Interviews with Tiago Curioni Design Studio

I started as an architect 10 years ago in my own studio. I believed at the time that experimentation would be the best I can do for my career. So I work with not only architecture but also with interior design and landscape design. For me, an architect should create global, and not pieces of a project.

I became a designer, or more specific, a product designer in an organic way. I used to design also the furniture I would use in my own interior design projects. My clients loved the idea because it was cheap to finance. For me, it was also great because it was a chance to see my own products realized.

First things first, and by this I mean, this design must be unique and special. Without this, it´s hard to claim attention to your work. In the second place, something people can feel in details. Its small drops of beauty and intelligence which the product must have. For last, but very important, people need to buy this, even it not affordable, but you have to know your public.

It´s always an adventure. I still remember when I saw my first product complete in front of me. It´s an exciting experience to try this. I´m an emotional person, such a lot of others designers and artists. So, I can tell by sure that I feel something very unique when I see my work for the very first time in person.

Oh, this is easy to answer. I was created by my grandmother on a farm near São Paulo, with a lot of cousins with the same age. It was incredible. We can do, or we thought we can, do anything. We had created lakes, treehouses, bridges, and it was always ok by my grandma. It was very different from the childhood of my other friends. I must thank my family for this opportunity because teach me how to create without boundaries.

I´m moving to Portugal to study in a master of product and industrial design. I want to be closer to the industries.To be in Europe is a big step to a designer from Brazil because we already work with many companies from there.

Stay curious and always before finish any project, take off a detail. It will let your design better

You have to persist. Sometimes it´s hard to find the doors open for you, but if you give up, you will not find the open door. Also, believe in your feelings. If you ask too much people opinions, you will do nothing.

It´s busy and most part, annoying. A lot of problems to solve and deal. The fun part is when everybody leaves and you can dedicate yourself to creation.

I´m a Brazilian designer, and a lot of people expects that I should design a Brazilian design. Whatever this means. But I try not to follow a trend or even has a signature of my work. I want to try different technics and materials. Something that nobody had tried yet.

I have to make sense. There are so many things out there that don´t. Sometimes, the most powerful design is that one without any perfume, and by this I mean, simplicity. A good way to measure this is, if you have to explain, it´s not good enough.

This is a long way. I try also to make a lot of prototypes and some clinics where people can try my products in advance. But there is a quote I like to use. Done, is better than perfect. In Portuguese make more sense.

I think the Savannah armchair. It´s a powerful thing and people from every corner of the world ask me about it. It´s my favorite one too.

There is a lot, but I think, Achille Castiglioni. He is a complete designer.

To live in Sao Paulo is very tuff. It´s a huge city with a lot of problems. For this, it´s a good place to research about new solutions and creative ways to increase people´s life. The competition here is also hard. I think Brazil it´s one of the best places to find good designers.

I try to keep my mindset every time on creation. I´m especially interested in search and try things nobody had tried yet. I don´t interest myself in trends or places everybody is looking at. My studio keeps two different products lines. One, we call ´´combat products`` and it´s more commercial, but with a lot of particles of innovation on it, and the other line, the creations from the author, and as you can imagine, the most fun part from the studio.

Not as a designer, I think, but I run a group of professionals who help the homeless an drug addicts people on streets. It´s a work I´ve been done about 5 years now, every Monday on Sé Place, one of the most dangerous places in Sao Paulo. I decided to do this to return to people some of the good things I have in life. It's a rewarding job

It´s a good investment in your career, for sure. Not only the media starts to look at you, but also the industries. This is a way to grow your business and for that, it worth every cent. Also, it helps you to grow your team and to challenge you to stay all the time focused to be more and more innovative. The jury wants the best!

I had a very open mind childhood and my parentes allways encouraged me in art field. My dad used to have a small wood atelier with a lot of tools and teach me how to use it. I think that at this point I had already created a strong interest in build things, especially, things I can use at my day-by-day. We still have a farm, where I spend most parto f my childhood, surrownded by my cousings and with a lot of space and a loto f creativity. We used to play constructing little wood cabins where we spend the nights.

