Name – Tiago Rato

Company – SadusLuxury – Exclusive Furniture

Position within the company – CEO & Founder

Website – www.sadusluxury.com
Tell us a little about your background in design (education, experience, etc)
My experience in design is related to Interior Design in Portugal. I have collaborated with an Interior Design studio for many years, envisioning, creating and projecting new experiences and working with  exquisite and luxurious residential and/or commercial spaces.

How would you describe your personal interior design style?
Well, my design style is notoriously contemporary but sometimes I love to mix different styles, but in an exquisite & luxurious way.

Where does your design inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from everywhere… Any place I go, any object I see can be a source of inspiration. You just need to pay attention and let your mind fly.

In what direction do you feel that design is moving towards in a general sense?
I guess designers are taking chances to improve ideas and do even more bold projects to make the difference. I think that design is increasingly contemporary and avant-garde, cutting with many of the traditions and rules from the past.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2015 and beyond.
Exquisite, Luxurious, contemporary, natural, colourful.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to product design, what would it be?
Let you imagination fly and always look forward.
How important are The International Product Design Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
For SadusLuxury the IPD Awards are very important since, as a familiar company, it can put us on the map and help our work to be recognized, reaching an even wider audience.
What projects are you currently working on?
Now we are developing new pieces to be presented at 100% Design 2016 in London and working on our new website.
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
Enjoying the success we had last year, to create the new collection and to reach a wider audience and new markets.

Treasured possession – My freedom to create
Holiday destination – Any place where I can be inspired by new cultures and lifestyles.

Favourite Hotel – The Yeatman, Gaia, PORTUGAL
Favourite Restaurant – A very typical, traditional and small restaurant where after lunch or dinner, you really need to walk and walk and walk. It is “Quarta-Feira” (Wednesday in English), Évora, PORTUGAL
Favourite Bar – Sky Bar, Lisboa, PORTUGAL

Favourite Book – I don’t have any favourite book, but I love biographies. The last one I read was Queen Catherine’s of Portugal.
Favourite Film – The Colour Purple
Favourite Song – What a Wonderful World

Favourite Food – Duck’s rice, specially the one made by my mother.
Favourite Drink – Sangria, especially the one made at “Divinos Prazeres”, a restaurant in Lisbon or at “O Horta”, a restaurant in Olhão (Algarve).

Favourite way to spend an afternoon – A good terrace; a gin or a glass of a good red wine; friends, nice talk and a beautiful sunset.

If you weren’t a designer, what would you be?

I’m keen on politics and I have a degree in International Affairs & Political Science so a profession in politics probably.