05/05/2015

Terrific trio

Odos comprises Luis Calabuig, María Mengual and Ana Segovia, who met as students on the industrial design course at the University of Valencia. After several years of working separately for different companies, they joined forces and as well as product, they also offer industrial, graphic and multimedia design.

For a trio of designers still in their mid-twenties, Odos Design is doing spectacularly well. Odos’s portfolio of products in production is extensive and ranges from drinking glasses, to furniture to lights.

And the launch of the Ensombra parasol for Gandía Blasco, catapaulted the designers into the design spotlight. This parasol demonstrates their ingenuity and commitment to simple, unelaborate, design. When you see it, you wonder why no-one has thought before to make a parasol this way.

Three can be a difficult number, but Ana Segovia says the team doesn’t have clashes of will. ‘When we get a new project, we always start the design process by working on our own ideas. Then we put them on the table and discuss them and continue to develop the ideas we all agree are the most interesting. You have to understand the concept, what jobs the product will have to perform, and work out the technical solution. In this way, we eventually arrive at a finished design that has the Odos stamp.’

Odos´s client list is impressive: Gandia Blasco, Do+Ce, Sancal, Novum, Gamamobel, Abdón and Lucas, Koo Internacional, etc.

Their most recent creations include the Nuvola Collection for the company Do+Ce. Nuvola is a chair which tries to stay unnoticed, and upon which there is a solid and comfortable seat that almost appears to float. The development of the collection has enabled the creation of pieces such as a chair, low chair and puff as well as a collection of coffee, dining and office tables.

1+1 is a sofa for Proyec Continental (Sancal Group) that offers a new way of distributing space. A range of combinations can be generated from this space which serves as a division. Starting with the chair, it is possible to produce 1+1, 1+2 or 1+3 seater sofas. The space which becomes the differentiating element can be used to place lamps or magazines.

Another one of its latest designs are the collection of mirrors for Novum: “Mirror, mirror!” , inspired by a baroque decoration. “Magic mirror, who is the fairest of them all?” is based on the combination of the wall mirror with the classic hand mirror. The hand mirror acts as a magnifying mirror and its shape is simulated with an acid engraving silhouette on the wall mirror.

Odos also designs textiles, covers and sets of 100% cotton sheets for Gandía Blasco such as Etnia or Posturas, and blankets such as Remiendos or Gaia.

As a design team, the company has participated in events and competitions such as Nude (2003-2006), Domus Mediterránea, Proyecto D’Artes, ARCO 2004, Showroom DE+m (Milan Furniture Trade Show) and the Biennale de Saint Etienne 2004 and 2006 (“Living Spain”).

The "Ensombra” parasol was awarded the first prize for the best exterior product at the Grand Design Awards 2007 in London and has the “Selección ADI-FAD” certification with the option of the Delta silver or gold award 2007. Ensombra was also a finalist at the CDIM professional 2006 awards and selected to participate in different “Spain Color: Fresh Air in Spanish Design” exhibitions organised by ICEX (Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade) for Tokyo Designer’s Week 2006 and the “Editorials” exhibition organised by VIA during the Paris Furniture Trade Show 2007.

They received the first young designer’s career national prize at the INJUVE 2005 competition in the DESIGN category and the Valencia Crea first prize in the Graphic Design 2005 category.

In terms of the immediate future, Ana says Odos believes demand will grow for products that result from careful analysis of the actions we take and the things we need to do every day. In other words, evolutionary rather than revolutionary products.

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