Interview with Rafael Oliva
Rafael Oliva is a product designer and co-founder of the furniture brand LABMOBILI. Drawing from a family heritage rooted in traditional carpentry, Rafael focuses on the intersection of industrial…
Designer of the Day Interview
18 May 2026
From an early age I learned to work with carpentry tools and to love the craft. This love stemmed from my grandfather, a wood furniture maker who came from Italy and taught me the art of woodworking.
I always loved to draw but I honestly never thought I would be a furniture designer. I worked in other design fields before finally realizing furniture design was the right thing for me.
Eventually I learned that we end up doing what life prepares us to do. My life experiences made me love to design furniture and learn what I needed to be able to do it. And if you don't love what you do, you won't be able to dedicate enough energy to be really good at it.
I always loved to draw but I honestly never thought I would be a furniture designer. I worked in other design fields before finally realizing furniture design was the right thing for me.
Eventually I learned that we end up doing what life prepares us to do. My life experiences made me love to design furniture and learn what I needed to be able to do it. And if you don't love what you do, you won't be able to dedicate enough energy to be really good at it.
My love for the craft began with woodworking, but it was a realization that came later in life. My life experiences made me love to design furniture and gave me the skills I needed. I believe you must love what you do to dedicate the energy required to excel.
My top priorities are the intention of the piece, the feeling it will evoke, and how the user will interact with it over time. My style is Brazilian Minimalism or Brazilian Modern. I approach new projects by either starting with a user's need or a new material. All concepts begin with a notebook and pencil before moving to 3D modeling software for precision.
I feel a mix of intense focus and frustration, followed by a great sense of satisfaction when I find the perfect solution. When a design is realized, I feel pride and humility, knowing it will be part of someone’s daily life. I like designing things that people desire because they make a functional, aesthetic, or sustainable difference in their lives.
Learning woodworking from my grandfather, who was a wood furniture maker from Italy, was a core influence. Valuable non-design skills include empathy, technical knowledge of materials and production, and the ability to listen and learn.
My future plans are to expand LABMOBILI's presence internationally, focus on global manufacturing partnerships, and explore more sustainable processes using recycled materials.
My primary advice is to find what you truly love to do, as that passion is what will give you the energy to excel. Also, learn the craft and know your materials as intimately as possible.
Design must be intentional and well-made. Focus on honesty of materials and the purity of function. Design for longevity by creating objects that won’t go out of fashion, ensuring they remain desirable and sustainable.
Good design is defined as creating something with intent, considering its use, materials, sustainability, and the emotions it evokes. A successful design is one that is desired and outlives its initial purpose by adapting to the user’s life. I judge a design first by the honesty of the materials and the purity of its function.1
The design process is a continuous loop of refinement, and some concepts take years to conceive. I decide the design is ready when I move past the frustration stage and find the perfect solution. A design is a success when it is desired and outlives its initial purpose.
LABMOBILI's philosophy is to democratize Brazilian signature design using a collaborative and accessible approach to produce intelligent, functional, and contemporary furniture. I design everything myself to ensure all pieces match one another and maintain consistency in principles.
My contribution is minimizing waste and creating long-lasting products that improve people's lives. Designing for longevity is key, as objects that don't go out of fashion are more sustainable and less likely to go to waste. I believe it is vital to make good design more affordable and educate people on its importance.
Winning an A’ Design Award was an honour. It's really important to know your worth and receiving a design award with global recognition is a really good way of doing so. It's also a great marketing strategy since it's an institution with great reach. Being the Designer of the Day gives me great joy. It's great to be part of such a great community of designers.
Designer Interview
18 May 2026
From an early age I learned to work with carpentry tools and to love the craft. This love stemmed from my grandfather, a wood furniture maker who came from Italy and taught me the art of woodworking.
I always loved to draw but I honestly never thought I would be a furniture designer. I worked in other design fields before finally realizing furniture design was the right thing for me.
Eventually I learned that we end up doing what life prepares us to do. My life experiences made me love to design furniture and learn what I needed to be able to do it. And if you don't love what you do, you won't be able to dedicate enough energy to be really good at it.
I always loved to draw but I honestly never thought I would be a furniture designer. I worked in other design fields before finally realizing furniture design was the right thing for me.
