After the 4th year of visiting our friends at Design Week Mexico, we’ve started to feel at home in our beloved Mexico City. This year was particularly exciting for us as we partnered with DWM and Centro University to present NAO, a design schools pavilion. For this first year, the pavilion included 4 schools from Mexico: Centro, Anahuac University, Universidad Panamericana, Universidad Iberoamericana /Ibero University, and 3 from the US: Pratt Institute, Art Center College for Design and SVA. Each presented student projects around the theme of Social Responsibility. It was an exciting and promising program that we look forward to bring to the next level in 2017. You can now see our photo album and stay tuned for more information that will soon be shared on all of the projects.
Skull table, hand made marquetry in huanacaxtle wood veneer. Design by Ricardo Casas. shelf.mx
WantedDesign was also part of the Jury to recognize the best design studios that took part in Territorio Creativo Inedito, a superb exhibit presented at the Tamayo Museum. Inedito presented projects specifically created for the exhibit by more than 40 studios coming from all parts of Mexico. It gave us a chance to see numerous design studios that we have followed since we first visited 4 years ago. All of them brought high-level projects in term of concept, design, production and social impact.
Here are the ones that particularly caught our eye and piqued our interest.
ITZ
ITZ is a Yucatan based studio that we had a chance to present at WantedDesign in New York. The studio won the Inedito/Mexico Design Week 2016 Award with their Ocum side tables.
The Ocum collection is a result of the quest for perfect proportions, simplicity and minimalist. The collection uses two species of tropical wood from the Yucatan area, Mohagany and Katalox, and a solid brass pin as a joint. It was designed by one half of the duo behind ITZ, Ania Wolowska. We are total fans and supporters and are really pleased to present them with the Award. The duo has managed to boost the regional talent in carpentry and craft traditions, bringing together the best native carpenters and local experts to convert raw material into high quality products. itzfurniture.com
PECA
Since 2007, head designer and studio director Caterina Moretti has infused the brand with her unique ability to work with natural materials, exploring texture and form, and bringing nature indoors in surprising ways. The independent design studio based in Guadalajara, Mexico, collaborates with local artisans and invites designers to contribute to the spirit of Peca, resulting in a collection of products that are rich in both tradition and innovation. We loved the perfect and pure lines of the day bed and the Pira cushions in leather embroidered by hand in Coloran, Jalisco, giving illusion of fine drops of rain. peca.com.mx
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