Dwell 24: Ángel Mombiedro

In his debut furniture collection for Armombiedro Studio, Ángel Mombiedro mixes geometric forms and materials such as velvet‚ iron‚ and metal.

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Ángel Mombiedro’s melting pot approach to design is owed to his training in several strikingly different cities around the world. With a degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Madrid and additional studies in Hamburg and São Paulo—as well as a stint in New York—Mombiedro‚ 31‚ has incorporated a range of ideas and techniques into his practice.

The Qoticher Dining Chairs from Collection 1 by Ángel Mombiedro.

Even the Spanish medieval town of Cuenca‚ where his mother is from‚ serves as fodder for his designs. "From all these influences‚ I create my own language‚" he explains. His professional experience has been equally diverse: He has produced exhibition design‚ interiors‚ and branding. His debut furniture collection is composed of brightly colored tables‚ seating‚ and lighting.

Dwell 24: Ángel Mombiedro - Photo 2 of 4 -

Read about Mombiedro’s first experience of design at the Museum of Abstract Art in Cuenca, Spain, and along with more of his responses to our Q&A, below.

Hometown: Madrid, Spain

Describe what you make in 140 characters. I work in different areas and at different ends of architecture and design—from furniture and exhibition, to interiors and branding.

What's the last thing you designed? I just completed the Casa de Pueblo, the low-budget renovation of a family's summer house in the countryside.

Do you have a daily creative ritual? No, I don't. The only thing I need is a complete breakfast with coffee, fruit, and toast in the morning. And I'm usually not in a rush; I am not a morning person.

How do you procrastinate? Sometimes, I start imaging nonsensical projects and make up a whole story around them. Then, I check Instagram for few minutes. If I am still resisting work, I might go for a walk in Retiro Park—Madrid's baroque central park—and grab a beer with friends.

What everyday object would you like to redesign? Why? Mobile phones, because they all look the same now.

Who are your heroes (in design, in life, or in both)? I really admire Open Arms, a Spanish boat that is currently saving the lives of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. The group behind it are being banned by European Governments, but they persist.

The Refectorio dining table from Collection 1 by Ángel Mombiedro.

What skill would you most like to learn? How to make pottery and sculpt with bronze.

What is your most treasured possession? My dog

What's your earliest memory of an encounter with design? I remember one visit to the Museum of Abstract Art in Cuenca, Spain. It is located in a medieval building, and there, I found how the new reinvents the old. It's still one of my favorite places in the world.

What contemporary design trend do you despise? Houses that look like bars

Are you left-handed or right-handed? Left

Choose one: Less is More, Just Enough is Enough, or More is More? Just Enough is Enough

Choose one: Past, Present, or Future? Past