There’s really not a whole lot out there about Spanish Contemporary Design, but if we take a closer look, we find an exciting alternative to other countries well known for their design. Industrialization came late to Spain. There are still some parts of the country that are untouched by the industrial revolution. As opposed to Germany and Japan, Spain has never been an industrial wonder. Many Spanish designers don’t use high-tech tools. Instead, they offer inventiveness, humor and irony. They’re not known to be restrained either. Here there’s no fear of color in order to produce pleasurable, warm, “happy” objects. The less-known is alive and well. Below is a selection.
 -Nacho Carbonell- “I always create objects with my hands, so that I can give them my personal touch. I like to see them as living organisms, imagine that they come alive with their sometimes surprising behavior. I want to transform them into communicative objects, which wake feeling and fantasy. In short, I want to make what allows you to escape the mundane.”  The Quilt, with so many uses, was once literally vital in Andalusia. Trade routes wound through mountains. Winter and summer, it was necessary to protect goods as well as yourself and your horse from the elements during night transports. Still today these quilts are decorated with care and tradition.  -Patricia Urquiola- famous for her inter-disciplinary work, she was born in Oviedo. I´s going well for her. She now works globally. “Personal experience is the key, crafts that I remember from my childhood, things that have followed me through the years.” |  -Arturo Alvarez- makes unique, handmade, environmentally friendly lamps for private and public places – and with warm, light and sensual materials of his own design. In 20 years the company has grown to working in 50 different countries. In 2008, LAB Arturo Alvarez was created, a platform for developing lamp design with feeling, sensuality and environmental awareness.  -Martin Azua- Who wouldn’t want to have a practically invisible house that inflates itself with the help of solar and body heat? Simple, but multifaceted, it protects against both cold and heat. Neat! Easy to take with you; it fits into your pocket. Great for a life on the go without excess baggage.  -Jaime Hayon- Spain has long had an intense passion for the Baroque, which continues today. The new generation knows its history. Jaime Hayon, born in Madrid 1974, became know for his project, “Mediterranean Digital Baroque”. |
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