Beatriz Mota, Portugal
Why did you choose to become a designer?
From a very young age, I’ve had a particular appreciation for my interest in this field—from improving products to creating them. I’ve always tried to enhance what I had at my disposal or think of a product that could be useful in my daily life. After exploring this passion further, I realized that product design was what I wanted to pursue moving forward.
Where do you find inspiration?
I always try to find inspiration for my projects, especially in things that captivate me and give me confidence. In a project as special as this one, comfort was my main concern.
Combining this comfort with something visually pleasing challenged everything that makes me feel at ease, such as organic shapes, smooth lines, and above all, ergonomics.
What is your creative process?
First, I always try to learn about the theme, the company I’m working with, and the market in that area.
In this case, learning about the history and materials used by CMcadeiras was a great foundation for starting to define color and form palettes.
What was the impact of winning the competition?
Winning this project gave me confidence in myself and in what I can achieve with my ideas. More than being a good designer, I aspire above all to make an impact on people’s lives.
When designing the chair, what do you think is the most important feature?
As mentioned earlier, comfort was a key part of my creative process. Above all, I tried to combine the best of both worlds—ergonomics and design—while letting my imagination and inspiration for this project run free.
Why do you think it’s important for students to visit manufacturers’ factories?
Above all, I believe that for a designer to create good projects, they must be aware of what is or isn’t feasible in collaboration with companies. A product design can be very appealing and seem marketable, but that doesn’t matter if it can’t be produced. That’s why I think it’s very important to understand the company’s machinery, materials, and how everything is made—so that the design works as a functional piece.
What do you think is the future of design or the next big thing?
Design is a field that never stops innovating, and each year shows us that what once seemed impossible is becoming more achievable.
We’re increasingly able to be futuristic and innovative using many resources, but above all, we must be sustainable and mindful of that in our projects.
By combining all the resources we have at our disposal, we must know how to use them in the best way—helping the planet and being conscious of our ecological footprint.
Tell us about a project that has been your greatest achievement.
As a very young designer, my professional career has just begun, with the Elipse chair project being the first in my design journey.
So far, it has been the most impactful project in both my personal and professional life, but I intend for it to be one of many successful projects to come.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
It’s a question I get asked a lot, and most of the time I don’t know how to answer. Within the field of product design, I have a great passion for the automotive sector, and I would love to be working on something related to that side of design—but only time will tell. I like to let things flow.
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