Stay in Lisbon as a local, 
in your home away from home.

Experimenta is a knowledge-production unit in design, architecture, and design culture. Since 1999, it has produced EXD Biennale, while also developing innovative projects with select clients and partners.

The Lisbonaire Apartments marked Experimenta’s debut in the hotel industry, by invitation of a young company with a strong cultural and entrepreneurial background. Experimenta led the creative direction, covering product and graphic design, branding, and identity, drawing on the visual and graphic heritage of Lisbon’s Baixa and Chiado districts, spanning three centuries.

Each of the 19 apartments reflects a specific moment or place that inspired the designers, who created unique pieces for each. The furnishings, designed by Pedrita and manufactured by Viriato Hotel Concept.

The project’s goal is to give this new space a strong character and to welcome and inspire visitors from Portugal and beyond to discover Lisbon.

The light, the river, the tiles, the trams, chestnut vendors, cherry brandy, the grand square, the theater, Chiado and Camões… Lisbon is a patchwork of eras and characters.

For Rita João and Pedro Ferreira, the objects designed for The Lisbonaire share that spirit—fragments of stories they knew or imagined, yet always in tune with the city.

Using traditional methods, they created pieces where function shapes form, resulting in seemingly unrelated objects that harmonize with the apartments and the work of invited graphic designers.

The collection includes lamps, side tables, sofas, beds, dining tables and chairs, desks, TV units, and storage modules, in finishes from eucalyptus and walnut to wenge stains, lacquered white and black, textured fabrics, and synthetic leather.

Design and Communication studio, founded in April 2006 by designer António Silveira Gomes and journalist/editor and cultural promoter Cláudia Castelo. Their trademark Projecto Próprio inherits the visual, cultural and project portfolio of the designer collective Barbara Says, founded in 1996 and where José Albergaria e Nuno Horta Santos have also worked. The studio develops work mainly related to Culture, promoting an exercise of freedom, in the way to communicate ideas, projects and needs of clients. It is also dedicated to creative editing, promoting experimental and artistic editorial projects from other creators as well their own.

After finishing her degree in Graphic Design, IADE, Ana joined Ricardo Mealha in 1995, with whom she founded RMAC Design. Since 1998, she has been working in graphic, industrial and interiors design as creative director for a long list of clients and projects including the identity of Ministério da Cultura, Companhia Nacional de Bailado and Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. She worked with Group Vista Alegre / Atlantis, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, Fidelidade Mundial, Portugal Telecom and AREA, among others. In fashion, her clients include ModaLisboa, Ana Salazar and Alves/Gonçalves. She was the creative director for the emblematic re-branding of Banco Espírito Santo. In 2006 RMAC became part of the group BBDO Portugal with the promise of keeping its philosophy, values and excellence.

Joana Baptista Costa and Mariana Leão are graphic designers and researchers, attending a PhD in Art and Design. They work together since 2000, studying and writing papers about graphic design and national identity. In their collaborative work they search for the specificity of each challenge that allows to cross the paths of investigation and project.

Joana Baptista Costa and Mariana Leão are graphic designers and researchers, attending a PhD in Art and Design. They work together since 2000, studying and writing papers about graphic design and national identity. In their collaborative work they search for the specificity of each challenge that allows to cross the paths of investigation and project.

João Maio Pinto (b. 1974) studied Design at Faculdade de Belas Artes do Porto. He is known by his editorial work in illustration, which spreads through different publishers, newspapers and collaborations (such as Leya, Silva! Designers, jornal i, atelier Mike Goes West, MMMNNNRRRG, Artistas Unidos, Galeria Zé dos Bois, etc). João teaches at the Design Department of Escola Superior de Artes e Design das Caldas da Rainha. He has received numerous awards and regularly shows his work at design, illustration and art exhibits.

