Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Rodrigues.
Ricardo, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in a small Brazilian countryside town and experienced the joy of a full and free childhood only this type of setting could provide. During my elementary school years I had the opportunity to learn arts and crafts as well as the value of team work. I learned to value the importance of relationships which has directed my talents and experience as a designer to this day.
At age fifteen I started my first job in a woodworking factory where the hands on experience has helped me mold and develop my projects. After 22 years of experience, I have witnessed many changes, not only in the market but also in people’s desires and needs. These changes reinforced my belief that my products must work well together in order for people to enjoy and fully appreciate them.
I graduated from the University of Fine Arts (FAU) in Sao Paulo with a degree in both design and Architecture. For many years I worked as architect and product design in my own studio. Also, I have taught classes at FAU in Brazil as well as at Miami-Dade University in the Furniture Design Department. The desire to expand my knowledge led me to study in workshops in Germany, France and Italy.
My degree in architecture has helped me develop my awareness and ability to create modern, clear and organic products that are accessible to all.
In 2016, the desire to grow the footprint of my work was key in deciding to relocate my business, family and I from Brazil to the United States and create a presence in the online commerce space.
Currently, the e-commerce has been my main business here, but the architecture is like “blood in my veins”. Then also, I have been working as a consultant on some architecture projects between Miami to Boca Raton with plans to get to Orlando soon.
Has it been a smooth road?
The Brazilian design has as a characteristic the use of artisanal and semi-handcrafted techniques in its productions. This technical features was for a long time much more valued to internationally than within the country. The low recognition index was prejudicial to the evolution of the national design, added to this we had an invasion of products coming from China. Although, we found our market space through the high quality, excellent work team, much publicity in magazines, and participation in the main Brazilian design fairs and exhibitions, winning an award too.
In 2017, we ended of our first year of work in the USA, and we are still as “babies” taking the first steps toward our goals. Here as in Brazil, we found a huge Chinese products competition, as well as the great names of American design. We still have a long way forward, but we believe we are heading in the right way with solid partnerships, high quality products, showing our products and our work in the main national design fairs, and as a result we already have glad clients with our pieces.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NDT.design – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
NDT.design studio was founded since twenty-two years ago in a small town in the São Paulo state. A city about 15.000 residents, hidden in the heart of Brazil, where people walk around or ride their bikes, where also is very normal to see someone riding his/her horse among the cars. I have learned a lot with this life style, and my inspiration coming of my experiences since I was a child because I have grew up in this city. There is so much pleasure in being around people who live your life the simple way and are extremely happy with the little miracles every day. When I created NDT.Design I was thinking exactly that, I wished that through my projects and products all people could feel like me when they had a gathering with their friends or family.
Throughout these years, we have served to numerous clients as such as: retail stores and e-commerce specialized in design. Currently, our studio NDT.Design is located in the USA, in Florida. Here we have had the same kind of marketing, we sell our product at own e-commerce www.ndt.design , and on others such as www.fab.com , www.wayfair.com , www.houzz.com, www.food52 and www.amazon.com. Beside that we are always looking to show them in important fairs such as Maison&Object America, ICFF, Miami Design Week/Art Base, as well as exhibitions in the Brazilian embassies of many countries as in Paris – France, Milan and Rome – Italy that happened in 2017. In 2018, we will start in Sweden at Stockholm Design Week, February 5 to 11, 2018, where I will give a speech about “the design and how it connect with the human being”. Next, we will be in the Brazilian embassies, again in Milan – Italy, and London – UK.
The Studio has unique and original lines of products. As result of my studies, I am bringing a dash of European modernism and an influence of the American’s minimalism to each piece. The NDT.design style is synonymous of simplicity with a colorful approach to home living. The products are developed in aluminum with details in leather and wood 100% renewable resource.
I am a designer who’s concerned about human relations, and my inspiration when designing each collections are to create pieces that bring people together. All those our participations bring us the certainty that we are in right way.
Currently, all products are designed and developed in the United States, where final assembly also takes place. We manufacture out of four companies throughout the American continent with locations in Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Our business is an online business so, we can work of any part of the world, but my family and I like too much to live in Boca Raton. It is a beautiful and quiet city with a lot of good restaurants, pretty beaches, and we have a lot landscapes similar those that we saw where we lived in Brazil. However, when we talk about art and design the best place to be is Miami.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ndt.design
- Phone: (561) 990-6602
- Email: contact@ndt.design
- Instagram: @ndt.design
- Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/ndtdesingnricardorodrigues/
- Other: www.ricardorodriguesdesign.com /// https://pt-br.facebook.com/people/Ricardo-Rodrigues/100000095964247 /// @ricardorodriguesndt
Image Credit:
Luiz Moretti, Marcelo Ringo, Ricardo Milani
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