ICEX brings out Hola catalogue

ICEX has recently published an illustrated, hard-copy catalogue, entitled Hola, A Wave of Design From Spain, available in Spanish, English, Chinese, Japanese and Russian. This showcases the most distinguished examples of Spanish design, from the 20th century to the present day, and spotlights 133 pieces, 266 photos, 44 companies and 85 designers. The criteria for selecting the products were pieces which have scooped international awards, scored record-breaking sales and have been created in Spain by Spanish designers.

Spanish studio Narita undertook the project’s branding, wittily playing with the word ‘hola’ — the Spanish for hello — and similar-sounding ‘ola’ (wave), and its associations with water, an omnipresent element in Spain. ‘Olas’ (waves) can also be read as ‘hola’, as in the way the sea greets the earth. Waves are also invigorating and timidly retreat from the shore, only to return with renewed vigour and energy. The products in this catalogue — which draws attention to today’s most relevant Spanish homeware designers, whose work represent the latest advances of Spain’s design industry — are steeped with these qualities. 

This prestigious catalogue flags up Spanish companies specialising in furniture, lighting, textiles and other homeware categories, all of which are committed to creativity and innovation in the products they’ve created and to collaborating with talented Spanish designers with whom they have developed these pieces. Accompanying the printed catalogue is the microsite www.holadesignspain.com, which is easy and simple to navigate and can be used on all types of responsive mobile devices. This also features dynamic slideshows of images which allow for interactivity. The ultimate objective of this promotional material is to showcase — through the activities ICEX organises and takes part in — the excellent standard of design conceived and created in Spain.