20th September 2018

Now open: a Natural Collective

Written by Laura.

Long influenced by the tastes of its neighbours and with a more commercial than creative nature, Uruguay has not really been on the design map. That is until now. The country is in the midst of an exciting moment of flux, with an authentic visual language emerging centred around natural materials and stripped back rawness.

There’s no better place to see this in the flesh than at A Natural Collective, an exhibition of nine Uruguayan design studios that’s running at designjunction during London Design Festival. Mastermind by Uruguay XXI (a Montevideo-based agency set up to champion Uruguay on the global stage), it demonstrates the breadth of ideas and approaches that make the country a design economy to watch.

Tables by Carolina Palombo.

Taking part in this year’s showcase is Studio Diario, Studio Claro, Menini-Nicola, Muar, Carolina Palombo Píriz, Rafael Antia, Samago, Estudio Tosca and Izzi Design. Each will bring a single or a small collection of products, curated by the Uruguay XXI team.

At the show you can catch Studio Diario’s multilevel Dos table, Menini-Nicola’s striking Tubular armchair and Rafael Antia Perenne collection, which incorporates foliage into a suite of furniture. Also be sure not to miss the identity and layout designed by Uruguayan-born, London-based designer Matteo Fogale, who is also the brains behind the second in a double whammy of Uruguay-inspired shows, Hilos Invisibles, at The Aram Gallery.

Paper Weights by Estudio Tosca

Overwhelmed by the zillions of LDF shows competing for your brain space? Don’t be, read our complete guide here.

Chair by Samago

Want to know what we and our favourite people are up to this London Design Festival, then shimmy over here.