José Miguel Cardoso

Specialized in Design.

José Miguel Cardoso

About José Miguel Cardoso

José Miguel is a portuguese designer, is passionate about good food and good wines, also obsessed with drawing. Interested in drawing since an early age. His mother always told, he used to draw on the sheets of the bed. In his landscape drawing view e questions whether each place has a genius loci that demands for its own representation. A map “tailored to the body of places”.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with José Miguel Cardoso

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
I think I always remember liking to draw, even since I was a kid. In a way I've always known that I wanted to study fine arts or something related. Design came later. Only during my adolescence I discovered what design was. It was only a matter of adapting the drawing practice that I already had, to a more projectual activity.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Currently i dont work at a studio. I am a PhD candidate with a research grant from FCT. I dedicate exclusively to research in the area of mapping and representation of places.
What is "design" for you?
I believe that design is the manifestation of a desire, through drawing.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
My work is always in some way related to drawing. Specially observational drawing of landscape. I like to draw in the places were i go. In this sense I prefer works that relate to the identity, culture and spirit of places. For example tourist guides related to gastronomy or enology, maps and infographics.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
My favorite work so far was the Catavino's Port Lodge Map. It was a map of the Port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. It was the first professional work in which I was able to put into practice a mixture between the cartographic code and the landscape observation drawing. This topic about observational drawing is very important for me. It is one of the best ways to differentiate a designer's work, from all other forms of landscape representation, supported by the immediacy and quantity of mobile platforms, such as mobile photographs.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The first project I did for a company was the creation of the corporate identity, and consequently its application in the different printed and digital media, as well as in environments.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
My favorite material is white paper and a bic pen. But of course after conceiving a project, its production fase always requires software. I prefer vector drawing software.
When do you feel the most creative?
I feel more creative when I've been drawing for some time. It works a bit like writing, our thinking flows in a superior way while we are scratching.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I always get more focused on the visual aspect and the empathy that it provokes with the user. I believe that a design object that provokes positive emotions in the user can be more effective than an object that focuses only on functionality.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
The design process is never very peaceful. Emotions vary a lot between positive, like excitement and enthusiasm, or negative, like fury or frustration when things are not going well.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I can underline some enthusiasm and excitement to show the result, when the projects are finished.
What makes a design successful?
I think the projects that are most successful are those that result from an opportunity well identified by the client and that are then developed with a good rapport with designers and other areas of knowledge.I do not think the designer's role is enough. There are always many things that surround design, with important implications for the success of a design.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
I always consider two aspects; first, what is the meaning of the project? Second, I pay attention to the details and the quality of the finishes.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
I believe that a designer must always have the moral that supports projects, which leads him to decide how to design, allowing the creation of meaning. I do not believe in neutral social positions.About the environment, now is the biggest cause to take into account not only in design, but in all areas.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
I am often afraid that the "design field" is evolving in a sense of great indifference. In which software begins to decide what is or is not design, leaving aside the role of the designer and his authorship. I often wonder, if the hand that draws is not anachronistic today?
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last presentation was the presentation of the “Illustrated Map of São João da Madeira” in the event — 9º Illustration Encounters of São João da Madeira — October 2016
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
The inspiration for my work stems from the daily practice of drawing and touring the public space, mixed with the study of works from ancient times. The flaneur through the city mixes with the history of places.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
The strongest authorship marks of my work are manifested in the recurrent use of the drawing of observation. A hand-drawn, usually linear drawing.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I think we are experts in appreciating the good things in life, from wine, gastronomy, and leisure. Of course this has positive and negative influences on our work. Still I think there is a sense of scale and beauty that sets us apart from others.
How do you work with companies?
I have worked with companies on an exclusive basis, but nowadays I work in the provision of regular or punctual design services.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
I think the best way to choose a good designer for a company is through experience. A regular relationship with some closeness allows the evolution of the designer according to the needs of the company.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
I try to reconcile a disciplined approach to the functions and tasks of a project, with the freedom to change things. Someone one day said that the design is about moving things until they look good.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Bic pen, Casio digital watch, Desk Lamp, Mappa-Mundi at the wall, adidas sneakers.
Can you describe a day in your life?
I like to wake up early in the morning and go have coffee and read by the sea. Spend the day outside, drawing. Finally work a little in front of the computer, in the production of the drawings that I made during the day.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Do not put too much faith in software. It becomes quickly outdated.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
I find it positive when we realize that we can see the world in a different perspective from other professions. That gives us a purpose, we feel we add something.It is problematic the incomprehension of the majority of the population in relation to the role of design.
What skills are most important for a designer?
The designer has a role of mediation between several areas of knowledge, industry and commerce. In this sense in addition to being able to draw, it is necessary to know how to put ourselves in the shoes of other people and see the world in its perspective. In this way we will be able to communicate with them.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
I have a lot of different pens, bic pens and fountain pens. Os meus softwares preferidos são da Adobe, illustrator, photoshop e indesign.
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
Over time, I started to put rules that imply time management. I do not like working at night, I only do it exceptionally. This way my lifestyle has become healthier.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
I would say that a month will be the ideal time. But many objects continue to be developed, updated and improved throughout the year, already in production. Particularly when it comes to industrial design.
What was your most important job experience?
I had the opportunity to train for a year and then be hired by an industrial catacter company -Chatron Lda.- where I developed industrial and communication design. It was a very important experience to realize how we should integrate into a great structure.
Who are some of your clients?
I have done some work for clients related to wine tourism, such as the Catavino company and the Esporão winery.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
My work is always in some way related to drawing. Specially observational drawing of landscape. I like to draw in the places were i go. In this sense I prefer works that relate to the identity, culture and spirit of places. For example tourist guides related to gastronomy or enology, maps and infographics.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
In the future I would like to combine a professional design career with an academic career in the field of drawing and design.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
When I design product, I usually work as a team. When I design communication, I tend to work alone. However it is not a rule.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I am currently developing an infographic, that tells the whole process of producing port wine, from the grape to the glass. It is a project that has a strong component of drawing and illustration that excites me.