Eventually I learned that we end up doing what life prepares us to do. My life experiences made me love to design furniture and learn what I needed to be able to do it. And if you don't love what you do, you won't be able to dedicate enough energy to be really good at it.
LABMOBILI emerged from the meeting between furniture designer Rafael Oliva and administrator Marcelo Germano. Both shared the desire to chart a new path in design, exploring a more collaborative and accessible approach. A young brand that seeks to democratize Brazilian signature design with intelligent, functional, and contemporary furniture.
Design for me is to create something with intent. To think about its use, materials, sustainability, ergonomics, cost, production, target, user, feel, emotion, etc.
Design is to create something from nothing that is going to have a life of its own. That is going to be used in ways the designer can’t predict. That is probably going to outlive the designer.
Design is to create something from nothing that is going to have a life of its own. That is going to be used in ways the designer can’t predict. That is probably going to outlive the designer.
I really like designing things that people desire. It is a really good feeling knowing that people will go the extra mile to get something they know is going to make a difference in their life, be it aesthetic, sustainable or functional.
It's really hard for me to choose my favorite design, it's like asking a parent to choose a favorite child. But I really like my Helsinki Collection. I feel like it encapsulates exactly what I try to do, mixing minimalism with a Brazilian twist. It's a statement of Brazilian Modern Design, a Bauhaus inspired movement with the Brazilian soul. It's made with tiny pieces of wood that would go to waste by a local artisan. I really like the feeling of creating luxury from common materials.
When I am completely immersed in the process, usually late at night when everything is quiet, or right after a trip where I've seen new environments and textures.
The intention and the feeling it will evoke. I focus on how the user will interact with the piece and how they will feel over time.
A mix of intense focus and frustration, followed by a great sense of satisfaction when I find the perfect solution.
Pride and humility. It’s rewarding to see something you dreamed up exist in the world, knowing it will be part of someone’s daily life.
A successful design is one that is desired and that outlives its initial purpose by adapting to the user’s life. It must be intentional and well-made.
The honesty of the materials and the purity of its function. A good design doesn't try to be something it's not.
To minimize waste and create products that improve people’s lives. We must design for longevity. Creating objects that won’t go out of fashion also makes them more sustainable. It means they will remain desirable and won’t go to waste before their natural lifespan.
It is moving toward more personalization and greater emphasis on sustainable, locally-sourced production. I also believe we must strive to make good design more affordable. And educate people on the importance of a good design.
Brazilian Minimalism or Brazilian Modern. It's an exploration of simple forms, functional intelligence, and a warm, inviting feel with a strong personality that is characteristic of Brazilian design. My approach varies, sometimes I start with the user's need, sometimes I start with a new material I discovered. The inspiration can also make me reinvent a material for a new purpose.
I live in São Paulo, Brazil. Yes, the cultural heritage is central, it adds the "Brazilian soul" to my work. Pros include access to incredible natural materials and craftsmanship, a con is the logistical complexity of producing and exporting luxury goods.
Respect the designer's vision and trust their expertise. Companies should look for designers whose principles and style align with their own brand identity and long-term goals.
It is a continuous loop of observation, sketching, prototyping, frustration and refining. Ideas often ferment for a long time before the physical design process, which is why some pieces take only a couple of days to sketch, but years to conceive.
Find what you truly love to do, because only that passion will give you the energy to excel. Also, learn the craft, know your materials as intimately as possible.
Positives include the joy of creating something lasting and beautiful. Negatives include the constant pressure to innovate and the challenge of balancing artistic vision with market demands.
Empathy, technical knowledge of materials and production, and the ability to listen and learn.
My most important tools are a simple notebook and pencil. I use 3D modeling software for precision, but all concepts begin as hand drawings.
It can vary a lot. Sometimes I design something in two days that has been on my mind for months. And sometimes it can take months to come up with the right solution for a design. So it depends on when you consider that the design process has begun.
"Where do you get your inspiration?" or "How long did it take to design this?"
Mostly architecture and interior design firms, as well as companies who need good furniture with an honest price tag.
To expand LABMOBILI's presence internationally, focus more on international manufacturers, and explore more sustainable and recycled material processes.
I design everything by myself. Sometimes it's hard not having anyone to run my ideas by, but on the other hand, every design will match each other because they come from the same person with the same principles.
People can follow my carrer on my Instagram @rafaelolivadesign and @labmobili.