1 _ What was the original vision behind Holder, and how did the idea take shape between you both as a designer and an architect?
Holder seeks to strengthen the presence of Latin American design in Europe by creating a collaborative territory, one that allows us to represent our context collectively, while emphasizing the rich diversity that defines both the history and present of Latin America. This vision is shaped by our personal interests and experiences, as well as our professional backgrounds: Trinidad as a designer and Camilo as an architect. Our journeys have been marked by movement and connection, particularly for Trinidad, whose personal, academic, and professional path has taken her to various parts of the world, enriching Holder’s perspective on the possibilities of Latin American design. Camilo, meanwhile, brings a deep-rooted expertise in architecture, from built projects to academic work, offering a technical and theoretical approach that complements and enhances Holder’s vision. Together, these experiences inform our approach and the unique voice we bring to the design landscape.
2_ How do you select the objects and designers featured in the catalogue? Is there a balance between aesthetic, functionality, and narrative?
Holder presents pieces grounded in originality, versatility, and artisanal precision. Holder curates collectible objects with a domestic approach. Its products, whether decorative or functional, embody an imagination materialized through local materials and techniques that deeply interpret the culture of their places of origin. They also explore formal and material practices and speculations that expand the regional discourse to a more global context.
The relevance of local development in object and furniture design is central to Holder’s approach, linking it to this extensive and diverse context where cultural heritage from the past intertwines with varied techniques in a territory rich in natural resources. For this reason, recurring concepts in our curation -emphasized to varying degrees depending on the pieces and series created by our designers- include local production and "slow production," the use of local materials and techniques, and the utilization of local labor and industry.
As part of our curation, we include research and documentation of heritage pieces from the past that hold great value and recognition in both the local and global design worlds but are not widely known, thereby recovering material memory. This “design archaeology,” as we call it, aims to bring to public awareness those design pieces that are an important part of Latin American design history and ensure they are not forgotten.
In all these decisions, the balance between aesthetics, functionality, and narrative is most important, as we are convinced that the true value of the objects we select lies in the fascinating stories they have to tell.
3_Through our collaboration, we aimed to bring out the essence of Holder’s work. How has this partnership helped communicate your vision?
It has truly been special, the way we have collaborated with you. First and foremost, we want to highlight the quality of your work, which from the very beginning motivated us to partner with you. We were deeply impressed by your aesthetic approach and editorial value -something we hadn’t encountered before and found extremely appealing.
We also greatly appreciate the closeness and trust that quickly developed between our teams, especially thanks to the opportunity to work together in person at your studio. This experience was very enriching for us, as we usually collaborate remotely with most of our partners in Latin America.
Lastly, we highly value the approach you bring as a duo, with diverse yet complementary perspectives that range from art to advertising. This has given us a comprehensive and enriching vision, perfectly aligned with what we seek for our projects.
In summary, working with you has been an extremely positive and rewarding experience, and we look forward to building even more together in the future
4_Can you please tell us about Holder’s upcoming projects or presentations?
During the Berlin summer, specifically in July, August, and September, we will be presenting part of our curation in a group exhibition called “Grounded” at the Maj Van der Linden gallery, located in the Mitte neighborhood. We will be sharing the space with outstanding artists and designers in a show that brings together “a collection of objects where material, texture, and form take center stage.”
In this exhibition, we are showcasing works by Ananas Ananas (Mexico-USA), Rodrigo Bravo (Chile), Fango (Colombia), RIES (Argentina), Sur del Cruz (Argentina), and Panorammma (Mexico).
Additionally, in the coming months, we hope to hold a new exhibition during Berlin Art Week at a venue we are currently arranging. We are excited about the possibility, as we have new pieces we would like to exhibit and share properly.
5_Where do you hope to take Holder in the next few years, physically, digitally, or conceptually?
We can talk about our goals in two different areas.
Holder Catalog: In the near future, we aspire to have our own editions where Latin American designers can engage with Holder through specific commissions and collaborations both among themselves and with European designers. Our goal is to create exclusive pieces, available only in our catalog, that celebrate and highlight the historically intrinsic relationship between Europe and Latin America.
Holder Design Archeology: Besides continuously adding more pieces to our catalog of design archeology (mentioned above), is to create high-quality, informative content and, in doing so, build an archive with broad reach that is accessible to both the general public and academic audiences.
6_Could you share some recent influences you've enjoyed, perhaps an architectural or design piece, a music album, or even a favorite local spot?"
The stage design of Nine Inch Nails’ most recent concert, the experimental work of Lolo y Sosaku, pieces by Sam Chermayeff, the set design by Erased Studio (Brussels) for a wedding in Ghent in 2023, Formafantasma’s set design at Centro Pecci (Italy, 2023), walks through the parks, forests, and lakes of Berlin, the music of Alejandro Palacios, the album Ookii Gekkou by Vanishing Twin.