At the school, I want to study Business and work for some global company. Actually, I had no idea about architecure or design. At my last year at school I met a teacher which was open a new class: Architectural language. I give a chance to this class and just knew at the first class that Architecture will be my occupation.

I graduated in Architecture in 2006, work for some of the best architecture and interior design studios in São Paulo and in 2010 decided to open my own architecture studio and more recently, I create a product design department inside.

The possibility of creating something from zero is intoxicating and I especially can not wait too long to see the work finished. I'm always looking to finish my prototype as soon as possible. The feeling also to create something that people will use and interact for years is something that motivates me too.

Even in school, I had a preparatory drawing class for architecture school. It was there that all the historical baggage of my childhood made sense to my creative vein. I was always supported by my family who encouraged me all the time.

I design mostly furniture and lamps for my own architectural projects. This provided me to create a wide range of products. Currently I seek to create a line of jewelry, something new for me.

Be curious and never settle for a no. Someone is looking for you.

Humility to help and teach the younger ones. Open doors for the talents and inspire other colleagues.

Good design is essential and it makes sense for people. We should not be confused with the artdesign that can often only be appreciated.

Good design should be smart, cost the honest value and respect the environment.

I would like to design furniture for major brands and perhaps produce items that could be produced by poor people so they could support them.

Design my angel bench polypropylene.

Be curious and pushy and have good connections.

Jader Almeida, Nendo, Matthias Pliessining

I like products with clean and simple designs, basically, everything that adopts these precepts, I enjoy.

I do not have a favorite design. I believe the best is what is being developed at the moment.

I believe that by researching the roots of your country's design a lot and seeking different solutions from what has been presented so far.

I´ll be a chef cuisine.

Design is to solve people's everyday problems with products that are long-lasting, easy to store and that can be inviting to use.

My parents, not designers, but great encouraging people.

Too much wrong. Whoever makes a mistake, learns on the second time. Whoever does not make errors, does not advance.

Find companies that believed in design, in my work and that understood the importance of hiring a designer.

I believe with prototypes. There is nothing more tedious than just presentations with pictures and texts.

I'm developing the Table of Life. This is a unique table and I guarantee it is very innovative.

Become known around the world and draw products of any kind.

Different products to each collection. People want to be surprised.

O design pode salver vidas se esse for o objetivo. Alguns produtos são de suma importancia.

The Life Table and will surprise a lot of people.

The rocking chair Noemia as it is a tribute to my grandmother Noemia.

A greater recognition of the designer's work.

I believe that the designer must assume the most important positions in the companies, for being a professional with a global vision and flexible answers.

This is relative, but between 1 month and 1 year.

All my projects begin with a quick sketch by hand and then a small scale model.

If you do not do it today, someone else will do it tomorrow.

I believe that there is a partnership between both concepts.

Almost none.

Autocad, and others image software.

Some of my products are produced for the color to be its differential. This is the case of the Velvet chair, available in more than 60 different colors.

Where did you look for inspiration?

Why did not I think of that before?

Yes, we believe in partnerships and the designer should, above all, complement my skills and visualize details that I have not yet seen.

Anyone can influence the work of a designer, from a baker to a gallery owner.

I really like books about Scandinavian design.

Time and mistakes are our greatest teachers.

I definitely would like to meet Achille Castiglioni.

Prizes are never enough for those who do not stop producing. We want more.

I like white, sushi and autumn in Brazil. My favorite place is Cernobio, near Como.

My first lamp exploded and left us without electricity for a whole day. I learned how to better isolate the wires.

I like to seek inspiration in the streets, in people who move int eh cities, life in general.

Maybe not for me, but certainly for my parents.

Our world will be over 1000 years from now, we will find a way to destroy it in one way or another, unfortunately.

The work of a designer is only complete when he is known, so, if you like my work, please kindly share and help us spread it.

