Omayra Maymó is an architect and designer who creates furniture, lighting, and objects to explore the narrative and emotional potential of our material world. After a long stay in Copenhagen, where she founded her design studio in 2016, she currently resides in Madrid, where she collaborates with different companies internationally.
Her work focuses on creating timeless, honest, and meaningful objects and pieces guided by the beauty of simplicity. They are designed to evoke a feeling of deep emotional connection in their owners so that they’ll keep them for the rest of their lives, thus appealing to the most sentimental aspects of sustainability. She also has more speculative projects, which often result in unique, experimental pieces
Her work has received numerous awards and accolades, including the "Fuera de Serie Design & Innovation Award” in the Furniture category granted by the Spanish magazine “Fuera de Serie”.; recognition as one of the "30 Brilliant Minds 2023" in the category of Emerging Talent by the Spanish design & interiors magazine “Arquitectura y Diseño”; and the “Young Talent of the Year 2021” award granted by the Spanish magazine “Interiores”, among others. Her work has also received a number of nominations in Denmark and has been exhibited in New York, Milan, London, Madrid, Barcelona, Copenhagen, and Stockholm.
We spoke with Omayra about her passion for design, her experience with Nordic aesthetics, her creative process, and her projects:
Interiors from Spain: You studied architecture in Madrid and Paris and your destiny changed when you discovered design. When did you realize that your true calling was in design? What drew you to it?
Omayra Maymó: I studied Architecture at the ETSAM in Madrid, and at some point, I took some electives in furniture design. That's when I realized I was more interested in designing on a smaller scale. What fascinated me at first and still captivates me today is how the objects around us can hold so much meaning. An object can serve as a critique of society or reflect the industrial and technological advancements of its time. It can explore new ways of working with materials, represent an aesthetic manifesto, convey humor, pose questions, or provide answers... Designing is communicating, so an object is a language with unlimited narrative possibilities, and I find it amazing to explore all this expressive potential of our material world, which is what I try to do with my work.
Interiors from Spain: And then you traveled to one of the great cradles of Nordic design, Denmark and Sweden. What did you take away from these experiences? How did it change the way you design and your overall perspective?
Omayra Maymó: That's right. After some time working as an architect in Madrid, I decided to leave everything behind and go to Denmark to study a master's degree in industrial design. I chose that country because of its incredibly rich design history and the way its design tradition is deeply woven into the fabric of its culture, society, and education. It’s a country where I found all the resources I needed to grow as a designer: education, work, a powerful industry, social interest, public investment, etc.
I lived in Denmark for a total of 6 years, first studying and then working as a designer for a Danish firm. It was a unique and invaluable professional experience for me. And of course, gaining this in-depth understanding Danish tradition marked my approach to design. I like to think that my current work blends the essence of Nordic design with a Mediterranean touch. I share all the Danish values, such as respect for craftsmanship and material quality, attention to detail, and doing away with unnecessary elements. Another important element that I learned through architecture that the Danish tradition reinforces is the honesty of materials and construction. I allow the process and potential construction constraints to shape the outcome, rather than imposing a predefined form from the outset. These are the essential values of thedesign I do today.
Interiors from Spain: What do you think are the main differences between Nordic design and the design being done in Spain today? And what do they have in common?
Omayra Maymó: I feel that design in Denmark is marked by a rich historical heritage and a strong tradition. They have very important values, such as the emphasis they place on material quality, craftsmanship, and manual techniques, and reducing things to their bare essentials. These are aspects that we also value here in Spain, but I think creative people often feel less compelled to stick to them. As a result, there’s a special sense of creative freedom where anything is possible, unburdened by historical responsibilities.
It probably also has to do with the character of the people. Especially in Madrid, where I’m from and currently live. The city's amazing character and lively spirit is very much reflected in its current design scene, which has been growing and developing in recent years. Madrid is catching up, with many creative people taking on fascinating projects and a wide array of new initiatives, exhibitions, conferences, and awards emerging. Proof of this is the Madrid Design Festival, held every February, which fills the month with exhibitions, conferences, and many other design events. People are eager to make, create, and show the world what we have here, and it's great to see. While the scene may not be as well-established as in Copenhagen, where it’s been like this for decades, I would say that that’s why people here are more united and eager.
Interiors from Spain: What advice would you give to a Spanish designer who wants to design for a Nordic company, or a Spanish company that wants to sell in Nordic countries?
Omayra Maymó: Well, if the person is open to it, I would encourage her to spend some time in Copenhagen to gain an insider's perspective on the industry and soak up its values and expertise. It's easier to get a foot in the door from there than from here.
