From 2015 to 2023 my job was full time VICARA.
I envisioned a structure for the promotion and production of projects by emerging designers, sharing a vision of diversity on a heterogeneous catalog with a pluridimensional take on objects and their place on our world. This company had many phases and over the year we worked and collaborated with many many companies, designers, crafstpeople, communication agents, and stores. I am grateful for the time and life I spent working towards a common goal.
I collaborated and worked with many many people, namely Imke Hoefer, Mariana Francisco, Pauline Barbier, Magdalena Kurzikowska, Jorge Carreira, Bruno Santos, João Marcão, Eneida Tavares, João Xará, Tânia Martins, Maria von Haffe, Nathalia Rezende, Kevin Claro e Miguel Xavier.
I envisioned a structure for the promotion and production of projects by emerging designers, sharing a vision of diversity on a heterogeneous catalog with a pluridimensional take on objects and their place on our world. This company had many phases and over the year we worked and collaborated with many many companies, designers, crafstpeople, communication agents, and stores. I am grateful for the time and life I spent working towards a common goal.
I collaborated and worked with many many people, namely Imke Hoefer, Mariana Francisco, Pauline Barbier, Magdalena Kurzikowska, Jorge Carreira, Bruno Santos, João Marcão, Eneida Tavares, João Xará, Tânia Martins, Maria von Haffe, Nathalia Rezende, Kevin Claro e Miguel Xavier.
“ VICARA Studio is a creative agency that develops original initiatives and socially conscious solutions in the area of product design. Bringing together designers, artisans and industry, VICARA takes a hands-on approach in creating a sustainable and interconnected design ecosystem. The agency is also the owner of two product design brands: the homonymous brand, which presents a catalog of exclusive pieces produced in ceramics, glass, wood, or weaving techniques, and which has national design and production as its common thread; and Tasco, a red clay tableware brand, inspired by the vernacular of Portuguese handmade ceramics and its gastronomic culture.”
10th Aniversary Candle Collection for VICARA
For its 10th anniversary, I invited 10 designers to design the candles for the cake. We wanted to commemorate with a collection in which each author expresses its creative intention on a unique object.
From this plurality of identities emerges a limited edition of candles. To celebrate together.
Produced in collaboration with Promol.
For its 10th anniversary, I invited 10 designers to design the candles for the cake. We wanted to commemorate with a collection in which each author expresses its creative intention on a unique object.
From this plurality of identities emerges a limited edition of candles. To celebrate together.
Produced in collaboration with Promol.
For this collection we invited friends and colleagues with whom we have not worked before, namely: Gonçalo Prudêncio, Sara de Campos, Soraia Gomes Teixeira, Luís Giestas, Toni Grilo, Maria Pita Guerreiro, João Abreu Valente, Pedro Agapito Pedroso, Mónica Braga dos Santos and Vitor Reis. Photos by Ivo Rodrigues
2021
Caldas Design Week was an open and participatory event envolving the many agents in the region, related in many capacities to design.
It happened twice: 2016-2017
It happened twice: 2016-2017
Photos by Luis Guedes from the 2016 edition
Graphic Design by José Costa Torres
Graphic Design by José Costa Torres
Desajeitado Glass for Quinta Várzea da Pedra
When Tomás Emídio, a fellow designer, asked us to design a glass for a special wine named Desajeitado [clumsy] from Quinta Várzea da Pedra, we immediately thought we would first have to taste this specialty and learn more about its history. Its clumsy way of being born combined with the stone that gives the farm its name, gave rise to an experimentally produced glass that gives a special shape to the liquid. Produced in hand blown glass, using a mold of a stone from the farm, as well as a steel tube, each glass is unique and is only sold together with the bottle.
When Tomás Emídio, a fellow designer, asked us to design a glass for a special wine named Desajeitado [clumsy] from Quinta Várzea da Pedra, we immediately thought we would first have to taste this specialty and learn more about its history. Its clumsy way of being born combined with the stone that gives the farm its name, gave rise to an experimentally produced glass that gives a special shape to the liquid. Produced in hand blown glass, using a mold of a stone from the farm, as well as a steel tube, each glass is unique and is only sold together with the bottle.
Our work for Quinta Várzea da Pedra is an experimental and low cost approach to glass production. We used our experience in small series production to make several experiments focusing on the use of stone to create texture in glass. For this, we turned to our community and collaborated with other companies in the region.
Project from VICARA Studio made with the collaboration of glass blower Cláudio Duarte.
2022
Terrazzo Collection for Amorim Wise
Inspired both from the traditional Italian terrazzo’s marble pattern, along with the famous Portuguese marble cake, the Amorim Wise Terrazzo Capsule collection recreates that crafty feeling in an entirely recycled cork flooring.
In the first meeting, to present proposals for a new flooring pattern, to all departments and management of Amorim Cork Flooring, we presented images of marble cake, chocolate salami and cookie cake, along with some moodboards of italian terrazzos.
In a synesthetic creative process, we related sensibilities with hues and, with the collaboration of Amorim’s resident designer Ana Fernandes, arrived at the final palette. The collection is made of 8 different and versatile designs, from the greenish Element Mint to the orange Twist Terracotta. A collection that brings together a sweet tooth universe, the sense of Italian tradition, and the warm feeling of cork.
Inspired both from the traditional Italian terrazzo’s marble pattern, along with the famous Portuguese marble cake, the Amorim Wise Terrazzo Capsule collection recreates that crafty feeling in an entirely recycled cork flooring.
In the first meeting, to present proposals for a new flooring pattern, to all departments and management of Amorim Cork Flooring, we presented images of marble cake, chocolate salami and cookie cake, along with some moodboards of italian terrazzos.
In a synesthetic creative process, we related sensibilities with hues and, with the collaboration of Amorim’s resident designer Ana Fernandes, arrived at the final palette. The collection is made of 8 different and versatile designs, from the greenish Element Mint to the orange Twist Terracotta. A collection that brings together a sweet tooth universe, the sense of Italian tradition, and the warm feeling of cork.
Project from VICARA Studio made with the collaboration of João Xará, Fábio Afonso and Francisca Branco
2022
