy between the observer and the piece.
To help create more awareness about Design and its impact on our daily lives, to make my vision known to more and more people.
The concept itself didn't take long, it was later to get it and start developing the piece that took more time.
In this design i decided to follow my inspiration. sometimes there is something greater than us, designers/artists, that pushes us to materialize our ideas, and this was one of those cases.
I intend to produce the design myself
What made me design this piece was to always follow my emotions and want to tell a story.
I can't name any in particular, I followed my instinct and personal vision a whole lot.
I think that anyone who is sensitive, attentive and wants to know more about pieces with a story to tell.
I don't know of any similar ones, I think that when we expose something very personal and are not influenced by trends or styles, it will make the pieces much more unique.
The name of the Design is exactly the name of the literary author that served as inspiration for the piece, Lorca. Federico Garcia Lorca was a great Spanish poet whom I admire greatly, and his work was the source of inspiration for the piece.
After I had the concept developed and first made the drawings by hand, I later used 3D programs, such as SolidWorks, to help me with the construction of the piece and its fabrication.
I think the most unique aspect of the piece is its approach to inspiration and the finish of the piece.
In this piece I collaborated with luminotechnicians for the choice of the lighting element and with manufacturers who are very specialized in working with metal.
The technology in this work is present, for example, in the manufacture of the text for the piece, in which I used laser cutting technology. The rest of the piece is very much based on very skilled labor.
The research done for this design was almost null, since it is based very much on expressing my feelings and the things that are part of my daily life or life story, like literature.
The challenges in this piece, as almost always was introducing the Light element into the vision I had for the piece.
As in previous years I have participated in design competitions, and having received awards, I could see the benefits that these awards have for designers, for their recognition, for opening new markets and our consolidation as professionals, when the opportunity arose I did not hesitate to put this piece up for consideration, as I was also very curious to see the jury's acceptance of such an intimate piece.
I always learn a lot, especially in the process of getting the ideas from paper to the real world. Am I getting the idea right, is it useful, what can I do to improve people's experience or how can I enrich the world with one more design? These are all questions that are answered throughout the design process. And what I've learned most is that the more pure, honest and vulnerable we are in this process, the more we can reach people with our designs.
Just thank those people who have helped me and always believed in me and a sincere thank you to all the people who contribute to the Design field.
Design Interview
25 October 2021 · Mondrian Lighting
The main inspiration was the painter Mondrian and his work. The use of solid colors and the tension and harmony created among them. To create a beautiful object is always the ultimate goal, something that can make our days and experiences better.
My main focus was to not compromise my inspiration with market tendences but yes follow very straightly my vision for this piece. I always try to achieve a design that speaks my truth and that can reach the emotions of the spectator and user.
I expect that this award-winning design will led me to open new markets as well as to evolve my brand Mokki all over the world, allowing me as well to continue developing new designs and skills.
The project began in February 2019 with research and inspiration. This was followed by designs, sketches and the first prototype. The adjustments and the production of the first piece was finished in December 2019.
This design and concept follow my own inspiration. Until this moment all my body of work was created following my restlessness, my desire to explore materials and light.
This design is being produced under my brand Mokki and all made in Portugal.
Having and Art background, I’m always surrounded by colors and different materials. Usually, my inspirations come mostly from visuals, things like architecture, artists, paintings, colors… This design reflects many of the things that inspire me, work with colors, volumes, shapes and mostly having light to participate in the equation is the most inspiring and challenging thing of all.
No, my only influence was Mondrian and his work.
I believe that any person that may appreciate color, design, beauty and Art would be interested in this piece.
This design follows my own and unique vision.
The name for this design came together with its own inspiration from the painter Piet Mondrian.
First I always use pencil, paper and watercolors to start the concept and idea. Later I start developing the design in 3D software, sketchup, solidworks and autocad.
The most unique aspect of this design is the use of bold colors, the unique and different views of the same and the whole harmony created.
The design itself was developed from the beginning up to the end totally by me. After finishing the design I collaborated with an outsource for 3D and solid works.
For this design I decided to use, the usual LED technology together with dimmable control.
This design came simply from my own inspiration, emotions and color lover.
The main challenge was to create a beautiful balance between all the colors and forms.
