TREND FILE BY // ART MEETS DESIGN
NINI ANDRADE SILVA
Nini Andrade Silva is a person whose path definitely took her in several
directions. She’s known for having many interior design projects all over
the world, projecting the name and fame of Portugal’s quality design and
craftsmanship. When it comes to describing her style, she states that it’s
definitely “minimalistic with a little bit of soul to it”.
The Madeira island is one of the main inspirations for
her work and design. That can definitely be seen in some
examples of her work such as the ‘c collection, heavily
inspired by the pebbles on that island. She confessed that
she feels a sense of peace unlike any other place in the world
she’s been to.
Nini is an advocate and promoter of Portuguese
craftsmanship, believing that every craft piece’s design is
special, either if it’s being shown in its country of origin or
in a foreign country. During the interview, she recalled an
episode in which she introduced some of the best examples
of the arts and crafts of her country in Colombia, that is
quite different from Portugal.
“We took the traditional concept of the piece of traditional
craftsmanship and we adapted it to the present day. For
example, for the nine hotels that I designed in Colombia,
we did everything based on craftsmanship. From the carpets
- all of them handmade - to the tapestries that we lined on
the walls, even the jars. We used so much craftsmanship on
those hotels that I remember the local people thanking me
for showing Colombia how much craftsmanship was worth
and it was very nice to see.”
The designer also criticized the fact that many designers
dream too much of making their “piece of a lifetime”,
emphasizing the importance of keeping the focus on
producing a simple yet usable piece. Having defined herself
as a person who “doesn’t follow any trends”, seeking “to
create them” instead, Nini Andrade Silva is an example of a
person who appreciates a challenge, even when it comes in
the shape of a difficult client.
In regards to the future of Portugal when it comes to
preserving their arts and crafts and also regarding the
recognition from other countries the designer feels happy
regarding the confidence that many people in the country
have gained. She feels that more and more Portuguese
involved in that industry are becoming more confident in
their design work, feeling that it’s very good that they can
get to defend both their history and their work.
