WELCOME TO THE DESALL BLOG. THIS POST IS PART OF THE “COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT” SERIES WHERE WE INTERVIEW THE BEST MEMBERS OF OUR CREATIVE COMMUNITY. THANKS FOR READING!

AMOWA DESIGN is a Brazilian studio founded by senior designers Fabiana Westphal and Riorgior Ranger. In this interview, they discuss their award-winning family of outdoor luminaires and their success in two design calls on Desall.com. The interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Hello both and welcome to Community Spotlight. Can you briefly introduce yourself to the readers?

Hello there, this is Fabiana Westphal and Riorgior Ranger. In 2015, we co-founded Amowa Design, a multidisciplinary studio specializing in industrial and graphic design and currently we’re based in Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná, Brazil, and one of the most environmentally sustainable cities in Latin America.

What’s your professional background?
We have a combined experience of 20 years in graphic design and product development. Before founding Amowa Design, we individually worked with companies in the automotive, internet, and consumer products sectors. We are passionate about creating diverse products and exploring new stories where we can apply our expertise. Our aim is to collaborate with companies and contribute to their unique narratives.

Why have you chosen a career in design?
In Brazil, the need to be creative despite limited resources has given us a unique perspective on design. From a young age, we have always been curious about how things are made and how we can improve them. Design has provided us with a means to integrate our curiosity and creativity.

Among the many projects you have worked on, is there one that you’re particularly proud of?
One of our proudest projects to date is CityLed, a family of luminaires that we developed for Novvalight. The project won prestigious awards such as the Brazil Design Awards and the Bornancini Prize. The CityLed concept was centered around versatility and affordability: we carefully considered the product’s application in a variety of settings –  public lighting, industrial areas, parks, condominiums, parking lots, airports, and residential areas – and we incorporated intelligent and cost-effective production technologies to ensure that CityLed would be a competitive national product. Sales exceeded our initial targets and continue to grow, even in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which we attribute to its status as a domestic product that is not reliant on imports to serve customers. (Scroll for images of CityLed)

What was your experience as users of the Desall platform and as winners of two design contests?
Entering and winning two design competitions on the Desall platform was a rewarding experience for us. It provided an opportunity to showcase our skills and creativity and receive recognition for our work. Developing our designs was challenging yet satisfying, and the feedback we received allowed us to incorporate improvements into our later work. Winning both competitions validated our abilities and provided a great boost to our confidence as designers. We are grateful for the experience and excited to see where it will take us in the future.

What books on design would you recommend?
– Elements of Design – Rowena Reed Kostellow
– The Design of Everyday Things – Don Norman
– The Gambiarra Issue: Alternative Product Design From Improvisation – Rodrigo Boufleur
– Brazilian Modern Design – Alberto Vicente and Marcelo Vasconcellos
– Abloh-Isms: 6 – Virgil Abloh and Larry Warsh

Some of the designers/architects you most admire?
Designers: Oki Sato – Nendo, Naoto Fukusawa, Campana Brothers, Sérgio Rodrigues, Joe Colombo, Dieter Rams, Chrissa Amuah, Barberorgersby, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Neri Oxman, Ini Archibong and Stefan Diez.

Architects: Oscar Niemeyer, Lina Bo Bardi, Zaha Hadid, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Francis Kéré, Roberto Burle Marx, Kazuyo Sejima, Ma Yansong – Mad Architects.

Where can we find you online?
Readers can connect with us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

“CITYLED” by AMOWA DESIGN FOR NOVVALIGHT

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