I am Ismael, a product designer from northern Spain, living in Porto and currently designing bespoke wooden playgrounds for Earthscape Play. Craftsman at heart, I take pleasure in the design and development of physical products, making ideas tangible through an iterative process filled with sketches, computer models, gut feeling and more. The combination of a reflective mind and sensitive making skills helps me flow between making and thinking, moving from concepts to basic models and beautiful working prototypes.
Some of the things I have worked on include interactive wooden toys, a nightlight for children, accessories for people with special needs, a variety of connected products, wooden furniture and a book. Now also playgrounds. What do they all have in common? Their caring nature, just enough level of complexity and a modest and quiet appeal. I strive to give objects a more gentle and approachable face, contributing to a simpler and more considerate product landscape that radiates human warmth.
Regardless of the project, I like to use words and images to make sense of the context, gain depth of thinking and communicate. They become guidelines that help with looking at the big picture while working on the task at hand.
The personality of a product is defined by its form, colour, material, finish and details. The harmonious integration of all these elements with the product’s core functionality requires an informed judgement. Building a library of tangible material and colour swatches becomes a fundamental part of my process. A very sensory, living mood-board.
Is it well balanced? How does it feel in the hand? What does every detail do to the shape? Implementing and critically looking at all the elements helps refine the form of an object and make better decisions in the end.
The ability to turn ideas into tangible product realities is a beautiful one. Meticulously putting together all the different parts of the puzzle is the part I delight in the most.
Then, what are we waiting for? If you would like to create beautiful and meaningful work together, or simply talk, please get in touch. Don’t be a stranger!