Design Lab Creative Community

André Silva Sancho, graduated in Product Design – ceramics and glass – from ESAD. CR, won in 2019 the "Caldas Cidade Bordallo" contest with the project "Sardinhas Bordallo Pinheiro". In 2020 he presented the BLOWPLASTIC project at the Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Milan, as part of FUORISALONE. Developed with PLA, bio-plastic, reusable and recyclable, the project uses unconventional molds, uniting industry and craftsmanship, with pieces between art and design.

Line of ecological sports products – mainly for surfing – that reflect the passion for the environment. These products are made with sunstainable materials such as cork, agarwood or Japanese cryptomeria are used in its production, as well as recycled materials.

Alessa Dresel, a designer and ceramist graduated from Bauhaus University, did an internship at the Design Lab in 2017, having explored artisanal methods from the Algarve. With international experience in ceramics. She returned five years later to develop the Vermelinas collection, inspired by local customs, consisting of glasses and jugs for arbutus, vinho verde and water, standing out for its quality and regional identity.

Ana Rita Contente, from Santarém, holds a degree in Design and a master's degree in Visual Arts, and Sandra Neto, a graduate, master's degree, and doctorate in Architecture, working as a freelancer in the Algarve. They have been part of the Design Lab since 2018. Together, they created PAKK, a brand of ergonomic bags that transforms a personal bag into an anatomical, practical, and comfortable container. With an innovative design, it combines ergonomics and aesthetics, offering modern models that facilitate the transport of immediately needed belongings.

Sovereign Mother – Identity, Tourism and Culture, is an integral part of the research, experimentation and final project to be presented by Andreia, for her Master’s Degree in Communication Design for Tourism and Culture, at the University of Algarve. The aim is to develop and test the communication materials to be presented.

Independent, activist & social project that is inspired by our time and Algarve culture. The brand aims to question the community with different artistic and social approaches.

“Andana”, from an expression meaning boldness in attire, forms the basis for this collection of bags and accessories. The fabrics use design elements inspired by both Portuguese culture and the multiculturism from its past maritime expansion to boldly mix different techniques and materials .

Leni Farenzena, an architect trained in Florence and with a master's degree from ISCTE-IUL, collaborated with studios in Europe and Mexico before founding ForNature Design. Leni creates furniture inspired by nature, combining innovative design, traditional techniques and local materials such as clay and cane. Sustainability, appreciation of local content and innovation guide the manual production, made in partnership with artisans from the Algarve, resulting in unique pieces.

Jina Nebe, born in Czechoslovakia and graduated in architecture, has been dedicated to painting for two decades. In 2020 she joined the Design Lab with "Reais Presenças", creating, with Portuguese artisans, everyday objects with local identity. Inspired by the Ria Formosa, salt pans and Serra do Caldeirão, she develops prototypes on the border between art and design, in limited editions, using screen printing, embroidery, cork engraving and ceramics.

Al-‘Ulyã – Land of traditions, soap factory of Loulé Creation of soaps and accessories with contemporary design, inspired by the ancestral culture of Mediterranean soap factories and arabic baths, each stamped with “Made in Loulé”.

The prototype of the “A Algarvia” resting chair will be improved in terms of comfort and production engineering focusing on it’s future commercialization. This chair will present some variants, including different materials, craft techniques, reflections of local culture. Laura Carlos started this project in 2015, in a Design & Crafts residence and will continue developing it at Loulé Design Lab.

Marta Lourenço, born in France to a Portuguese family, moved to the Algarve at the age of 12, acquiring knowledge about life in the countryside from an early age. With a degree in Education, she created in 2015 the brand PURE – be loved by nature, integrated in the Design Lab since 2020. It handcrafted children's footwear and clothing with natural materials, taking advantage of leftover fabrics to create aromatic pillows with therapeutic properties that promote relaxation and better sleep.

The DLUSA project consists of the design and weaving of carpets, rugs and wall hangings from pure wool, using the traditional “Beiriz” knot stitch technique, and an environmentally aware use of carefully selected, sustainable, bio-degradeable raw materials. Inspiration comes from the traditional designs of the horizontal borders “Platibandas” found on the facades of traditional Algarvian houses, and in the common root of colours and geometric decoration found in Mediterranean architecture. The intention is also for the finished object to awaken memories and sensations in the viewer, creating multiple interactions and interpretations in a new dynamic visual language.