Extended Interview with José Miguel Cardoso

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I have a degree in Design from the University of Aveiro 2005. I have an MA in Design from the University of Barcelona in 2008 and an MA in Design and Printing Techniques from the University of Porto 2013. At the moment I am a PhD candidate in Design, At University of Aveiro.
How did you become a designer?
I think I always remember liking to draw, even since I was a kid. In a way I've always known that I wanted to study fine arts or something related. My mother says I used to draw on the bed sheets. Design came later. Only during my adolescence I discovered what design was. It was only a matter of adapting the drawing practice that I already had, to a more projectual activity.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I chose to be a designer, because I discovered that I liked to relate aesthetic issues of image creation, with the pertinence of the objects.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I like to design everything that is related with landscape depiction, like maps and city guides.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I am not a legend. What i can say to young designers is that to become good at something, first we must like doing that thing. Pleasure is always connected with quality.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
If the designers use the metaphor to give a second sense to the objects. Perhaps the great designers can give a third sense. A layer of thought, yet to be thought.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
In addition to the well-known 10 commandments of good design, it seems to me that more and more we feel a need to feel special empathy for objects. This emotional side has become essential and all domains of design. In an increasingly digital and less material world, drawing has a special ability to create empathy.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Because good design is not just about selling more products, is also about contributing for a better life with those products. Above all, the design is for people.
What is your day to day look like?
I would like to make city maps, for all the city halls across the world.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
My secret is about creating special empathy through the sense of touch of observational hand-drawing.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
I like a lot of drawing masters from the past. I really appreciate the work of Chris Ware. His work with graphic novels reflects his design background.
What is your biggest design work?
As I was saying in the previous issue, I like many of Chris Ware's graphic novels, the way he manages to mix different graphic languages and the way he uses typography and lettering. The format of the books, the irony of the stories are also amazing.
Who is your favourite designer?
My favorite work so far was the Catavino's Port Lodge Map. It was a map of the Port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia. It was the first professional work in which I was able to put into practice a mixture between the cartographic code and the landscape observation drawing. This topic about observational drawing is very important for me. It is one of the best ways to differentiate a designer's work, from all other forms of landscape representation, supported by the immediacy and quantity of mobile platforms, such as mobile photographs.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I think that improving our design activity is like philosophy. We should keep questioning: what are we doing? This way our design will always have meaning.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I believe that design is the manifestation of a desire, through drawing.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
I prefer to generalize. My best supports were my teachers and my co-workers. I think I've been lucky enough to learn something from everyone I've worked with.

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