Why choose Bombarda, the Mall?
RV: I was due to the CCB's own appearance, the store brand started earlier that we anticipated at the time because we had knowledge that would open and thought it was ideal, because deep down we entered in a number of shops were we encounter people with critical spirit, that the exchange of experiences would be very beneficial and had an artistic concentration that we wanted to print the project.
The Angel piece was inspired by what? It is different from the others that comprise the collection.
RV: Yes, yes. This furniture has a curious history. It was created before the appearance of the brand, but with an eye to integrate the collections. It was an order from someone who I knew at the time, wanted a sideboard, designed to the image of that person. Her name was Angela, who lived in Angel Street and lived in Braga. It was a series of coincidences that made sense to integrate this piece of furniture. It is a mobile white, with a drawer which refers to golden yellow, which has much of the city because of Churches. Project was a looser and more personal.
Have you considered launching the brand abroad?
RV: Yes, I've been to London in order to visit a fair for our individual participation next year. I went to see me to realize how, the view of our participation. We've been in London, the first time in 2008, and also in 2009 as a brand.
And what was the feedback?
RV: It was interesting. Whenever we participate in international fairs was inserted in a number of Portuguese companies, called Portugal Brands. And was interesting feedback on the exhibits pieces, which are always in short supply, one or two, the brand identity was never present, it is a stand set in which the pieces are placed side by side. We decided to promote the brand, with its own stand, so I went to London and in October will be in Berlin. I can answer that question when we have a stand and draw some elation. In general, the international market, and given access to the site and I have had contacts abroad, have been interesting. We will be selling the brand in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) in August, because we got a representative. It is a concrete fact, which signals that there is a market for the brand.
Do you have any particular concern when designing the pieces, whether environmental or other?
RV: I'll answer that question in a different way. When it launches a brand, a designer deals with an industry, in this case a factory and there are several issues to consider. It's not just design, build and put up for sale. There are other aspects to consider. The specificity of the industry has to do with the staff and who leads the factory and this is all part of the process of brand creation. When I started there was an expectation, a stage adaptation of employees to the furniture, the assembly and the care in the production. Initially it was more important to create that trust and respect of both the employees and the company responsible for getting the brand. Then, after this adaptation, there is a change, which is when production begins. And at this point we can already speak of "power" to change consciousness in some respects. This has been achieved. Design a more sustainable, more environmentally friendly materials, natural woods rather than lacquered. We are currently preparing a greenhouse lacquer to use water based inks without chemicals. These procedures were able due to trust and time. My idea is to go slowly changing attitudes with greater environmental awareness.
Do you consider that the business community is sensitive to the concept of innovation and design? From what I understand you're inserted in a company like this, but what is your perception?
RV: I think we should not generalize. There is an idea, and was visible for many years that the Portuguese companies exporting products that did not have a creative concern. There was a massive production, the result of orders from foreign countries, international brands and we limited ourselves to produce. Creativity was not present and entrepreneurs never thought of going further. Now he began to feel otherwise. Politicians defend this concept of innovation and design, about five years now; they do not talk about something else, why? Because there is a need. Therefore, there are entrepreneurs who are more attentive, only because the politicians speak, or through the television news that address the idea of innovation, creativity and support it. I think the process started late, but is not too late to talk about this subject, should have begun about ten years ago. There are young entrepreneurs who have inherited their parents' plants, grown in this medium and continue to use the same wrong proceedings, because they don't have the openness to recognize that other people could contribute to improve production.
