Estúdio Galho / Movew

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Estúdio Galho / Movew ("EG/M") 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?

EG/M : We graduated from the Industrial Design course at the Federal University of Campina Grande in 2014. Shortly afterwards, we opened a design studio focused on branding services and the development of more industrial products, using processes such as molding, injection and 3D printing. At the same time, since college, we had been designing furniture with the aim of representing Brazilian characteristics with meaning. In 2018, we decided to create the brand and start our career as furniture designers. We began by producing our own pieces, but with the arrival of the pandemic and its instabilities, we migrated to the licensing model through industrial partners, a format we have followed to this day.

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

EG/M : We are motivated by design's ability to transform ideas into tangible experiences. Design allows us to tell stories, recover memories and create new interpretations of the reality around us. Becoming a designer was a choice that came naturally, driven by this desire to create with purpose.

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

EG/M : We chose to be designers. It was a decision guided by our passion for creating, our curiosity to understand how things work and our desire to materialize ideas into meaningful objects.

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

EG/M : We mainly design furniture and everyday objects, and we increasingly want to develop pieces that have a timeless dialog with the culture, territory and time in which we live. We believe in design as a tool for connecting people and contexts.

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

EG/M : They must study the world around them in depth, cultivate listening, curiosity and respect for the diversity of knowledge. They need to test, make mistakes, learn and, above all, understand that design is collective. And that a good career is built on consistency and sensitivity.

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

EG/M : A great designer can translate complex ideas into simple, original and meaningful solutions. They go beyond aesthetics, understanding the context, impact and transformative potential of what they are designing.

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

EG/M : We consider good design to be design that plays its role intelligently, sensitively and responsibly, that considers the user experience, respects the cultural context and minimizes its environmental impact. It is in this convergence that design transcends the object and becomes language.

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

EG/M : Design improves quality of life. It can solve problems, optimize processes and arouse emotions. Investing in good design means investing in long-lasting, sustainable solutions that strengthen the identity of those who use it and those who produce it.

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

EG/M : Designing more and more durable and timeless objects, in a sustainable way and with less impact on the production chain. This is our guiding principle. Each creation is born out of the desire to go beyond the practical function; they are objects that carry stories, symbols and affections. Estúdio Galho's DNA pulses with the integration of the natural and the sensitive, seeking forms that dialog with time, the user and the world we inhabit.

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

EG/M : A sensory refuge with a direct dialog with nature. A space where Estúdio Galho's products come to life, inviting visitors to interact, pause and immerse themselves. Everything is designed to reinforce the essence of the studio: poetic forms, cultural references and a balance between matter and memory.

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

EG/M : Our secret ingredient is a deep dive into the essence of what we want to communicate. We believe that the more authentic and rooted the project, the more it connects with people.

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

EG/M : Many, from different lines, but we can mention Philippe Starck, Dieter Rams and Charles & Ray Eames.

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

EG/M : Juice Salif by Phillipe Stark, The 9093 kettle by Michael Graves (alessi), Eiffel by Charles and Ray Eames. These are products that, each in their own way, explore the different levels of design. From the functional to the emotional.

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

EG/M : It's difficult to choose just one, but we would highlight the Velê armchair, which represents the mastery and lightness of navigation. It synthesizes form, functionality and metaphor in a visual and emotional balance. Mention should be made of the Genipabu Buffet, winner of the A'Design Awards and Competition, for the symbolic charge of an object with practical and aesthetic functions that are linked to the translation of scenery and elements of nature. As well as the Riso Armchair, which in formal terms seeks to translate a feeling of joy into lines reminiscent of a smile.

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

EG/M : It is essential to observe, draw, experiment and, above all, listen. Improvement requires constancy and humility. Participating in competitions, fairs, traveling and exchanging with people from the same and other areas has been fundamental in our journey.

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

EG/M : It's an interesting question, but a little inconclusive on our part. Looking at our entire career, we can't identify any affinity with other specific areas. But I think that if we weren't designers, we'd still be in the creative field in some way.

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

EG/M : Design is the sensitive and functional translation of a context into form. It means building bridges between thinking and doing, between the symbolic and the practical. We can't just summarize design as a set of techniques and knowledge for solving demands. There is a very interesting book entitled “Existe design? - Indagações filosóficas em três vozes” (2013) - Marcos Beccari, Ivan Mizanzuk and Daniel B. Portugal, which says that, as a symbolic mediator, design ”articulates senses and meanings; acting as a form of mediation between the human and the world, between the material and the symbolic”

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

EG/M : We have had many supporters along the way, but we would like to highlight our families, friends, teachers and partners, who have believed in us and encouraged us at decisive moments. Collaboration is a fundamental part of our journey.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

EG/M : Active listening, restlessness in the face of everyday problems and the constant search for meaning in what we do. The desire to create something that has a positive impact is what always drives us.

