07/06/2023

Nacar Design

Nacar is the story of two industrial designers and friends, Jaume Jané and Bern Donadeu, who in 2006 decided to create an international studio capable of supporting companies in their transformation processes.

From their headquarters in Poblenou, the most innovative district of Barcelona, they tackle the challenges posed by their clients with a global scope. They offer industrial design, UX/UI design, service design, and strategic design services. In 2022 they opened
a second office in Bilbao dedicated entirely to developing mobility products, machinery, and furniture for the home and office. The companies they have collaborated with include HP, Roche, Vueling, ABB, BH, Roca, Crem, Grupo Correa, Teka, Comas and Partners and Sellex.

Nacar has an agile, international team of more than 140 creative professionals, a key added value offered by this agency, which has led it to win more than 50 prestigious international awards such as IF Design Awards, Red Dot Awards, German Design Awards, and more.

We interviewed Bern Donadeu, who talked about the values, areas, and sectors the studio works with, and the challenges and new projects they are working on:

Interiors from Spain: What values do you transmit in your creations?

Nacar Design: In our designs, we strive to achieve a convergence between the physical and the digital, with a special focus on user experience. We highly value aesthetic and formal aspects, paying special attention to every detail of the product or service.

Interiors from Spain: What areas of design do you work in? What services do you offer?

Nacar Design: Nacar started as an industrial design studio, but when we detected other needs among our clients, we expanded our portfolio of services. Today in 2023 we offer UX/UI design, engineering, strategic design, and service design. We offer comprehensive solutions to maximize value in each project.

Interiors from Spain: How do you approach the challenges that a client poses to you? How do your designs improve users' lives?

Nacar Design: At Nacar, we use primary and secondary research to identify opportunities for improvement. We then dive into the client's industry to gain a thorough understanding of their needs. Finally, we bring our solutions to real life through products and services, thereby improving users' lives. That's why we usually say that we call them partners; we look for opportunities that fit into a clear value proposition. We have been working with many of our clients for years, some for more than a decade... that is the best indicator for us.

Interiors from Spain: You work with firms from very diverse sectors. How do you achieve this diversification without losing your identity?

Nacar Design: Our identity at Nacar is not only based on our specializations. We have a highly adaptable methodology that has been proven in a variety of fields, from health to machinery. We work in multiple sectors, although we have strategic priority areas as our specializations. However, our identity is defined by our mission, vision, and corporate culture as a whole.

Interiors from Spain: Any new sector you would like to design for?

Nacar Design: We see returning to the automotive sector as an exciting prospect. With individual experience with brands such as Alfa Romeo, we look forward to bringing our vision and a wide range of services beyond styling to our clients to enrich this sector with our presence. It would be a real pleasure.

Interiors from Spain: You have won more than 50 prestigious international awards. What's your secret?

Nacar Design: The secret to winning awards lies in doing your best, every time. The award is confirmation of the effort and of a job well done.

Interiors from Spain: By the way, this year you just won 3 IF Design Awards for habitat products such as the MASS chair for SELLEX and the BOLETUS tableware and ATLÁNTIDA cutlery collections for Comas and Partners. What did the judges highlight about these designs?

Nacar Design: In fact, we have won 7 IF Awards and 1 Red Dot, a historic achievement for the company! From among 11,000 design proposals from 56 countries, criteria such as form, function for the user, differentiation in the market, and impact generated were evaluated. Our proposals stood out in this global competition.

Interiors from Spain: Are you motivated by new challenges? Is there one that you have already achieved that has been especially satisfying?

Nacar Design: In 16 years and despite financial and health crises, we have grown from two employees to 140 of almost 20 nationalities. Our current challenge is to cultivate an inclusive corporate culture in which we can all grow.

Interiors from Spain: How do you approach the studio’s international growth? Which clients and countries do you work with? Do you have any new projects outside Spain that you are currently working on?

Nacar Design: We collaborate with both local and global companies, focusing our attention on Europe, America, and Asia. And yes, we are currently working on projects outside our borders with clients from cities such as Eindhoven, Munich, Zürich, San Diego, San Francisco, and Milan.

Interiors from Spain: Your headquarters are in Barcelona and in 2022 you opened an office in Bilbao. What is the purpose of this new office?

Nacar Design: Bilbao is consolidating its position as a benchmark thanks to its industrial legacy and its ability to adapt to changing times. There are sectors that are appealing to us in Bilbao, such as industry, mobility, and furniture. The combination of tradition and innovation in Bilbao creates a conducive environment.

Interiors from Spain: Tell us about the professional and human team that makes up the studio. How do you structure your work? What would you highlight about your team and how important are they in the success of your designs?

Nacar Design: Our employees, the Nacarians, are our greatest asset. We value their talent and dedication, driving innovation and success. We create an environment that fosters their growth and provides them with the tools to excel in their disciplines. We are organized in squads, specialized teams led by experts. In this way we encourage collaboration and autonomy.

Interiors from Spain: And this year, are there any new designs or services for companies you’re involved in that you can tell us about?

Nacar Design: We are part of Trustroke, a project funded by the European Commission through Horizon Europe. Our mission is to improve stroke patient care using artificial intelligence. We are collaborating with prestigious European healthcare institutions on the research, strategic design, and UX/UI. We’re aiming to improve the stroke patient experience at all stages, both inside and outside the hospital.

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