Weaving with natural fibers, as well as fabrics, to create everyday objects. She weaves geometric patterns and shapes inspired by the local culture/heritage.

Pedro Ramalhete, PhD in Design from the University of Aveiro, studied and developed an innovative methodology for selecting materials integrated into a national database. He works as a product designer, teacher in secondary and higher education, and lecturer at universities. The Ramalhete Design brand creates handmade objects for everyday life, combining local resources and new materials in multifunctional, innovative, durable pieces with concepts that explore different uses.

Verónica Guerreiro, master in Product Design, and Paulo Tomé, plastic artist, created PidutournéeDesign in 2012 to explore sustainable solutions from the reuse of waste. Since 2017 at the Design Lab, they produce unique pieces with local organic materials, such as stones and logs, combined with recycled materials such as paper, glass or cardboard. They use artisanal techniques and provocative language to question perceptions of use and promote ecological and functional design.

Manoli Ortiz, a Spaniard born in Belgium and graduated in Fine Arts from the Brussels School of Fine Arts, has lived since 2001 in the village of Penina, in the heart of the Rocha da Pena nature reserve, Algarve. Since 2008 she has been exploring eco-printing with plants from Serra do Caldeirão, creating handmade inks and prints. In the Memória das Plantas project, she develops decoration pieces with local species, highlighting the rockrose, in harmony with the nature that surrounds her.

Sandra Neto, with a degree and a master's degree in Architecture, a PhD from UBI, works as a freelancer in Architecture and Urbanism in the Algarve. Incubated at the Design Lab, she founded the Mess Materials project, dedicated to developing innovative eco-materials in a laboratory context for Architecture and Design. MESS repurports waste and out-of-date materials, creating multifunctional surfaces that reduce the ecological footprint of construction and reveal the intrinsic aesthetics of these elements.

Sandra Louro, an equipment designer graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Lisbon, works in museography, graphic design, furniture and interiors. Inspired by Portuguese culture and Algarve handicrafts, it combines cork with other materials. In 2012 he founded the Like Cork brand, which creates eco-friendly organic products, combining innovation, respect for nature and appreciation of cork for its properties, quality and comfort, reflecting the Portuguese adventurous spirit.

“Rejoice in the longing for yesterday and today, creating a tradition for tomorrow”
Andorinha (Swallow) is developing a collection of shoes based on the concept of the traditionally homemade “Ourelo shoe” from Olhão. Using locally available raw materials to maintain the connection between Portuguese history, tradition and current trends.

Sílvia Rodrigues, graduated in Communication Design from the University of Algarve, left her work in ateliers and teaching to, in 2014, create the SIGUES brand, dedicated to handmade eco-jewelry in newsprint. Born in Querença, Loulé, it started to include noble materials such as copper, present in the "Amar Cássima" collection. SIGUES produces unique and sustainable pieces, waterproofed for greater durability, positioning itself against fast fashion and promoting environmentally friendly fashion.

Research project in the area of recycling, with the aim of creating a manual system for the reuse of materials, involving the younger people.

Sofia Correia, urban planner, and Chris Whitelaw, an architect specializing in digital design applied to construction and founder of MakeMais, met in New York, both graduated from Columbia University. They founded, with other creatives from the Design Lab, Coletivo 28, in Loulé. Oficina Poeta Azul creates pieces that unite natural purity and the cultural heritage of the Algarve and Portugal, designed to surprise and awaken the senses, working as true tools for daydreaming.

The aim of the Brecha project is to use stone from the Algarve in a range of objects that personify the people, traditions, and architecture of the region using local knowledge and techniques.

Ovelha Negra Knits is a project about integrating the creative and sustainable craft and traditions of hand spinning and knitting into a contemporary world. Inspired by local surroundings and nature, a journey from sheep, to skein, to stitch resulting in custom made, unique accessories and homeware.

Dama no Jornal® is a brand of fashion accessories, stationery and decoration. Accessories that are always animated by illustrations where the Dama (lady) is the protagonist. This year, 2020, we will celebrate the 10 years of the brand introducing a greater environmental and sustainability concern in the choice of the materials used in this products.