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

EG/M : We face the common challenges of entering the market, accessing resources and validating authorial proposals. But we turn every obstacle into learning and creative strength.

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

EG/M : With clarity, sensitivity and context. A good project needs to be communicated with the same attention with which it was conceived. Well-told stories enhance ideas.

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

EG/M : We are developing new pieces that explore Brazilian identity, with a focus on natural materials and collaborative processes. Expect even deeper narratives.

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

EG/M : Our goal is to generate positive impact through design, promoting belonging, dialog and sustainability. We want to contribute to a design culture that is more accessible and connected to its roots.

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

EG/M : They expect coherence, creativity and commitment to human and social values. Respect comes from responsibility for what you set out to deliver to the world.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

EG/M : Design, when committed, can solve real problems, promote inclusion and value diversity.

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

EG/M : We are developing a new collection that makes reference to Brazilian biomes, with pieces that dialogue with the landscape and the emotional memory of different regions.

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

EG/M : Projects that involve direct dialog with communities or the recovery of cultural elements. They connect us with the essence of design: listening, translating and sharing.

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

EG/M : Less focus on passing trends and more focus on identity, durability and social responsibility. The industry needs to be more plural and inclusive.

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

EG/M : We believe that design is moving towards a more collaborative, sustainable era, connected to local realities. There is a strong movement to revalue roots and artisanal practices.

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

EG/M : It depends on the complexity, but generally between two and six months. We prefer to respect the maturation time of the idea and the validation stages.

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

EG/M : We start with research and immersion in the context. Before designing anything, we try to deeply understand why and for whom we are creating it.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

EG/M : Designing with soul and responsibility. Every object carries a story, and it needs to be told well.

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

EG/M : Good design anticipates needs and proposes new ways of seeing the world. It can create trends, but its value goes beyond them.

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

EG/M : Technology is a great ally for enabling ideas and expanding possibilities, but it must be at the service of the project's purpose, not the other way around.

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

EG/M : We use tools such as Rhino, SolidWorks, Adobe Suite, as well as physical prototyping with 3D printers and traditional hand tools.

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

EG/M : They are essential elements that determine language and experience. Their choice communicates intentions and activates memories. We work with attention to the sensory.

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

EG/M : We'd like you to ask the “why” of each choice. Every detail has a reason, and there's much more under the surface than meets the eye.

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

EG/M : We think about the process that led to it. What choices, inspirations, materials and hands were part of the journey. The object carries the journey.

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

EG/M : We fully believe in it. Our ideal partner is one who shares values and adds new perspectives. Co-design is part of our daily practice.

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

EG/M : Family, friends, teachers, artisans, clients and others. Each exchange influences our outlook and strengthens the network of meaning that underpins our work.

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

EG/M : We can cite “Emotional Design” by Donald A. Norman as the main one.

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

EG/M : Practicing every day, listening to criticism, reworking projects and keeping an eye on the world. Improvement comes from constancy and passion.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

EG/M : With Leonardo da Vinci. His ability to move between art, science and engineering remains an example of boundless creativity.

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

EG/M : Awards are gratifying because they recognize collective effort. But the focus is always on the real impact of the project, not on the fame itself.

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

EG/M : Color: Blue. Place: Nature. Food: Northeastern regional Season: Summer. Thing: sketchbook and Bic pen. Brand: We can't define.

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

EG/M : No início do estúdio, participamos de uma feira de móveis e decoração de grande importância nacional. Ficamos em uma área pequena, com foco em jovens designers. Era engraçado estar ao lado de marcas renomadas com estandes enormes. E nós, em espaços pequenos, com peças produzidas praticamente à mão, mas que carregavam a essência do design que nos define como profissionais criativos.

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

EG/M : Seeing an idea take shape is already a great motivation. But what makes the day special is the moment when you realize that what you've created has touched someone in a positive way.

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

EG/M : It wasn't obvious, but the signs were there, we drew everything, dismantled objects and always invented new uses for things. Creativity was always there.

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

EG/M : We see a more collaborative future, with less consumption and more awareness. Perhaps in a thousand years, design will be something collective, intuitive and totally integrated with nature

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

EG/M : We would like you to know that each project carries much more than a function, an aesthetic. It is made up of stories, people and affections. Our design has a soul.