ABOUT

Marta Figueiredo (b. 1979) is a Portuguese architect & multidisciplinary artist based in NAARM/Melbourne. In 2016, she founded her design practice which unites innovative technology and craft to produce playfulness, joy, and sensory experimentation.

With her works she wants to challenge beliefs about standardisation, sustainability, and prompt discussions about new ways design can speak to a broader sensory experience.

With this approach, she’s pushing into a new kind of artistic expression in design that aims to instigate a richer, more layered interaction between individual and object - one that has the potential to be different for each person, depending on the particularities of their mind and body.

Marta is motivated by a desire to challenge the notion of design and find alternatives to irresponsible mass production and the concept of the "average individual" as a consumer.

Marta has received various awards (High Commendation Clarence Prize for Excellence in Furniture Design 2021, Fringe Furniture Experimental Design Award 2018)  and nominations for several others ( Finalist Australian Furniture Design Award (AFDA) 2020) .

Her works have been included in a number of shows both in Australia and abroad, including Shanghai, Paris, the Brussels Collectible Fair, and Milan Design Week and collections (Metaphores - Hermès Holding Textiles).

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

2021

Highly Commended award in the Clarence prize for Excellence in Furniture Design 2021 - Tasmania, with Elementary Abacus

Public Art Grant with Test Sites 2021 - City of Melbourne Council & Testing Grounds - Tree Spirit

High Commendation - Sustainable Award of WORKSHOPPED21 by Centre for Australian Design

Finalist the Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize - Stardust

Finalist The Design Files Awards - lighting category - Stardust

Finalist of Vivid Design Awards 2021 - lighting & colour category - Stardust

“A world we don’t want “ - Friends and Associates - exhibiting Windgate, Melbourne Design Week 2021

By-Product (Circular.Open.Design) - exhibiting Stardust, Melbourne Design Week 2021

Brave Blooms - exhibiting Elementary Abacus, Melbourne Design Week 2021

2020

Vivid Design Awards – Elementary Abacus – Australian Design Alliance Award of Merit

Collectible Fair – Art Lexing Gallery Booth - Brussels 

Finalist of Australian Furniture Design Award (AFDA 2020)  - NGV / STYLECRAFT/ JAM FACTORY

AFDA Award 2020 Finalists Exhibition - Stylecraft Showroom

Metaphore Paris - Hermes Holding Textiles showroom - for Paris Deco Off 

‘SCHEHERAZADE’ Collective Exhibition – Art Lexing Gallery, Shanghai

Isola Goes Digital - Isola Virtual Exhibition - Milan

2019 

Evolve Awards – Finalist - Highly Commended

TDF Awards – ToTems Prima Familia - Highly Commended

Euroluce Sydney – Milan Edited Exhibition

Vivid Design Awards – Cossack and Queen & Candy N.2 – Colour Award

A.G.M. Expo – Annual General Design Meeting, Friends and Associates, Melbourne

Milan Design Week – Local Design show 5Vie

2018 

Fringe Furniture 32  - Award for “Most Experimental Design”

Denfair – ToTems first presentation

PUBLICATIONS

Vogue Living Australia - May 2020 Edition - Interview 

AD China April Edition 2020 - featuring  the Cossack & Queen ToTems

WALLPAPER -  Melbourne Design Week features Elementary Abacus

AD Germany / A Choice Trend 2020 Best of the Year selection -  featuring  the Prima Familia Totems

AD Italy - April Edition Milan Design Week 2019 -  feature the Prima Familia Totems

Belle Magazine May 2019 Edition

Financial Review Australia – Local Milan 2019