INTRODUCTION
CARA \ DAVIDE, a multi-disciplinary design studio based in Milan, is a collaboration between Cara Judd (South Africa) and Davide Gramatica (Italy).
Our recent works are characterized by an interest in experimenting with materials, techniques, and processes related to different territories. We produce self-initiated limited editions working together with expert artisans. These collections are represented by galleries worldwide and at the same time, we also work with brands to develop new collections or spaces.
STUDIES
Graduating in product design from IED Milan, we started our careers in diverse areas ranging from apprenticing with artisans to working with industrial companies before merging our experience in 2016. Our collective studies include interior design and illustration and we have personal ongoing studies where we explore materials and production techniques.
WORKING PROCESS
Our process is driven by the constant and intimate dialogue we have with each other but that also extends to the artisans and mentors we collaborate with. The work that we produce is essentially a collaborative piece so the idea of establishing a dialogue, both literally and symbolically, is fundamental to our practice and represents a way to connect and be coherent to the context in which we are working. Our research is also a constant process based on our interest in materials and processes and the city becomes an urban archive of details and techniques that often become central to the pieces we develop.
MATERIAL
Material is central to our practice and working with different artisans gives us the opportunity to work over a broad spectrum of materials and techniques. Materiality is, however, the outcome of a consideration or dialogue that the studio is exploring and in our recent works, mono-materiality has become a predominant theme. Working with single materials helps us synthesize an idea and make it more immediate, recognisable or iconic. The outcome of our works are often a synthesis of our different ideas and mono-materiality helps us express that synthesis.
INSPIRATION
In this phase of our practice, there are recurring themes that essentially represent what we are interested in exploring and what is relevant to us. More than inspiration, themes like material, perception, production techniques, context and coherency are what inspire our works. For instance, working with a variety of materials, a lot of the time inspiration comes directly from a curious detail related to a production technique or material quality and consequently, the project aims to honour that.
DREAM COLLABORATION
Anything with Michael Haizer
WHERE TO SHOP?
Flea markets and book shops
FUTURE PLANS
We are currently working on some new spaces and we like the idea of expanding our experience in terms of spatial design in the future. Ideally, we’d also like to be able to travel again to meet new artisans and develop new works together perhaps through a residency program.
