S6E07 Color Out of Context with Nieves Contreras

Nieves says:

“We have a very big color palette and that’s why we want to explore it. In our laboratory we can also develop new colors for our projects which is very inspiring. We do not have however a Ferrari red , we have been trying for many years and it’s very difficult. So we seem unlimited but not completely in the color field.”

Nieves Contreras talks about what inspires her and how she wants to take design, material and in particular color out of context. How material and processing can have become part of the innovative brand Lladrò, what are the challenges for the Spanish design market in the next years and how AI may influence the return to true craftmanship. 

Graduated in Industrial Design as well as a Master's in Design Management from UPV in Valencia. She has developed a significant part of her professional career in Paris, France, collaborating with product design studios, creating designs and artistic direction for various sectors, from furniture and home appliances to luxury brands and connected objects, at studios such as Marc Berthier, Pascal Mourgue, and particularly eliumstudio, where she worked for 10 years. Simultaneously, she has been active as an independent designer, deeply involved in craftsmanship and its contemporary renewal, creating furniture for Expormim, and as the co-founder and creative director of the handmade ceramic brand sagenceramics (Manises).

Since 2019, she has been the Creative Director of Lladró, a Spanish porcelain company recognized internationally, heading the Creation and Development Department, consisting of a team of 15 people. She is responsible for the creation and implementation of the new creative strategy and the revitalization of the brand through product diversification and a contemporary approach.