After studying Mechanical Engineering in Modena, Giorgio Bonaguro obtained a master’s degree in Industrial and Interior Design at Scuola Politecnica di Design SPD in Milan.

He has worked in various design and architecture studios, like Lorenzo Palmeri studio, Francesco Faccin, the master Michele De Lucchi and the critic and designer Marco Romanelli. He collaborates with various Italian and foreign companies such as Driade, Giorgetti, Tacchini, Serax, Ichendorf, America Moveis among others, and develops limited editions and collectible pieces presented at international fairs like Design Miami, Salone del Mobile, London Design Festival, Design Days Dubai, Maison et Objet, Wanted Design New York.

He works between Europe and Brazil in the field of product design, interior design and art direction, trying to combine the research for new materials and the contamination between different arts, with a style characterized by simple and elegant lines.

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

I was born in the South of Italy, but I’m based in Milan today. Over the years, though, Brazil has become like a second home to me — a country I chose and that deeply influences my work. My identity as a designer is very much shaped by this duality: the Italian heritage of craftsmanship and rational design, combined with the vibrant culture, materials, and landscapes of Brazil. 

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

My very first memory connected to the art world goes back to a childhood holiday in the mountains, when I visited the Casa Museo Augusto Murer. I was impressed not only by the architecture of the house itself, designed by architect Giuseppe Davanzo, but also by the works of Maestro Murer. What fascinated me was his ability to create using such a wide range of materials and to move seamlessly between different techniques, from painting to sculpture. That experience left a lasting impression and sparked my curiosity for the dialogue between space, material, and artistic expression.

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

Yes, I have always been connected to the world of design, although my path has evolved over time. I first studied engineering, but from the beginning, I was fascinated by the intersection between art, architecture, and craftsmanship. Over the years, I have worked on different scales—ranging from product and furniture design to limited-edition collectible pieces—always keeping a strong focus on materials and their expressive potential.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

From an early age, I felt a natural attraction to drawing. What truly led me to design was the desire to connect this passion with the tangible world of objects—something that could be both functional and poetic.

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

It is a dialogue between intuition and research. I usually start from a spark — it can be an architectural detail, a natural landscape, or a piece of art that resonates with me. From there, I begin sketching and creating simple 3D models, allowing forms and proportions to emerge in a very instinctive way. At the same time, I carry out research into materials, techniques, and cultural references, often drawing on both my Italian heritage and my deep connection with Brazil.

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

A typical day starts with something very simple yet meaningful: bringing my daughter to school. When I return, I dive into the creative work — sketching, refining ideas, or developing details with workshops and artisans. At lunchtime I pause to share a meal with my wife, a moment of balance, and then I continue working through the afternoon until evening. My days flow between family, creation, and collaboration, which constantly nourish each other.

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

I am deeply fascinated by materials that carry history and identity. Stone, wood, or rattan are not just surfaces — they embody cultural roots, traditions, and craftsmanship.

Stone, for example, connects me to both Italian and Brazilian heritage: from the quarries of the Apuan Alps to the soapstone of Minas Gerais. Working with these materials means embracing their weight, their texture, and their imperfections, and transforming them into timeless pieces that merge art and design.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

The technical particularities of my work lie in the balance between artisanal skill and contemporary processes. Many of my pieces are made of stone, which requires precision, patience, and close dialogue with the craftsman to respect the natural veins and structure of the material.

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

Stay curious and cultivate both patience and discipline. Sculptural design is not only about form, but about understanding materials — their limits, their strengths, and their poetry. Spend time observing architecture, art, and nature, but also spend time with artisans: their knowledge is invaluable. Don’t be afraid of simplicity. Often, the most powerful works are born from essential gestures.

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

Italian modernism and Brazilian Brutalism. 

11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?

Oscar Niemeyer, Carlo Scarpa, Massimo Vignelli, Bruno Munari.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

Sabine Marcelis, Hector Esrawe, Raphael Navot.

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

Henrique Oliveira, Richard Serra, Heb Ritts, Sebastiao Salgado, Giuseppe Penone.

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

Synthesis of materials and shapes.

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

Be curious.

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?

« Scusa ». 

12. Which talent would you most like to have?

Be patient. 

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

Anxiety. 

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

To create freely. 

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

A Toucan.

16. Where would you most like to live?

In a Portuguese or Brazilian beach. 

17. What is your most treasured possession?

My family. 

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

Loneliness. 

19. What is your favorite occupation?

Walking on nature. 

20. What is your most marked characteristic?

Obstinacy.

21. What do you most value in your friends?

To love me as I am. 

22. Who are your favorite writers?

Alessandro Baricco, Jorge Amado. 

23. Who is your hero of fiction?

Batman. 

24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Lina Bo Bardi. 

25. Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents. 

26. What are your favorite names?

Laura, Marco. 

27. What is it that you most dislike?

Ignorance. 

28. What is your greatest regret?

Accept too much. 

29. How would you like to die?

Sleeping close to the people I love. 

30. What is your motto?

« Não já temos ».