Thirty-nine years ago, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Brunno Jahara was born—ready to welcome the world. He has since lived in Brasília (Brazil’s capital), São Paulo, Venice, Amsterdam, India, Japan and Portugal. Exhibitions such as the NYC Design Week and Milan Design Week, as well as institutions such as the George Pompidou Centre are some of the venues where his work has been exhibited. Bruno told ArchiExpo e-Magazine:
“Having had the opportunity of getting to know so many places certainly helped me to approach my work in a more international way.
Brazil, however, remains a powerful source of inspiration. His four crockery collections made in partnership with the Brazilian version of the e-commerce decoration website Westwing—launched this May—illustrate this.
His crockery collections made in partnership with the Brazilian version of the e-commerce decoration website Westwing. Courtesy of Westwing.
The items are made of porcelain but are affordable.
The Copanema collection mixes pastel colors and the drawings of the famous stone sidewalks from Copacabana and Ipanema beaches to portray the atmosphere of these classical Rio de Janeiro locations in the fifties. The white and blue Estrela collection, on the other hand, is inspired by Portuguese tiles, recalling the European side of Brazil’s multiple roots. The Peixe collection includes patterns that have deliberately faded areas, while the Bossa Nossa collection displays delicate tropical foliage. The items are made of porcelain but are affordable. According to Bruno, they are also interchangeable, which means that buyers can display a “mix and match” table using all four designs.
The Paleae Brasilis series is another example of Brunno’s blend of international and Brazilian styles. Created with fashion designer Ana Voss and launched in 2016 in a partnership with Specimen Editions, this collection consists of items such as lamps, fruit bowls and caps made of natural rice husk braided in a traditional weave, plus structures made of painted steel.
The Paleae Brasilis series of lamps, fruit bowls and caps. Courtesy of Brunno Jahara.
Brunno has already collaborated in projects such as MM18 Arquitetura’s interior design of São Paulo’s Airbnb corporate office, as well as one of the famous temporary facades of Brazilian shoe brand Melissa’s flagship store – for which Brunno created a 3D panel.
“I see design as a wide and unrestricted profession, where everything is possible. That is why I like to create all sorts of objects and pieces of furniture we use in our daily lives. The interaction with the end user interests me a lot, and researching materials and manufacturing methods is always a source of great learning.
Batucada lamp. Courtesy of Brunno Jahara.
After his graduation in industrial design at the University of Brasília, Brunno spent a year at the Istituto Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV) continuing his studies. The designer then joined Benetton’s think tank Fabrica, where he stayed for two years.
“Being part of Fabrica was a wonderful experience. I was able to develop ranges of products and work in many international projects, both Benetton’s and those of other clients. I also made great friends there. Fabrica is a large centre of creativity, full of extremely talented professionals.
Asked about projects that he would like to do in the near future, Brunno mentioned his wish for abstract creativity. “I don’t think that design should only be limited to the world of products. It can also be about experiences, moments in which we connect to one another. But in order to come up with great ideas in this direction, much research and development are needed”, he cautions.
Stacks. Courtesy of Brunno Jahara.
