Design ✹

The design of Quartera reflects a delicate interplay between form and function. Its half-moon shape, extruded from reddish wood, balances elegantly on a flat surface, its asymmetric weight distribution creating a subtle tilt. The right side features a glazed white ceramic bowl for weighing ingredients, offering a visual metaphor for balance. As you add sugar, rice, or any ingredient, the form shifts, and the weight is indicated where the object meets the table.

In a world where most kitchen tools are cold, industrial, and hidden, Quartera stands apart as a piece to be seen and admired. Its warm wooden body and ceramic bowl make it as much a decorative object as a functional tool. Whether used in the kitchen or displayed in a living space, Quartera is both a practical utensil and an artistic statement, embodying a new perspective on everyday objects.

Design ✹

The design blends traditional bookbinding techniques with contemporary aesthetics. Each of the limited-edition books features a consistent B5 format and subtly textured recycled paper, chosen for both its sustainability and its natural, tactile quality. The design merges traditional book layouts with modern magazine aesthetics, creating a refined and visually engaging piece.

Inspired by the vibrant colors of Mariona’s rooftop—where unique blue walls and striking yellow window frames set a distinctive tone—the color palette of the book incorporates light blue and vivid yellow, complemented by the white of the paper and dramatic black accents. This palette reflects the space’s unique character and enhances the storytelling. The book has been crafted not only as a literary work but also as a distinct object of art. When stacked, the books create striking visual patterns of rectangles in blue, yellow, and white, adding an intriguing dimension to the overall design.

A notable feature is the hand-sewn binding with yellow thread, which provides visual contrast and aligns with the book’s color palette. The entire book, including the covers, uses a single paper weight, ensuring a cohesive feel and practical durability.

The custom-crafted typeface, designed with ‘x’ stitches to evoke cross-stitch patterns, adds a subtle, feminine touch, honoring the historical role of women in the family’s heritage. This bespoke typography is carefully paired with the neutrality of Helvetica to balance modern design principles with an artisanal, personal touch.

Design ✹

The design of Barada & Casilooroo begins with two common industrial objects —an electric kettle and a hot plate— and transforms them into pieces imbued with deep cultural and social significance. Both objects have been redesigned to incorporate a basic, accessible, and nomadic heat source that reflects the essence of daily life and Senegalese rituals.

Barada, meaning “teapot” in Wolof, is inspired by the ataaya tea ceremony, a ritual of hospitality and communion. Casilooroo, “casserole” in Wolof, evokes the tradition of sharing a meal from a central dish, symbolizing unity and a sense of community. These objects not only serve a practical purpose but also act as catalysts for intercultural dialogue, fostering understanding and fraternity between different communities.

The project, as a whole, redefines the concept of industrial design by integrating elements of Senegalese culture into a Western urban context. The Barada & Casilooroo objects, with their low-tech aesthetics and nomadic function, invite reflection on migration and identity, promoting the idea that we are all citizens of the world, equal in rights and dignity, capable of sharing and learning from our differences.

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Chaise Colorées represents a fusion of local tradition and modern design, crafted from the vivid remnants of Senegalese car rapides. This project captures the essence of Senegal’s creative spirit and its rich heritage. The resulting chairs are more than just functional objects; they are a statement of artistic expression and environmental consciousness. Each piece reflects a playful dialogue between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, demonstrating how vibrant cultural elements can be seamlessly integrated into modern design practices.

Design ✹

Artifact-BT001 is our prototype of a beer tap, created in response to the project’s manifesto. We began by deconstructing the conventional beer tap into its core actions: transferring beer from a large container to a glass. By applying the siphon principle and eliminating industrial elements like CO2 cylinders and pressure valves, we simplified the beer tap into an accessible, low-tech solution.

The design process was deeply influenced by our surroundings in Barcelona. We collected materials from the streets of the Gracia neighborhood, integrating found objects into the final design. The aesthetic of Artifact-BT001 reflects the city’s ever-changing landscape, drawing inspiration from construction sites and the ephemeral nature of urban spaces.

Each Artifact is unique, shaped by the materials and context in which it is created. The Artifact movement encourages exploration and experimentation, allowing users to build their own versions of everyday objects. The result is not just a product, but a participatory design process that evolves with each new creator.

Design ✹

The essence of De-grada lies in its subtle intervention. By placing refurbished stadium seats in picturesque yet underappreciated locations, the project introduces a touch of artistry into everyday spaces. These repurposed chairs, which would otherwise be discarded, become integral elements of the landscape, encouraging people to sit, observe, and appreciate the natural world.

This initiative is as much about the aesthetics of the repurposed materials as it is about the experience it creates. The seats are positioned in areas that enhance the viewer’s connection to their environment, whether it’s a breathtaking sunset, a scenic view, or a serene grove. The project invites a range of reactions, from artistic appreciation to thoughtful engagement, as it subtly integrates into the fabric of the landscape, fostering moments of pause and reflection.

De-grada is an experiment in circular design, promoting sustainability while offering a fresh perspective on the value of reclaimed materials. It is a testament to how thoughtful design can transform the mundane into meaningful experiences, encouraging people to slow down and truly engage with the world around them.

Design ✹

The letter opener consists of two parts: a handle and a blade, both thoughtfully proportioned for ergonomic comfort. The flat blade transitions into a slightly raised handle through two subtle folds, making it easy to grasp and use. Its simplicity invites interaction — the moment you hold it, the object naturally communicates how it should be used. Though its shape may resemble a knife, the blade is unsharpened, ensuring safety while effectively sliding through paper. The sharp, angular design elements highlight the precision of the cuts, enhancing its functional beauty without excess. It’s an essential tool, designed to be both timeless and understated.

Design ✹

At the core of the Toga project is the Toga garment, a seamless and symbolic tunic that encapsulates both functionality and deeper meaning. Emerging from a speculative exploration, the Toga evolved from a simple sketch into a versatile piece of clothing that envelops the wearer in a warm, protective embrace, making it an integral part of the meditative experience within the temple. Crafted from a thoughtful combination of warm grey upholstery fabric and phosphorescent satin polyester, the Toga reflects the project’s theme of harmonizing the natural with the artificial, where the artificial symbolizes the urban environment in which these temples are situated.

The temple itself is an architectural marvel, blending industrial and zen aesthetics to create a space that feels both grounded and otherworldly. With its high ceilings and brutalist design, characterized by raw concrete and towering columns, the space exudes a sense of immensity and introspection. The interplay of light and shadow, along with the use of mirrors on the lateral walls, creates an illusion of infinite depth, transporting meditators into a parallel world where they can escape the chaos of the city and connect with their inner selves. This juxtaposition of urban strength and zen calmness immerses the individual in an environment that is both awe-inspiring and tranquil. The Toga, as both a garment and a symbol, becomes the key to unlocking this new form of spiritual discipline, guiding each meditator toward a deeper, more personal journey of reflection and self-discovery.

Design ✹

The Baula Tanca-Bosses is a minimalist, practical product that repurposes discarded curtain chains into functional bag closures. Rather than occupying space like traditional clothespins, this design leverages the existing structure of the chains to offer a sleek, durable, and space-saving solution. By utilizing these once-commercially unviable chains, the project promotes circular economy principles, extending the lifecycle of materials that would otherwise be discarded.

The design features fifteen repurposed aluminum links plus one additional link included in the packaging, making the product both practical and a statement of sustainable design. Available in three color variants, the Baula Tanca-Bosses integrates seamlessly into various interiors, emphasizing the elegance of recycled materials. The packaging, made from recycled paper and eco-friendly glue, underscores the project’s commitment to sustainability.