Gonzalo Portas

Only through an extensive process of model making
and testing can the one obvious solution emerge as the
only possible perfect answer.

Blue foam Exploration for the design of a Sangria pitcher with the connotation  that the jug is watching you, leaning towards you, tempting and persuading you to enjoy some more. 

Felt Beads on Fibreglass Chair.

An an investigative look at the way we interact in the dining experience. The felt trivet is a conversation starter at the dining table, it can be manipulated into many different shapes and configurations while insulating the surface below from the heat above. Its an ornamental and decorative piece is balanced delicately between the world of industrial design and craft where traces of the maker can be found.

Design is not simply the offering 
of a functional product, It is an 
opportunity to express and 
reflect the intellectual
values of the designer and society.

One Stainless steel sheet, folded to create a stool from geometric patterns. The stool was conceived after an investigation into paper engineering and transferring knowledge from one material to another. Laser cutting and folding from a 2D material into a 3D product.

This pendant was made from recycled materials. An old, disused washing machine was dismantled and the metal panels made to create this evocative light.

The product is flat packed and manipulated by the consumer to the achieve their desired profile. It can change shape to reflect the required lighting mood, opening and closing as required.

Inspired by a constellation of stars and the Eames House of Cards. This project developed into an application to the annual Sculptures by the Sea exhibition.

There is opportunity for the consumer to interact with this product and create a personal and unique sculptural piece. The inclusion of the user in the design process creates a refreshing and investigative look at how we perceive design and the role of the consumer in the design process. 

Good Design should evoke a visceral and emotional experience from the user. We should be inspired by the products we interact with.

Digital Audio Broadcaster

Inspirations from Nature, Architecture and Embroidery.

Model Making is an important skill required by the designer to communicate their ideas. Without a model it is simply an idea. The model conveys so much important information about the product. The model reveals the dimension, weight, ergonomics, shape, texture, function, operation, colour, opportunities and is used for the demonstration and explanation of the product. Model making is an essential tool of the designer.

Exploration of the uses of foam core. Here, the many 2 dimensional profiles combine to create a 3D object.

CAD study of product using Solidworks. Rendering with Bunkspeed!

Inner details of the Heart Transportation Device. Blood filter, inner container, tubing, fixtures and bubble detector. Produced in Solidworks.

Early sketches of Digital Audio Broadcaster. This early Ideation formed the basis of the final Design.