As a brand designer I do believe that being recognized internationally is very important to open the international markets all over the world.
Making design is very challenging and demanding, with every new design we face new challenges, and we have to take in consideration its usability and the impact and benefits it can create when integrates all kind of atmospheres.
No, thanks
Design Legend Interview
7 June 2023
My whole life has been surrounded by Art in general, my family is multicultural, and has always been very supportive in terms of education and led me down a path that I could love and relate to. My grandfather drew and was a history lover, my mother wrote poetic prose and my father painted, no doubt this had a strong impact on my early growth, development and later on my career. My graduate education was in Decorative Arts, Frescoes, Restoration, Drawing and Art History.
I became a designer in a very natural way, it was something organic. It started with the discovery of going from painting done on a plane, like mural painting, to suddenly creating with volumes. Everything motivates me to design, but especially the desire to make something beautiful, to play with shapes, to play with light and perspectives.
I can say that I chose to become a designer.
Mostly I design lighting objects, there is something very magical about working with light, there is always a discovery in each piece, there is always a learning in each new project and there is also a kind of addiction in the study of light, we always want more... I hope to continue exploring light for many years to come.
I think young designers should focus on working hard, studying a lot, and questioning a whole lot. And above all they should never sacrifice their style, which makes them individual beings with a unique thought and vision. We need unique visions that make us see the world from another perspective and learn from each other, I think that's where the beauty of design lays.
In my opinion what distinguishes a good designer and a great designer is the power to see ahead of our needs.
What makes a good design a really good design I think should be the combination of beauty and function and the capacity to surprise us.
The value of good design, design is in everything we touch in our daily lives, good design should be there to add something, be it functional or emotional.
Everyone should invest in good design in order to create a better environment for humans, to satisfy our wants and needs.
Everyone should invest in good design in order to create a better environment for humans, to satisfy our wants and needs.
I think I would like to design a school for my son and a house in nature.
I love all my projects, I don't have a particular dream, just keep working maybe is my dream.
Well, if I tell you what my secret to success is, it won't be a secret anymore...Just kidding, I don't think there are any secrets, there is a lot of resilience, hard work and true commitment to our vision.
There are so many..., Jaime Hayon, Zaha Hadid, Kareem Rashid, Eames, Ini archibong, Corbusier, Jacobsen, Eileen Gray, Picasso, Miró, ...
I love a particular desk from the Eames due to its simplicity and colors. I love the Egg chair by Jacobsen, the Theia lamp by Matthias Hahn and the furniture by Pierre Cardin.
To be honest, I don't know if there is a "greatest" design, they are all the greatest at their moment. If we didn't think that way, we wouldn't create them. I can't choose one, I can't, for me they are all great, they are all my great passions and reflect a moment in time.
Studying hard, never stopping to study, being up to date with trends, new materials, new manufacturing systems, and learning from the greats.
Always something related with Arts.
Design to me is the translation of Art through a more conscious thought, a more objective thought, a desire to transform our environment, an ability to see the needs of the human being.
Who helped me reach these heights, was my family, particularly my mother and my partner, and my biggest fan is my son, without a doubt, a true cheerleader!
Work hard, never compromise my style and my truth, and think very consciously about what I want to achieve.
The main obstacles were mainly the financial support of all that is involved in working within the Design area and the excellence that I want to bring to my pieces.
Designers must present their work with emotion
My next design project is a work in process of a new lighting piece made entirely in wood.
To bring beauty into the spaces and trigger emotions.
I think they always wait for the next creation and the story behind it.
Whenever we improve one aspect of our daily life, even if it is only one, it will bring a global benefit to the whole society.
I am currently working on new furniture pieces and a very special new lighting piece.
The ones that have given me the most satisfaction have always been the most challenging, both from a technical and conceptual point of view.
I would like to see even more support for young designers.
I think Design is moving towards more and more a human version of our needs and feelings.
Some projects are a matter of months, some years, and some are in continuous development. On the other hand, speaking of ideas and creations, it is very different, it can be a matter of minutes or hours, my mind is always in permanent creation.
I always start with the first line of the story that I want to tell.
Being true to myself.
I think design creates trends, but sometimes it can be a bit of both.
