Interview with Fernanda and Leo Mangiavacchi

Fantastico Studio understands that design is the main tool for the humanization of technology, innovation and differentiation of the competition. Interpreting and shaping corporate values ​​and goals, design presents itself as a powerful process that contributes to business success. To this end, we help our clients from the definition of strategies to the implementation of projects, seeking solutions that combine simplicity and expressiveness.

From the partnerships built, emblematic projects were born with brands of great national and international prestige, such as América Móveis, Elon, FIRJAN, GeoQuasar, Ornare, Punto Mobile, Sagaz and Tok&Stok

Quality concepts, formal sophistication, technical rigor and attention to detail are our hallmarks. Our goal is to create projects permeated by creativity, but appropriate to the reality of the contemporary market and its demands.

We produce design with the head in the clouds and the feet on the ground.

I understand that design is the main tool for the humanization of technology, innovation and differentiation of the competition. Interpreting and shaping corporate values ​​and goals, design presents itself as a powerful process that contributes to business success from the definition of strategies to the implementation of projects.

Furniture

Pantom Chair. One-piece, comfortable, sturdy, stackable, fun and stylish. Not bad

It was a stackable chair

I love wood, for its sensory richness, for aging well and being renewable

When I feel happy

I am always looking for solutions that combine simplicity and expressiveness

Usually the projects I like the most are the ones I feel most challenged. Emotions range from anxiety and hope (in the beginning) to fulfillment and pride (in the end)

Most of all, fulfillment and pride

The balance between the originality in the ideas, careful in the study, rigorous in the result

The Originality of the idea, its translation in the result and the consistency in each detail

In a world where everything seems increasingly ephemeral, I believe the designer has a duty to seek and propose solutions that contrast the prevailing disposable consumerism of things, but also of people, desires and feelings.

Talking about industrial design (where I have more experience) I beleave we are going from design "the form and function of things", to design "the experience of products and services" and we will have to deal increasingly with two issues: personalization and sustainability.

Right now Poltrona Lina is in two exhibitions: "Design Petrópolis 2019" and "Portraits of a Social History - The Furniture Industry of Rio de Janeiro". I hope one day to have a product exhibited at NY MoMA

One of the beauties of being a designer is that we can draw inspiration from almost anywhere. It is important to be aware of what is being done in our especific design field, but also to look at other worlds and other times. For instance, I love the History of Art as I love to reinterpret objects of the past from a contemporary perspective.

I like do describe my style as design with the head in the clouds and the feet on the ground. I don't have a specific trait, but I like to look for solutions that combine simplicity and expressiveness.

Nowadays I live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We are a country that has received immigrants from various European, African and Asian countries. This cultural multiplicity, coupled with our immense biodiversity, provides great sensory richness. In general we are a people who value excesses. But my training as a designer was mostly done in Italy. So I like to wipe the Brazilian exaggeration and bring to my projects a bit of Italian sophistication.

I have worked in several formats: I was an employee, consultant and already received royalties. The format depends a lot on the type of company and project.

Ideally, the designer can participate in the company's strategic decisions, contributing to the definition of what will be important to contemplate in each project. In this sense it is important to evaluate the portfolio of the designer but, above all, talk a lot with him, to ensure affinity of purpose and fluidity in the dialogue.

I've done projects as distinct as a hospital sign, a juicer or a furniture store so each project has its own path. It usually starts with an analysis of the company and its brand codes. At the same time, a research / mapping of the current scenario of the company and the project category is made in relation to the contexts in which they are involved. This first step generates imputs that intersect with our previous background and lead to freer idea associations that can bring innovative solutions to the project. Then begin the first tangibles of ideas, usually through sketches, succeeded by the first 3d, renderigns and mockups. Once a path has been validated, we proceed to the detailing and prototype, where it will be possible to validate the ideas or, possibly, make some adjusts.

Lina Armchair, Regata Bookcase, My Table Cutlery, Spremolo Juicer & Kelvin Lamp.

Breakfast, Bike, Work, Pilates, Lunch, Work, Bike, Stretching, Shower, Dinner, Book, Netflix.

One must be promiscuous in ideas, careful in study, rigorous in outcome.

When designing something, we must consider technical issues such as aesthetic, ethical, behavioral, economic, ergonomic, psychological, marketing, among others. This complexity is fascinating and challenging. We work with subjective aspects, often difficult to quantify. This can lead to a lot of work and low wages. Thus, showing our value is a constant part of our work.

The head in the clouds and the feet on the ground.

Curiosity, resilience, attention to detail and communication skills.

I like to see what traditional cultures have done where we can usually find time-honored smart solutions.
I always walk with a sketchbook handy to make tangible concepts anywhere.
To refine ideas, I like to use Solidworks, witch I find agile and powerful.

I review and adjust the project schedules every day.
A great tool for visualizing backlogs and staff availability is the Forecast app.

The time required varies a lot but, on average, we can say one year, from briefing to product launch

It must be really fun to work creating things, right?

In terms of global visibility, the years working with Antonio Citterio.
Although I have affection for many projects in which I was involved, if I had to choose one today, it would be Poltrona Lina.

Currently Coca-Cola, Google, Colgate, Tok&Stok and Elon Design Furniture.

Currently, I am increasingly attracted to the possibility of developing projects that promote experiences, increasing the interactivity of products with users.

More and more I will look for to be envolved in projects about the experience of products and services.

Most of the time as a team.

I have been working a lot with design for events and points of sale, looking for personalization of experiences and increasing interactivity. I just developed trophies for Google that reflect the performance of each winner. In this way, each trophy is particularly special, because it is unique.

Write me to leo@leomangiavacchi.com

Paraphrasing Saint Augustine: "Love and do what you want"