[en] At Viefe® we work with collaborators who bring new ideas and ways of understanding design. As well as their talent, we value their capacity to create new products with personality and a singular style. Héctor Diego is one of them. Technical engineer of industrial design and specialist in product design, he has participated in the most recent Viefe® catalogues, contributing with his perspective towards the designs for our brand.
We’ve spoken to him to find out a little more about the styles, products and materials with which he most identifies. Getting to know him professionally allows us to understand his creations a little more.
Héctor, can you tell us briefly about your career so far?
I studied technical engineering in industrial design and after doing a masters in product development, I worked for a few years in the technical department for the company AIC / Martínez Medina. Later, and with more experience in this sector, I established my own design studio, Héctor Diego in 2001.
In which sectors do you work?
Basically, I develop projects for furniture, industrial design, art management, exhibition set-ups and the presentation of new products. The main sectors in which I work are those in the fields of home, lighting, offices, urban furnishings, DIY and home installations.
Can you mention one piece of work of which you are particularly proud?
I’m particularly proud of those which have been recognised with prestigious international awards, which confirms that they have gained a universal acceptance, such as the metallic bench “Plane” produced by the company DelaOliva in Madrid. This design was the winner of the Good Design Award, presented by the Chicago museum of architecture and design and which has gone on to form part of the permanent digital collection by the museum. Also, there is the door stop “Lock” which was the winner of the German design award, amongst other things.
Is this your first time in the world of knobs and handles?
No, I had already designed some previously. I really like the world of furniture accessories and I feel as if I have things to offer. My experience with Viefe® has been fantastic because they have a really high-quality finish to their products, very precise with an eye for detail which is crucial when trying to convert an idea into a good product so it can then have a longer lifespan.
What steps do you take when designing your products?
Before I start to sketch, I analyze closely exactly what I want to do, how I can contribute, questioning what already exists and looking for alternatives. When I reach an interesting idea, I then start to make it materialize until I come to a conclusion. Explained in this way it may appear simple, but it involves a lot of time and effort until I can find a definitive design.
Which designers do you look up to?
The great designers, the eternal classics: Eames, Castiglioni, Wegner, Jacobsen…they were all visionaries who opened up new paths.
A favourite material?
Natural wood, for what it transmits and its warmth.
A shape?
Squares or circles, I think that if you can manage to make a design with these shapes, it will always be universally accepted, what’s difficult is to achieve is such a design with these shapes in the first place.
A colour?
Always white.
A finish?
The most natural that’s possible, a matt finish.
An interior design style?
I really like those interior designs that have personality, that transmit elegance and a rational idea.
What would be your favourite room in the house?
The living-room. I like it because it’s the focal point for the family and it of course has a myriad of uses.
Which of your designs for Viefe® would you choose and why?
I’m really happy with them all! They’ve all turned out really well. If I had to choose one then it would be my first design for Viefe®, the Nice handle which has a perfect grip for any type of hand and is a handle with a perspective that changes depending on its position. I think it’s a really well rounded design.
I would also choose one which is currently in the prototype phase, for its groundbreaking concept and its personality. I hope that it will see the light of day in the next catalogue! 😉