Then how this products move away from the ones you create for these companies and your own designs? Or you practice the same concepts for both a brand and for your own products in your own name?
GC: The principle is the same, the products I design I don't make them, I do have to understand well the potential of these sites, its limits and what I can do in view of all this. It is different in the sense that I search for what suits me, rather than limit myself to the capabilities of a company. If I only think about the design then I have to look for more than one of these companies, in this sense is slightly different, but the principle is still there. In Portugal at the moment is very difficult to find someone to make a chair in bent plywood, if you have to do I have to go to Spain where they already do it. But if you want to draw a piece of this material in our country, I cannot use this technology because I know it will be very difficult to manufacture, is a very specific example, but here it is.
Have preferred materials or not?
GC: No, I like this challenge and realize the material whatever it is and work on it. There is a product created for Vista Alegre, a person who understands porcelain finds it interesting, but the layman thinks it is beautiful by other aspects that interests me, these two paths. A very technical person realizes that the folds of the fabric give it a very important structure for when going to the oven and do not need an external part, which is what often happens. But who does not understand, enjoy's the piece by its form. I like this type of game, on the one hand, solve a technical problem and on the other have a first impact that is sufficient for the piece become interesting.
When you think of a product or design objects you begin where?
GC: First knowing the material and the production that exist and this will help to the product you will create. For me this is the most important, realizing that I can work on those parameters. My goal is not to make pieces that are very difficult to produce, they will not sell, that has no interest either for them or for me. You must have commercial products and that represent me.
And the author design how does product appear?
GC: It could be from an idea, or other interesting things that may arise.
Another aspect of your work, is that it has a duality, as well as being very pratical, that's part of you as a designer, or has to do with the objectives that are required in terms of the order?
GC: No, that usually come from me, am I find it interesting that kind of product, because it is an asset, not another like the others, to be special. In fact nowadays houses are built smaller and such products begin to be interesting. In market terms is also advantageous, is not just a table, has another function, or a bookshelf that can be easily moved from one house to another, or a coffee table that can be used as support, or when we renovated the room and thus raises the piece elsewhere. I have to have some other argument in my products, that is, you can sell a table, as coffee table, this kind of logic is advantageous in terms of trade, but is also relevant in people's homes.
Have environmental concerns, in terms of origin?
GC: I do not have much, but usually companies do. I worked in the producing woolen cloth and the brand has this concern from the outset, only uses portuguese wool, because the initial idea was restructure the business fabric of the Manteigas area. The wewood, on the other hand, has all certified wood which are obtained in certified forests. In Portugal, increasingly we have this concern, it is a commercial advantage, there are customers who have that requirement and if a brand wants to work in the most demanding market, such products must exist.
How would you define yourself as a designer?
GC: I like to think that the products I design for companies solve problems, can be used by people and at the same time appreciate the idea that when designing, I am helping the brand and contribute to its success. For me it is increasingly important when working in Portugal to think that way. But as a designer I think I do special and unique products that are representing somehow my way of thinking.
What is your next step in professional terms?
GC: Continue working for several companies as I have done so far, there is no purpose in concrete to achieve, just want to grow, have more work with Portuguese companies and help them grow.
You live in Berlin for professional reasons?
GC: No, I like to travel, I am here since 2005. I live one year in each country and have been in Italy, England, France and in February I am going to Paris. It is normal for me to change.
It also stimulates your creativity even in terms design?
GC: Yes, being in a new city, be willing to receive certain stimuli, meet different people and every time I go to a new place I like to meet with designers, with people from other areas, creatives, photographers and also visit new museums. In London, where I lived for a year and a half, there is a lot of that happening, is a very rich city, but there are always other interesting places.
You emigrate for professional reasons?
GC: No, I do this because I feel like it. Before in Portugal, I lived in Oporto, Paredes and in Aveiro. Always in several cities, but I thought it was time to leave the country. It is something I have always done and gives me a certain joy.
