Mónica Pinto de Almeida

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Mónica Pinto de Almeida ("MPDA") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

MPDA : My whole life has been surrounded by Art in general, my family is multicultural, and has always been very supportive in terms of education and led me down a path that I could love and relate to. My grandfather drew and was a history lover, my mother wrote poetic prose and my father painted, no doubt this had a strong impact on my early growth, development and later on my career. My graduate education was in Decorative Arts, Frescoes, Restoration, Drawing and Art History.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

MPDA : I became a designer in a very natural way, it was something organic. It started with the discovery of going from painting done on a plane, like mural painting, to suddenly creating with volumes. Everything motivates me to design, but especially the desire to make something beautiful, to play with shapes, to play with light and perspectives.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

MPDA : I can say that I chose to become a designer.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

MPDA : Mostly I design lighting objects, there is something very magical about working with light, there is always a discovery in each piece, there is always a learning in each new project and there is also a kind of addiction in the study of light, we always want more... I hope to continue exploring light for many years to come.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

MPDA : I think young designers should focus on working hard, studying a lot, and questioning a whole lot. And above all they should never sacrifice their style, which makes them individual beings with a unique thought and vision. We need unique visions that make us see the world from another perspective and learn from each other, I think that's where the beauty of design lays.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

MPDA : In my opinion what distinguishes a good designer and a great designer is the power to see ahead of our needs.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

MPDA : What makes a good design a really good design I think should be the combination of beauty and function and the capacity to surprise us.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

MPDA : The value of good design, design is in everything we touch in our daily lives, good design should be there to add something, be it functional or emotional. Everyone should invest in good design in order to create a better environment for humans, to satisfy our wants and needs.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

MPDA : I think I would like to design a school for my son and a house in nature.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

MPDA : I love all my projects, I don't have a particular dream, just keep working maybe is my dream.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

MPDA : Well, if I tell you what my secret to success is, it won't be a secret anymore...Just kidding, I don't think there are any secrets, there is a lot of resilience, hard work and true commitment to our vision.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

MPDA : There are so many..., Jaime Hayon, Zaha Hadid, Kareem Rashid, Eames, Ini archibong, Corbusier, Jacobsen, Eileen Gray, Picasso, Miró, ...

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MPDA : I love a particular desk from the Eames due to its simplicity and colors. I love the Egg chair by Jacobsen, the Theia lamp by Matthias Hahn and the furniture by Pierre Cardin.

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

MPDA : To be honest, I don't know if there is a "greatest" design, they are all the greatest at their moment. If we didn't think that way, we wouldn't create them. I can't choose one, I can't, for me they are all great, they are all my great passions and reflect a moment in time.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

MPDA : Studying hard, never stopping to study, being up to date with trends, new materials, new manufacturing systems, and learning from the greats.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

MPDA : Always something related with Arts.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

MPDA : Design to me is the translation of Art through a more conscious thought, a more objective thought, a desire to transform our environment, an ability to see the needs of the human being.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

MPDA : Who helped me reach these heights, was my family, particularly my mother and my partner, and my biggest fan is my son, without a doubt, a true cheerleader!

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MPDA : Work hard, never compromise my style and my truth, and think very consciously about what I want to achieve.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

MPDA : The main obstacles were mainly the financial support of all that is involved in working within the Design area and the excellence that I want to bring to my pieces.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

MPDA : Designers must present their work with emotion

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MPDA : My next design project is a work in process of a new lighting piece made entirely in wood.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

MPDA : To bring beauty into the spaces and trigger emotions.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

MPDA : I think they always wait for the next creation and the story behind it.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MPDA : Whenever we improve one aspect of our daily life, even if it is only one, it will bring a global benefit to the whole society.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

MPDA : I am currently working on new furniture pieces and a very special new lighting piece.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

MPDA : The ones that have given me the most satisfaction have always been the most challenging, both from a technical and conceptual point of view.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

MPDA : I would like to see even more support for young designers.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

MPDA : I think Design is moving towards more and more a human version of our needs and feelings.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

MPDA : Some projects are a matter of months, some years, and some are in continuous development. On the other hand, speaking of ideas and creations, it is very different, it can be a matter of minutes or hours, my mind is always in permanent creation.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

MPDA : I always start with the first line of the story that I want to tell.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MPDA : Being true to myself.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

MPDA : I think design creates trends, but sometimes it can be a bit of both.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

MPDA : The role of technology is very important, technology is there to help us and to make us evolve and elevate our design.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

MPDA : I usually use Solidworks, AutoCad and SketchUp.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

MPDA : They are the soul in the design. They are the ones who bring us closer to the piece, they are the ones who most reflect the emotions and create the dialogue between us, the spectators, and the piece. They create the bridge between our perception and the purpose of the piece.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

MPDA : I like when they ask about the story behind the pieces.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

MPDA : Happiness.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

MPDA : Yes, I believe in co-design, but I don't know yet who would be the right partner for me, but I know it has to have a sense of humor and be a good communicator.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

MPDA : The people I interact with who have the most influence on my design are my clients, my personal relationships, and people in the design field that I admire.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

MPDA : I love reading biographies of other artists or people I admire, and they usually have a big impact on me.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

MPDA : I developed my skills as a designer by always striving to improve in all aspects.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

MPDA : I feel humble and with a lot of responsibility and always hoping to excel every day.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MPDA : I don´t have a favorite color, I love them all. My favorite place is definitely by the sea, preferably a warm place. Italian food and spanish are my favourite, with a good wine. My thing would be my imagination and I have many favorite brands, I cannot choose one!

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

MPDA : I have many amusing memories, but perhaps the best are the laughs I sometimes have with my mother when we are working. We both have a great sense of humor and laugh a lot at ourselves.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

MPDA : It's always great on those days when it's pure creation and ideas flow. I usually motivate myself with my family and in nature.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

MPDA : No, of course not, I could never imagine!

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

MPDA : I think the future can always surprise us, and I hope that human connections will be stronger and stronger.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

MPDA : I hope you know that what I design, I design with my heart and soul and that I don't know how to be any other way.