YOUNG TALENTS
Entering Business Mode

Elisabeth Bohnet: What is you professional training?

Octavio Asensio: I first studied design in Valencia. In 2010, I came to Madrid to do a master's degree in ACAD at Antonio de Nebrija Universityin Madrid. I studied the different softwares for design, for creating and digital prototyping.

How does Madrid as a city influence your design?

Octavio Asensio: For me, Madrid is pure energy. It offers its vitality for everything you design. Madrid as the capital of Spain is a big city with a lot of differences and it has a lot to offer: it is very inspirational for my studio as well as for my personal life.

"Chamberi" is your latest stool and you presented it at the SaloneSatellite this year. What is the idea behind it?

Octavio Asensio: "Chamberi" for me is the best piece I designed up until now. It is my personal highlight. The name derives from the name of my neighbourhood in Madrid. "Chamberi" is at first an elegant piece of furniture, that you can use as a stool or a table. The legs and the soft blend of the top are inspired by nature. The idea is that of a very simple piece that creates a big arch, a big silhouette with legs. Its wooden surface also offers a soft touch.

Its appearance varies very strongly with the perspective: From one side, it seems to be a cube, because the legs look like a board. From the other side, it looks much more lightweight.

Octavio Asensio: When I talked to people in Milan I found out, that many of them have this kind of dynamic perception on the "Chamberi" stool. It is static, but the piece has a dynamic view because of the legs. Right now, I am looking for a partner to get "Chamberi" into production.

This year you participated at SaloneSatellite for the third time in a row. How would you describe the development from your first to your third participation?

Octavio Asensio: SaloneSatellite is the best platform for young designers. In the first year, everything was exciting and new, I was happy to participate and presented different prototypes. In the second year, I had very little time to take out my ideas. Now in 2024, I could develop all my exhibits in time and could prepare my prototypes in three different colours and materials. I had a well-thought-out presentation and combined them in a nice concept with my lamps. A great final!

Let's talk about light. Can you explain how you proceed in designing luminaires, maybe in the example of your table lamp "Scraps"?

Octavio Asensio: For me, design is possible in two ways. One way is to think from the user's perspective. The other is to use the opportunity the material offers you. In the case of "Scraps", I literally used the different scraps I found as waste of production of standard steel profiles for building construction. These bars of steel are only sold in two sizes of six or twelve meters. If you need it smaller, you cut them and have a lot of waste. This was my opportunity: The standard profile is very equitable, and it is very economical. Six meters of the standard steel profile only cost eighteen Euros. My idea then was to select this industry waste and to create a big family of lamps only with a combination of two profiles for each model. The result is a sustainable and very economical product. But it should be nice at home, too. Therefore, I selected the different colours, and added the light. To understand my design, I need the customer to see that it is telling a story.

Where do you produce your lamp "Scraps"?

Octavio Asensio: Until now, I have produced it myself, but I am looking for a brand. Coming back from Milan, many people are contacting me, because they want to resell these lamps. Until I have found a brand to cooperate with, they will have to be patient. I think, it would take a few months to be launched, from production to the market.

You designed another lamp called "Weldy", that plays with the different variations of light. On one hand, it sheds its light as a luminaire should. But "Weldy" also reflects the light, and it illuminates itself as an object.

Octavio Asensio: I think "Weldy" is an architectural silhouette. It is a very essential product. The source of light is not visible, yet the light is shining at the object at the top. It's not designed to be the first lamp in the room, it is more an object with light. Light is a beautiful element in a room and the shadows emphasize the object. Yet, with its monochromatic colours it also works as a sculptural object when the light is switched off.

You say you focus on four things in your design: user-object relation, sustainability, production, and spatial balance. Which one drove the draft for your "Bruta" Table?

Octavio Asensio: Brutal is definitively driven by sustainability. I used the same profiles as in the "Scraps" lamps as I was very impressed by the availability of these profiles. "Brutal" is very simple and consists of three parts: the two steel profiles and a solid wooden tabletop. For me, "Brutal" is also a chance to introduce colour into different fields of the home.

You also work as a tutor at IED in Madrid. Can you say how teaching changed your way of designing?

Octavio Asensio: Teaching is very important for my work. In conversation with the students, I can learn about their different perspectives and occasionally change my mind. I try to help them to find their own way of designing, as I believe that young designers can change the future world. Therefore, I encourage them to find new ways of thinking and to become a team where good conversations take place.

Which brands have you worked with?

Octavio Asensio: I designed two tables and a wardrobe for the Italian brand Opificioitalia963. They presented four new collections at MaisonObjet last January in Paris. EQ3 is a Canadian brand which will produce several products presented in past editions of SaloneSatellite and will be launching new collections later this year if all goes well. I am very excited.

Can you tell me what you're currently working on and what is next on your schedule?

Octavio Asensio: Right now, I am working on a chair for an Italian company. Meanwhile, I am in conversations with different brands after Salone del Mobile. I am entering a new state in my career. After gaining a lot of experience in the last years, my focus lies on the visibility of my studio and going into production with my designs. I want to take this knowledge and focus on cooperating with manufacturers. The studio is entering business mode.