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.
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.
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.
MPDA : I can say that I chose to become a designer.
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.
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.
MPDA : In my opinion what distinguishes a good designer and a great designer is the power to see ahead of our needs.
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.
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.
MPDA : I think I would like to design a school for my son and a house in nature.
MPDA : I love all my projects, I don't have a particular dream, just keep working maybe is my dream.
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.
MPDA : There are so many..., Jaime Hayon, Zaha Hadid, Kareem Rashid, Eames, Ini archibong, Corbusier, Jacobsen, Eileen Gray, Picasso, Miró, ...
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.
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.
MPDA : Studying hard, never stopping to study, being up to date with trends, new materials, new manufacturing systems, and learning from the greats.
MPDA : Always something related with Arts.
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.
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!
MPDA : Work hard, never compromise my style and my truth, and think very consciously about what I want to achieve.
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.
MPDA : Designers must present their work with emotion
MPDA : My next design project is a work in process of a new lighting piece made entirely in wood.
MPDA : To bring beauty into the spaces and trigger emotions.
MPDA : I think they always wait for the next creation and the story behind it.
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.
MPDA : I am currently working on new furniture pieces and a very special new lighting piece.
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.
MPDA : I would like to see even more support for young designers.
MPDA : I think Design is moving towards more and more a human version of our needs and feelings.
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.
MPDA : I always start with the first line of the story that I want to tell.
MPDA : Being true to myself.
MPDA : I think design creates trends, but sometimes it can be a bit of both.
MPDA : The role of technology is very important, technology is there to help us and to make us evolve and elevate our design.
MPDA : I usually use Solidworks, AutoCad and SketchUp.
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.
MPDA : I like when they ask about the story behind the pieces.
MPDA : Happiness.
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.
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.
MPDA : I love reading biographies of other artists or people I admire, and they usually have a big impact on me.
MPDA : I developed my skills as a designer by always striving to improve in all aspects.
MPDA : I feel humble and with a lot of responsibility and always hoping to excel every day.
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!
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.
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.
MPDA : No, of course not, I could never imagine!
MPDA : I think the future can always surprise us, and I hope that human connections will be stronger and stronger.
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.
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