João Vinagre (b. 1969) is a communication designer and teacher at the Escola Superior de Arte e Design das Caldas da Rainha. He studied Drawing and Painting at Ar.Co and Escola Superior de Belas Artes de Lisboa. He obtained the diploma of Advanced Studies from the doctoral program “Métodos e Técnicas do Design Industrial e Gráfico” from Universidade Politécnica de Valência, with research on information and orientation graphic systems. Since 1994 he has been developing graphic work, specializing in editorial projects, visual identity, as well as video creation and editing.

Gwendolyn Van der Velden and Quim Albergaria start every day together. Quim takes too long in the shower. Gwen usually boils water for tea. Then, while eating toast, they share the day ahead. Gwen works at home or at the studio and draws to show how she sees light, forms, the rhythm of how they relate and the colours they generate while moving. Quim likes to talk with her about what she is drawing at that moment, while he opens a yogurt or cuts a thin slice of spekkoek. Quim´s days are usually divided in 3 – the band, the job and the occasional writing or illustration work. They talk about what they are going to make for dinner and if it is nasi goreng, then Gwen cooks, thinking about her Grandmother and using the spices they buy every year at the Albert Cuypmarkt in Amsterdam. If it is fish under salt in the oven with sautéed sprouts, then Quim cooks with salt in his beard, anticipating the summer at the beaches in Alentejo. Quim is Portuguese, Gwen is Dutch. They met and fell in love in Lisbon and now they start every day together.

Nuno Luz (b. Lisboa, 1971) attended Communication Design at Faculdade de Belas Artes de Lisboa and started working in 1997. After collaborating with the ateliers PlanetDesign, SerDesign and MaisDesign, he became part of the team from Experimenta in 2003, where he is the in-house designer. Besides work developed for the editions of Bienal EXD, his portfolio includes graphic image and typography projects for Lugar Comum/CPAI, artist João Paulo Feliciano, PechaKucha Night Lisbon, Bíblia magazine and Design for Future.

MAGA = Mendes + Alvoeiro + Guerreiro / Atelier. José Mendes, Luís Alvoeiro and Carlos Guerreiro were colleagues who, following an old dream, set up their own practice. MAGA is a design studio in Lisbon, which develops tailored solutions for the needs and ambitions of its clients. It is not a supplier, rather a partner in the projects it takes. It is driven by its love to Design. It looks for new solutions that give its projects a unique identity.

MusaCollective, founded in 2003, aims to promote design in its various aspects and disciplines, as well as to promote Portuguese design abroad. The exhibition “MusaTour” was the first large event it organized, in 2004, to support MusaBook, the first extensive album of emergent Portuguese designers, published by iDN, Hong-Kong, and distributed internationally. It also developed important projects such as NLF Magazine, “Happy” the first Portuguese Qee toy, limited editions of merchandising and commercial work. Currently, MusaWorkLab is a collective of artists and designers focused in promoting new Portuguese talents and the emergent visual culture. It is involved in national and international projects, with clients such as Bombay Sapphire, Möet & Chandon or ModaLisboa. In 2007, Musa was distinguished by ID New York magazine as one of the best projects of 2006. Musa develops various aspects of design, experimental and commercial work.

-nada- is a Lisbon based graphic design studio. Founded in 2006, our work includes posters for exhibitions and theatres, corporate identities, book design, magazines, sleeve design, web design, illustration and motion graphic.

Pedro Falcão (b. 1971) lives and works in Lisbon. From 1995 to 2005 he worked as graphic designer at Secretonix and in 2006 he founded the Atelier Pedro Falcão. He was the graphic director of Jornal Arquitectos. Together with the architect Ricardo Bak-Gordon, Pedro designed the graphic layout for the exhibition in Pavilhão de Portugal in the Trienal de Arquitectura. Pedro was part of the architecture team for MUDE and designed the graphic layout for the museum. Specialized in Book Design, he has worked with Rui Chafes, Jorge Molder, José Pedro Croft, Carrilho da Graça, ARX Portugal, etc. Among his clients are Culturgest, Fundação Gulbenkian, Centro Cultural de Belém, PhotoEspanha, MNAA, Ordem dos Arquitectos, Ellipse Foundation, Massimo Dutti, Museu de Serralves. Since 2006 he has taught Editorial design at Restart. His awards include Type Directors Club 46, American Institute of Graphic Arts, Premier Award, ISTD, Typographic Awards.