The role of technology is very important, technology is there to help us and to make us evolve and elevate our design.
I usually use Solidworks, AutoCad and SketchUp.
They are the soul in the design. They are the ones who bring us closer to the piece, they are the ones who most reflect the emotions and create the dialogue between us, the spectators, and the piece. They create the bridge between our perception and the purpose of the piece.
I like when they ask about the story behind the pieces.
Happiness.
Yes, I believe in co-design, but I don't know yet who would be the right partner for me, but I know it has to have a sense of humor and be a good communicator.
The people I interact with who have the most influence on my design are my clients, my personal relationships, and people in the design field that I admire.
I love reading biographies of other artists or people I admire, and they usually have a big impact on me.
I developed my skills as a designer by always striving to improve in all aspects.
I feel humble and with a lot of responsibility and always hoping to excel every day.
I don´t have a favorite color, I love them all. My favorite place is definitely by the sea, preferably a warm place. Italian food and spanish are my favourite, with a good wine. My thing would be my imagination and I have many favorite brands, I cannot choose one!
I have many amusing memories, but perhaps the best are the laughs I sometimes have with my mother when we are working. We both have a great sense of humor and laugh a lot at ourselves.
It's always great on those days when it's pure creation and ideas flow. I usually motivate myself with my family and in nature.
No, of course not, I could never imagine!
I think the future can always surprise us, and I hope that human connections will be stronger and stronger.
I hope you know that what I design, I design with my heart and soul and that I don't know how to be any other way.
Designer Interview
7 June 2023
I was born in the north of Spain and spent most of my childhood between Spain and the north of Portugal. Having a multicultural family where Art in all its forms was always present since a very early age. So, when I started my academic studies, I fell in love with decorative Arts, the experience to work with raw materials such as natural pigments, plasters, canvas in different supports, like walls and ceilings gave me a new perception of volumes, a better understanding of the very nature of the materials and a new comprehension of the Art history and the endless search of the human being to be surrounded by beauty. I developed my studies in the areas of Frescoes, Trompe L'oeil, Decorative Painting, Restoration, XVI Hand-painted Tiles techniques, Drawing and Art history. After several years working in all these above areas, the interest and passion for Design appeared naturally, a new world where I was able to materialize the colors, the volumes, and the shapes that I have always worked in multidimensional pieces.
I started my studio in 1996 with everything related to Frescoes, Decorative Painting, Restoration, and creation of new mural painting techniques. In 2014 the interest and passion for light and Design materialized under the brand MOKKI as a lighting and furniture design studio. The studio is based in Portugal, Lisbon, a city bordered by the Atlantic Ocean just as my birth city. These social and demographic characteristics bring a strength to the pieces, along with a natural melancholy of northern Portugal and Galicia. The pieces tell stories, and challenge shapes, the Mokki language is graphic, architectural, and colorful. All Mokki pieces or objects are created and manufactured in Portugal.
Design for me is the translation of Art through a conscient thinking of everything which makes our environment more special and where “Each line is the beginning of a story”.
Having into account my background in Arts, chiaroscuro has always been studied in painting to create environments, emotions and stories. I fell in love without realizing, as always happens, with creating pieces, telling stories and giving them light. Lighting pieces might be the most challenging and passional to design, because without light there is no shadow, and without shadow there are no volumes, we need balance, the unknown, the dark and the light. I feel that every new design has to challenge us as a designer and as a human being.
I have no favorite piece, each piece is unique for me, because it reflects a time, a moment in my history. I have many moments and many passions that are reflected in my creations.
I haven't designed anything yet for a company.
Usually my favorite materials are organics, but more and more I love to work with new materials other than organics and learn new possibilities and work techniques. Regarding platforms or technologies, I do not have a preference, it all comes down to what a design needs.
I usually feel more creative when faced to a challenge or a need. The people, the clients and their needs, the desires, everything creates that state of mind where ideas begin to unfold on their own.
It is not a conscious process, but inspiration and creativity come from all the things that arouse my interest at a certain moment, feelings, experiences, travelling, cultures,… All these are stored and are a part of my design thinking process.
It is not a conscious process, but inspiration and creativity come from all the things that arouse my interest at a certain moment, feelings, experiences, travelling, cultures,… All these are stored and are a part of my design thinking process.
