AHEC celebrates next-generation design at Madrid Design Festival 2023
Bringing together the work of 17 students selected from nine Spanish design schools, SLOW Spain: Slow design for fast change showcases the talent and ideas of the emerging design generation while exploring the material possibilities of four sustainable but underused American hardwoods.
The collection will make its debut on 7 February – 12 March 2023 at the Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa, as part of the official programming of the Madrid Design Festival 2023.
Nominated for the exhibition by their course professors, the participating student designers have been working with a team of experienced mentors from Spain’s design scene, including Inma Bermúdez and Moritz Krefter (Studio Inma Bermúdez), Álvaro Catalán de Ocón (ACdO) and Jorge Penadés (Oficina Penadés). Alongside timber experts from the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), these renowned designers have been working with the selected students to refine their concepts, match their projects to the appropriate wood, and make their ideas a reality.
The brief to the young designers was to create innovative pieces based on the concept of ‘slow design’ – an approach to making rooted in social, cultural and environmental sustainability.
“The values of our society are changing, as well as our way of understanding quality in relation to design. When buying today, people value aspects such as the design process, the place of production and the materials used, in addition to broader issues such as sustainability and quality. Products that keep materials in circulation for as long as possible, generate an emotional bond with their owner or user and have the potential to leave a legacy that is passed onto future generations, are increasingly attractive.” David Venables, European Director, AHEC
The designers
Jonathan Paige, EASD Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de València; Berta Albiac Adell, Queralt Font Sabadell, Albert Roca Nonell, Elisava Escola Universitària de Disseny i Enginyeria de Barcelona; Cèlia Anglès, ESDAP Campus Llotja – Escola Superior Disseny i d'Arts Plàstiques de Catalunya; Arnau Anoro, ESDi Escola Superior de Disseny (Sabadell); Sheila Valle García, ESDIR (Escuela Superior de Diseño de la Rioja); Alejandro Lorca, Elena Romero, Cristina Urbano, ESNE Escuela universitaria de diseño, innovación y tecnología; Eli Yang, Anna Perathoner, IED Barcelona; Daniela González Martínez, IED Madrid; Natale Armendáriz, Jon Calleja, Nora Etxeberria, Ane Ozkoidi, Mondragon Unibertsitatea.
Slow furniture for fast change. Madrid Design Festival. Fernán Gómez Centro Cultural de la Villa Pl. de Colón, 4, 28001 Madrid. 7 February-12 March 2023 Open every day 10am-9pm
