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Patricia Urquoila - designer of our times

Judges' profiles: Patricia Urquiola

Interiors

 

There’s very little Patricia Urquiola hasn’t turned her hand to in the field of design. And now she can strike being a judge at the Wallpaper* Design Awards off her things-to-do list too.

As with so many boundary-crossing creatives, Urquiola comes from an architecture background, having studied at the Faculdad de Arquitectura in Madrid. Shortly after graduating she relocated to Milan and studied under Achille Castiglione at the Politecnico di Milano, which sealed her passion for design.

In 1991 she headed the product development of De Padova and at the same time designed her first items of furniture. Even from these early items, it’s clear to see the nascent but unmistakable elements of Urquiola’s style. To say her work is experimental with both form and material doesn’t do justice to the imagination, the creative flair and the enduring practicality that characterizes her designs.

Since opening her own design studio in 2001 her output has been prolific to say the least. Designing enough different pieces to fully furnish a large house, indoors and out, Urquiola is on all the greatest international design houses’ speed dials: De Padova, B&B Italia, Alessi, Driade, Kartell, Flos, Moroso to name just a handful.

With such a crowd clamouring to have her work with them it’s little surprise she’s such a force to be reckoned with and at the 2006 Design Awards we crowned her furniture designer of the year. This year we’ve gone one step further and it’s time to hear who she thinks deserves the prizes…

4 January 2008 | Interiors
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