Beauty and functionality
When I start a design in the paper, everything starts with a line, and every line has a story. Sometimes in the process of creation, which often is full of chaos inside the mind, full of sleepless nights, restless thinking, and an exhausting emotional process, after all of that, usually comes a moment of peace, where every thought and line comes together as one. And in that moment is when I realize and feel the story behind. And that story comes always with emotions, speaks through the piece/object/light, its truth.
I usually feel a mix of peace, responsibility and an enormous curiosity about the response and the interaction with the public in general.
For me a successful design is when you communicate with the user through the emotions, beauty and functionality of the same.
I usually consider first the aesthetics but always along with their purpose and functionality.
As designers we have to make life better, easier and more beautiful, always having in mind the whole manufacturing process, the materials we use and the impact they may have in our society and environment.
I think the design field is evolving in finding new materials and ways of working and producing in a better way for our environment. The future of Design may be bringing us more to ourselves and to our true nature.
My last exhibition was at LDF'2018 and Orgatec also in 2018. Taking into account the health problem existing this year with the covid'19 I hope next year I'll be able to attend new design exhibitions.
The inspiration for my works comes essentially from everything, from a color, a book, a painting, an artist, a city, a journey, comes from my background, from the city where I was born, from the Atlantic ocean... The way to feeding creativity is by staying alive, being aware of who we are and where we are, and look around you, always.
I like to say that my work changes and changes because it's natural, it's an expression of ourselves and our personal growth. I like to combine the human spirit with artisanal heritages, craftsmanship, new technologies and visions that may follow the MOKKI Philosophy. Art is for me the purest form of the humankind expression, where all the questions, doubts and restlessness of the soul and mind become matter.
I live in Portugal, and the cultural heritage not always has an influence in my designs. However, it's natural that even unconsciously certain aspects influence me, cultural or artistic ones. The north of Spain, in particular Galicia, where I was born has a very enigmatic and melancholic aura, that I always carry with me in some way and nowadays living in Portugal, together with my family, I feel similarities between these two places that maintain a very special connection with traditions, with the sea, with the people...
As living in a not very big country, we all know each other and maybe we can support each other more, but in terms of production I do think that our industry and manufacturing needs to be more rigorous in its production and look at Design with the excellence that it deserves and needs.
As living in a not very big country, we all know each other and maybe we can support each other more, but in terms of production I do think that our industry and manufacturing needs to be more rigorous in its production and look at Design with the excellence that it deserves and needs.
Until this moment I didn't have this experience.
Allow them to be creative, to have their own voice. Companies can select a good designer by looking at their body of work, understanding their philosophy, to see if their partnership will make sense and create a successful path.
My design process starts with the idea, then translate that idea into something physical, drawings, sketches, color studies...later starts the 3D work on the computer to see everything, all the components functioning together. The next step is the production of a prototype where we have a better understanding of the piece, the things that are right and wrong, readjust every necessary step and finally starting the production of the same.
The lighting items, chairs, mid-century design furniture, old pieces without a particular style but history and pieces of art.
There are so different days, the only thing that remains the same is my first cup of tea in the morning. Some days continue in a very busy way, others are spent in the factories, others I have meetings and others I work with my team and at the weekends I try to charge the creativity and be with my loved ones.
Study a lot and learn a lot from the great designers, understand why things are so important, question everything, be humble and work hard.
For me, the positive aspects are when I feel that the public relates to and loves my projects. The negatives may be that sometimes it is a long journey to be recognized but we should never stop.
Never copy.
Sensitivity, power of observation and the anticipation of a need.
Pencils, notebooks, papers, watercolours, sketchup software, autocad, solidworks, books, art books, colors, paintings...
The best I can.
Sometimes it can take a month, sometimes several months or even years.
What is my inspiration
Building up my own studio, first with the decorative arts and later with the creation of the brand MOKKI and the design studio.
Mainly private clients.
I like all the design work.
The internationalization of my brand
I develop the designs myself but then I work with my closest team and production team as well.
I have several furniture pieces that are being studied now and some lighting features are in the concept stage.
Through my website and my social media.
No, thanks.