From a very tender age, my parents encouraged and cultivated my artistic capacity. My father, seeing potential, forged industriousness and craftsmanship by teaching me the proper use of many small tools including a wood atelier that I still use on my projects today. I also spent time at our large family farm surrounded by my ultra creative sister and cousins. We constructed tiny log cabins where we camped and played.

Later in life I discovered my true life’s calling through a brand new college course entitled Architectural Language. Following my newly found passion I graduated with an Architecture degree in 2006. And I started working for a few of the Brazil’s top architecture and interior design offices based in São Paulo. Six years ago I opened my own architecture studio and one year ago, I added product design to my thriving businesses.

Tiago Curioni-estúdio de Design is based in São Paulo, Brazil. Coming from all over the world’s seventh largest city, our projects are mostly interior design, however, our newly formed furniture division is growing rapidly.

The difference? Custom designs hand crafted to each clients’ wants and desires. Patrons and casual window shoppers watch our social media offerings globally on Instagram and Facebook.

Design is premier quality, optimum efficiency and peerless elegance.

Because of our great synergy with local suppliers, we recycle one of widest range of materials in Brazil. Our most important, in-house priority is to custom create each piece with charm and ergonomic elegance while respecting nature through conservation.

Whether it’s a small lamp or an expansive installation of multiple lighting systems, one of my greatest passions is to create quality lighting and stylish custom fixtures. Currently we are focusing our efforts on chairs for exhibitions during the São Paulo design week.

The Chaise Longue Rio by world-renowned designer Oscar Niemeyer. There is obvious inspiration from Rio de Janeiro geography and the feminine physique. His humble respect for materials, Brazilian tradition and technique are a design clinic in a single art form.

Lovely story about growth and progress: We hand made a custom lamp with copper. When I turned on the original prototype it cracked the assembly because a short circuit made the wires too rigid for the pipe’s curvature. We learned from this challenge and through progressive trial and error, refined it into the sophisticated unit it is today.

While I don’t have a favorite material, I do have a favorite project — the one I am currently working. I passionately use AutoCAD to fabricate the details the artist within me demands. My craftsman side finishes each unique build using an expansive set of laser cutting machines and routers coupled with a combination of traditional tools such as saws and planers.

When traveling I carry a notebook, pencil and pen to sketch fresh ideas.

Observation of cultural city dynamics plus visiting local studios and suppliers add creative inspiration. Additionally I thrive in the company of new and current friends throughout my global journeys.

Simplicity. Always the goal for new projects — Elegance through simplicity is the universal challenge for designers across the world.

Usability. I want people to be inspired while using my products.

Emotions come full circle. When sketches are initially born there is euphoria. The anxiety to build the prototype immediately follows. During the prototype stage frustration builds when something is not working well or is not the way it should be. Satisfaction comes through refinements. Splendor is derived through a customer’s happiness.

Joy and pleasure are definite after something born from your own hands. Most of the time emotions become physical, why not?!

While most people say ”to sell a lot” for me it is all about being timeless.

Beautiful aesthetics and simple ergonomics — In that order.

Every designer must be concerned about products you deliver to your clients.

Cost. Is the price fair market value?

Quality. How many times will it work well?

Recovery: Easy to recycle materials at the products’ end of life cycle?

It’s a dichotomy! Brazil is going through a design renaissance during oppressive political and economical crises. While Brazil is globally known as a barn of good design the necessary structure is not available to develop our nation to its full potential. There are no government incentives and materials are rare and expensive. The future of design in Brazil demands the return to the basics through strategic economic production.

My last exhibition was in February 2016 at the Sculpture Museum of São Paulo and the next two will be in August 2016 at the São Paulo Jockey Club and Brazil’s Immigration Cultural Centre.

Inspiration comes from everywhere, especially in the city’s most diverse regions. Many times I work with business partners with studios based in the poorest areas. In those moments I readily absorb the fresh, sweeping energy and correspondingly, many new projects are born.

Creativity comes from fresh perspective. The interplay of mental constructs, historic lessons and powerful memories drive results.

