Our designers are a fascinating group of individuals with a diverse array of backgrounds, interests, and styles. Yet they all share a common desire to produce furniture not only of uncompromising quality and design, but that is also reflective of the Brazilian spirit.

I am inspired by examples of good design. For example, the Bauhaus school, Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles and Ray Eames and the Nordic school of the 40s. I also find inspiration in techniques and craftsmanship from the old school, bringing back solutions and features such as wood shop and inlays that have been forgotten by many factories because of new technologies.

What makes great design?
Pure forms, daring to use colors, without forgetting function.

Other than design, what are your passions?
Since I was a kid I liked airplanes, cars and motorcycles, and these influenced me as a designer. I also like Brazilian and electronic music, plastic art and movies.

How would you finish this sentence: “It’s great to be Brazilian because...”?
... because we are from a melting pot of races and cultures. This is reflected in the richness of our celebrations, art, and cooking. We are a culture that is open to new ideas, which we absorb and transform, generating our own mixed culture.

Which Brazilian artists, authors, and musicians are doing the hottest work right now?
In music: Cibele, Katia B, Bebel Gilberto, Marisa Monte, Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque (a classic). In literature: Ariano Suassuna, who is 80 years of age and a great protector of Brazilian culture.

For visitors to Brazil, what are your “must-see” recommendations?
The “Baia de Ilha Grande” is located south of Rio de Janeiro. The Island itself is a great place to dive and the “Serra do Mar” reveals the exuberance of the Atlantic Forest, with its rivers and waterfalls that end in the ocean. Then there is the main city of Parati, a real historic pearl preserved from Brazil's colonial period.

What inspires your designs?
I am not only a furniture designer but also a designer of other products for the home. I look at my design in a more sculptural way (such as Noguchi did), trying to achieve clean pure design in a sculptural sense. My inspiration comes from the enjoyment I have when designing. On a more relative note, I am inspired by Scandinavian, German, Italian, & Japanese design, as I believe they hold true to clean pure design.

What makes great design?
Great design is achieved when a person becomes overly satisfied with the combination of elements in such a way that feelings and senses are put into a harmonious state of enjoyment.

Other than design, what are your passions?
Technology, Travel, Cultures, Food, Art, Music.

Which Brazilian artists, authors, and musicians are doing the hottest work right now?
My three favorites: furniture designers Fernando and Humberto Campana, and fashion designer, Amir Slama.

For visitors to Brazil, what are your “must-see” recommendations?
Of course most people would say Rio is a “must see,” but one also should not miss the urban environment of São Paulo and the beautiful landscapes of Santa Catarina.

What inspires your designs?
A blank sheet of white paper, silence, research, or history. Often, I will be inspired when I discover a need that is unfilled.

What makes great design?
The union of simplicity, beauty and functionality – for example, a simple paper clip and a classic ballpoint pen.

Other than design, what are your passions?
Life, my family and my parents.

How would you finish this sentence: “It’s great to be Brazilian because...”?
... we have the sun, colors, happy culture, good music, hope and a lot of love and passion for life.

Which Brazilian artists, authors, and musicians are doing the hottest work right now?
In music, Ana Carolina has a nice voice and a lovely collection of songs. In architecture, Ruy Ohtake.

For visitors to Brazil, what are your “must-see” recommendations?
The beaches in the north of Brazil have a beauty not seen in other places. The Cataratas of Iguaçu reveals the strength and beauty of nature with the falls, the Island of Fernando de Noronha and its spectacular sunsets.

What inspires your designs?
Life, friends, family, nature. Inspiration is all around us. I find, for myself, that I just need to be present in the moment in order to recognize the inspiration and understand its possibilities.

What makes great design?
Superb function in a brilliant form.

Other than design, what are your passions?
My family, my dogs, the beach, great music, martial arts (Hapkido), yoga, gardening, my Vespa, and peace.

How would you finish this sentence: “I love Brazil because...”?
As a native of southern California, and someone with an outside perspective of Brazil, I find Brazil to be a most exciting blend of cultures, people, places, and faces. Brazil is famous for its beautiful models, who I believe are a result of this wonderful mix of cultures. In the same way, Brazil is the perfect place to create beautiful furniture because it provides such a wonderful and exotic mix of materials and skilled craftsman.

Which Brazilian artists, authors, and musicians are doing the hottest work right now?
I love the music of Bebel Gilberto. The work of Brazilian-born fashion designers Anne Fontaine and Chris Barreto is terrific.

For visitors to Brazil, what are your “must-see” recommendations?
Anything and everything. But for me, I would not focus on the “must-sees” alone. Rather I would prioritize my list by all of the senses: taste, touch, feel, sight, and smell. For example, just taking a moment to enjoy a local restaurant in any town, observe and converse with the people, and soak in the essence of being there. The beauty of Brazil to me is its diversity. I could repeat that same exercise in the beautiful hills of Santa Caterina and again on the beaches of Noronha and have a quintessentially different but equally wonderful experience.