And for a Spanish company that wants to sell there, I’d tell them they can’t miss the Copenhagen design fair in June, 3 Days of Design. It’s an excellent opportunity to gain a solid understanding of the Danish design scene.
Interiors from Spain: After six years of hard work in Denmark, in 2020 you decide to return to Spain to work in your own studio in Madrid. What led you to make this change? What did you gain from it?
Omayra Maymó: It was a turning point. In reality, I had already established my studio in 2016 in Copenhagen, but I immediately started working for Ferm Living full time and exclusively. I tried to balance that with my personal projects, but it was hard to make time for everything. After almost 4 years with them, I felt like I needed a change. I wanted to tell my own stories and have the freedom to explore my personal interests. Besides, I was eager to get back to Madrid, so at the beginning of 2020 I left Ferm Living, and since then I’ve been working independently in my own studio.
I love Copenhagen and the design industry there, so it's great to be able to spend time in both cities. But the city that really feels like my home is Madrid. I love this city and its lively spirit. I love how warm and friendly the people are and the way life and loved ones are cherished here. It’s truly a city that you can have a great time in with others.
Interiors from Spain: How would you define the way you create? What do you try to convey in your projects?
Omayra Maymó: I always say that objects are little stories to me. That’s why I view my work as a communicative act, seeing the object as a means to express a story and an intention that extends beyond its functionality, to evoke emotions and move people. For me, design is about this connection between person and object, rather than the product itself. That's why when I start a project, I don't start thinking about the object itself but about what I want to transmit through that object and what meaning it will hold. And this eventually materializes in a physical project.
That's why I wouldn't say that I have only one way of creating. But because each object has its own unique story and context, there are endless stories that can be told and countless ways to tell them and develop each project. That's why I think each project needs to have its own specific approach in order to make the most of it.
In general, I aspire to create timeless, honest, and meaningful objects and pieces guided by the beauty of simplicity. They are designed to evoke a feeling of deep emotional connection in their owners so that they’ll keep them for the rest of their lives, thus appealing to the most sentimental aspects of sustainability.
I also enjoy working across a broad spectrum that ranges from experimental to industrial design. My freelance projects tend to lean more toward experimentation, while my work for clients focuses more on industrial production.
I feel very comfortable at both ends of that spectrum, and I enjoy exploring the space in between. And I often try to find ways to merge these seemingly opposing frameworks in my work.
Interiors from Spain: What techniques do you use to create objects? What objects and materials are you especially drawn to when experimenting?
Omayra Maymó: Well, as I said, it really varies. I don't think I have a favorite material. I love experimenting and getting to know all kinds of materials. But if I had to choose one, it would be wood, probably oak. It’s a wonderful material. Everything about oak is beautiful. It has history and soul and represents resilience, strength, and the longevity of nature.
In reality, what I like most about my work is when I can experiment with materials. Because you can learn a lot by handling, testing, and observing them. It's almost like listening to what they have to say, as if they could speak and tell you what they want to be and how they want to be it. For me, this process of trial and error—observing, reflecting, and learning from my own experiences—is the most enriching part of design. That's why I'm more interested in the process than the final result in most cases.
Whenever possible, I try to shed my preconceived notions, exploring unconventional materials, developing new techniques or processes, creating original materials, and designing my own tools, etc. This often leads to more speculative, even utopian projects, where the outcome may be an object with less defined functionality but a more significant conceptual component. And for me, it’s just as valid, because the story it tells is different.
Interiors from Spain: Tell us about your work for foreign companies. What countries do you work with? Are there any you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Omayra Maymó: I mainly work with Danish companies at the moment. I already had relationships with some of them when I lived there, while others developed since my return to Madrid. I also work with companies in England and Korea, for example. And I've recently started collaborating a bit with companies in Spain, which I'm very excited about. I’d really like to work with more companies across the country. I hope new projects come in 2025.
Interiors from Spain: What projects are you currently working on? Anything outside of Spain?
Omayra Maymó: I’m currently working on several new projects with both Danish and Spanish companies, and I’m also preparing a very personal endeavor: I will begin self-producing some of my designs. This is something I’ve been thinking about for a long time, and I’m really excited about it. So, if everything goes according to plan, in a few months I’ll launch an online store with some of my designs. Some will be new, unpublished designs that I can't reveal much about just yet, and others will be previously published designs that haven’t been available for purchase until now, such as the 1927 bench, created in collaboration with an esparto artisan from La Latina, in Madrid. If anyone would like to keep up with this project and stay informed about any releases, they can follow the updates on Instagram: @omayramaymo, or ask for information at info@omayramaymo.com. So far, it’s been a very rewarding project, and I hope it continues to be so!