There are two powerful components to my style and visions for projects: The first is shear minimalism, clean, bright and intuitive, and the second is authentic industrial, using the bold essence of the materials’ attributes.

I reside in São Paulo, the largest city in Brazil and the 7th largest city in the world. Tradition and cultural heritage do not drive my work because an essential component of my vision is creating cutting edge tension with a plethora of different materials. Because my work is original, acceptance is gained through evolution not revolution. Clients enjoy unique ingenuity and individuality.

I work with a limited amount art galleries and design stores that share core values and beliefs. Exclusivity is essential whether a single unique piece or a whole family of products.

Invest in us and embrace our visions. Help us to grow our unique businesses by creating a global platform to showcase our work.

To find a good designer, see if he or she has deep, abiding passion about their craft. Do they talk about their creations with zeal? Can you still find the sparkle in their eyes?

An old United States proverb says “Necessity is the mother of invention.” In other words is there a problem to solve?

My process starts by spending time drawing, making sketches, studying color and researching materials to find a solution. The next step is to build a small-scale model. When the proportions are correct I start a life size model to confer ergonomics and real world appearance. The next step is to build the original prototype with the alternative materials and lastly the final model with the chosen materials for the client.

An old radio from my grandmother, a Braun shaver, my small Bialetti coffee maker, a old, rare watch procured from a local flea market and a design poster contest I picked up in the city streets.

24) Can describe a day in your life?

Early Morning: Coffee, quality time with my dog and e-mails, not necessarily in this exact order.

Business Hours: The start of my day is resolving any pending business of the previous day, customer service and routine office work. In the afternoon I visit partners and/or clients.

Late Evenings: My artistic side takes over. I like to create, research and build for clients and business partners.

Night: I try always to divide my time between family, fun, sports and social work (ongoing project every Monday serving the homeless)

Be curious and full of energy. Success depends on you and your willingness to try new things. Never stop searching. The most important idea is nothing unless you do something with it.

The best thing about a career in design is creating new things. Across the world, very few people get the opportunity to live their passion. To see something you draw come into existence is rare among careers. The negative? It’s very tough to establish your name and brand while making money in a very competitive marketplace.

Keep it simple.

Two tips: 1) Stay curious about life. 2) Have an excellent network professionally and personally.

I’m inseparable from a basic automatic pencil to the sophisticated AutoCAD software, from a sharp saw in a dusty workshop to a laser cut machine in a shiny laboratory. All my tools are married with my creative process.

Most of your time can be consumed in the creation phase. When you get stuck get away from your studio, take a break or do something else. Don’t be frustrated if you don’t have good ideas at that moment. Everything else is part of the process where you cannot be lazy or passive.

Timing depends on which material you choose, what the material requires to refine and if your project is practical. The project size and scope are also variants. A good rule of thumb is one month for a small project to create something from scratch.

“Would you give me a discount?”

Just kidding...

Most frequent: ´´How do you make my idea a reality?``

My current project: Creating a unique product for blind children in concert with friendly colleagues who are also building a family of products for blind children. I’m also in charge of organizing the project exhibition.

Nicoli Gallery, Ofos, MAC, DDC NY, Paralela, Made, High Design, Red studios, Boobam, many private clients.

Wood work: It’s amazing to see an old piece of wood, forgotten in the rain and the sun for years come to life after sanding. It’s poetry in motion.

I would love to be invited to work in a design studio or workshop in other country. I’m actively seeking this opportunity, by the way.

Usually I create the design and develop it further with my colleagues partners.

Coming soon: The Eight chair and the Orbit chair. Two unique chairs that explore totally different ways to sit. See both on display at August 2016 exhibitions.

By my email: eu@tiagocurioni.com.br

My website: www.tiagocurioni.com.br

And my instagram: @tiagocurioni

The importance of prizes such as A´design Award is huge on a global scale. It’s a great opportunity for designers who reside in underdeveloped countries to showcase and highlight their works on a world stage.