Sergio Prieto is a Spanish designer and artist renowned for his sculptural approach to furniture and lighting. Born in 1994 in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, a city celebrated for its centuries-old tradition of hand-painted ceramics, Prieto’s early exposure to art and craftsmanship profoundly influenced his creative journey. From a young age, he engaged in painting and constructing objects, laying the foundation for his future in design.

Prieto pursued formal studies at the Tomelloso School of Art and Design in Spain. His academic training emphasized a process where rigorous research and personal experiences inform his practice. This methodology led him to develop a distinctive style characterized by geometric forms and vibrant colors. His designs often draw inspiration from his life experiences and travels, including time spent in China, Italy, and France. He describes his creative process as intuitive, stating, “Everything from traveling on the metro in a great city to walking on the street could be an inspiration.”

After completing his studies, Prieto moved to Lisbon, Portugal, where he began an internship at a design company. His talent was quickly recognized, and within two weeks, he was offered a full-time senior position. This opportunity marked the beginning of his professional career in furniture and lighting design.

In 2020, Prieto co-founded Dovain Studio with Tiago De Lima. As the creative director, Prieto leads the studio in producing pieces that merge artistic expression with functional design. Dovain Studio is known for its commitment to using local materials, such as Portuguese marble and metals, and collaborating with regional artisans. Their work has been featured in various exhibitions, including Maison & Objet in Paris, and has garnered attention from publications like Elle Decoration and Architectural Digest España.

Prieto’s designs are celebrated for their bold use of color, unique forms, and the seamless integration of art and design. His pieces, such as the Meco Chair and the Elefante Armchair, exemplify his philosophy of creating functional art that evokes emotion and tells a story. Through Dovain Studio, Prieto continues to push the boundaries of contemporary design, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the international design community.

1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I was born in Talavera de la Reina (Spain), and I’m Spanish through and through. Talavera is world-renowned for its hand-painted ceramics, a tradition that dates back centuries.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

It’s hard to recall a single memory from my childhood where I wasn’t painting or creating spaces using materials I found around me, especially at my grandparents’ countryside home. I even painted “frescos” on my bedroom walls during sleepless nights.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field, and what led you to the design creation ?

Since finishing university, I started an internship in a company in Lisbon. Just two weeks in, the director asked me to join the team, and from that moment on, I’ve never stopped creating furniture and design projects.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

Life itself. Since I was a child, I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of creating — solving problems through creativity and making pieces that make others feel something. The only difference back then was that I didn’t know the word “designer” existed. I used to gift drawings and paintings to friends and family for birthdays and special occasions (I started painting on canvas when I was 9). I still do that today.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

It’s an emotional explosion — sometimes even I don’t fully understand it. It goes through phases and isn’t always easy to control, but eventually, the right piece comes through. There’s often a tension between what I want and what makes sense, and that inner conflict is vital in design, where functionality must never be lost.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

The only way to describe it is by adding an “a” to “typical.” Every day is a new world, a game with no set rules. The goal is to begin, but you never know where it’ll take you. Being a designer, artist, and entrepreneur (all at once) means constantly adapting and prioritizing whatever the moment demands.

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

From the beginning of Dovain Studio, which I co-founded with Tiago De Lima, the goal was to use local materials. It’s essential to consider where our products come from and where they’re going — and since we can only control the first part, we make sure it’s done well.
Working with wood, marble, and metal crafted by local artisans is challenging but incredibly rewarding.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

Dovain’s pieces — and my designs in general — are like ballet: they may appear simple at first glance, but there’s great structural complexity underneath. Take the Meco chair, for example.
Beyond technique, what stands out is the bold use of color and the distinctive forms that reflect my inner world.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

Each person is a world of their own. Today, when everything seems to already exist, the most important thing is to create your own image and stay true to it. Passion is intangible, but people feel it. Know where you want to go — and why. The path may change, but the intention should stay clear.

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

None, specifically. I’m proud to say my work doesn’t fit neatly into any category. It’s a fusion of many things at once. It’s simply: Sergio Prieto.

11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?

Both the well-known icons and the lesser-known friends and peers who do extraordinary work. Even those whose work I don’t admire have shaped me in some way. But above all, I’m influenced by emotions and environments more than by objects.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

I admire those who’ve built their own world and swam against the current to achieve it. Designers like Ana Rod, Jaime Hayon, and Studio Shamshiri come to mind.

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

Those I just mentioned, plus Alice Neel, Albert Madaula, Silvana Estrada, and Slim Aarons, among many others.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

Creative freedom expressed through color and flying forms.

15. Anything you’d like to add?

My creations are a mirror of what one might see if there were a window into my inner world — a glimpse of how I see life and what I wish the world could be. Each piece I create is a small window into my soul.

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)

11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“I don’t know.”

12. Which talent would you most like to have?

To sing like heaven.

13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Nothing.

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being myself — even when they said I was nobody — and continuing on my path.

15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A bird.

16. Where would you most like to live?

Japan.

17. What is your most treasured possession?

The people I’ve chosen to have around me — and a pair of Prada shoes!

18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

I haven’t been there (yet).

19. What is your favorite occupation?

Painting on canvas and reading outside.

20. What is your most marked characteristic?

Persistence.

21. What do you most value in your friends?

Their authenticity and love.

22. Who are your favorite writers?

Satoshi Yagisawa and a few others.

23. Who is your hero of fiction?

Jane Fonda?

24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Antonio Gaudí.

25. Who are your heroes in real life?

Anyone who fights for their dreams.

26. What are your favorite names?

Frida, Hortensia, and Diego.

27. What is it that you most dislike?

Olives — and unnecessary conversations.

28. What is your greatest regret?

None! I did what I felt was right in each moment.

29. How would you like to die?

Gently… or after fighting a lion. Definitely.

30. What is your motto?

Let it flow until you feel it.