Graphic designer and Creative director, Ricardo Mealha (b. Lisbon, 1968, d. 2015) was responsible for the graphic design of the Ministry of Culture in Portugal, and 12 organizations linked to this Ministry, including Teatro Nacional de Ópera de São Carlos, Biblioteca Nacional, ICA and Instituto dos Museus e da Conservação. Among many other projects, he was responsible for the image of Banco Espírito Santo, Fidelidade Mundial, Tivoli hotels, Group Vista Alegre/Atlantis and Museu da Presidência and Casa das Histórias Paula Rego. In the 90s he worked at Young&Rubicam and Novodesign and in 1996 he founded the design studio RMAC Brand Design, bought by BBDO in 2006. He has developed graphic design projects for ModaLisboa, Lux Frágil, Fundação EDP, Museu do Chiado, MNAA, Experimentadesign, TMN, Azeite Gallo and Fundação Gulbenkian. Since 1997 he has received over 80 national and international awards, including Gold Award winner and 12 nominations at the International Forum Design, Germany; 5 nominations for DesignPreis Award 2007, Germany, and Member of D&AD, England, awarded at ID Design Awards United States and at Print European Design Awards.

A designer and a musician, Tó Trips (b. 1966) finished his degree at Escola António Arroio in 1980. In the 90s, he worked in advertising, as Art Director in the creative team of Lisboa 94 and, later, EXPO 98. He founded Mackintóxico and develops work for the music industry (album covers, posters, etc.). He has created posters for zdb concerts, cinema, theatre, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Centro Cultural de Belém and underground bands. Tó Trips was invited to participate in one of the “Voyager” projects from EXD design biennale and has participated in two Portuguese illustration exhibitions and respective catalogues, organized by Bedeteca de Lisboa. He has made movie graphics for the director Edgar Pêra, as well as soundtracks for movies and theatre plays following a pathway that culminates in Dead Combo and, recently, the solo work “Guitarra 66”.

Graphic designer and editor, founder of studio Letra. Masters in Design and Typography by Werkplaats Typografie (www.werkplaatstypografie.org), ArtEZ Institute of Arts, Arnhem — NL, 2009. Simultaneously with studio work, he develops editorial and education projects concerning self-publishing, together with Sofia Gonçalves. Marco recently started Random Press in partnership with Michael Satter and Sandra Doeller, a self-publishing project that coexists in Lisbon and Frankfurt, that aims it to serve as a platform for irregular experiences in publishing, production and distribution of content.

Communication and Editorial design studio. 2001-2010. Informal atmosphere, energy, chromatic and typographic exuberance, unexpected relations between text and image, a dose of taste and inspiration are ingredients of the work by Silva!Designers. Other characteristics are simplicity, the capacity to transform complex concepts in words and images, through context and manipulation of everyday objects and materials. The practice of an agile and interactive design, constantly updated, has led to excellent results in the world of communication. It handles typography and words as images. The studio produces images with the freedom that results from a profound knowledge of photography and illustration, in collaboration with the best Portuguese illustrators. Jorge Silva and his atelier have been awarded dozens of national and international prizes for its art direction.

Vanessa, Super Van or simply Van, the names can be many, but the style is unique. Vanessa is a bit of everything. She has studied graphic design, advertisement and illustration. Eternally unsatisfied and a perfectionist, illustration currently takes up most of her time and is ever more challenging. Drawings are mostly characters that forced her hand to give them life. They are hundreds already and they are around, screaming, dancing, flying or trying to pay the taxes. Outside 2D life, Vanessa has her eyes constantly open, looking at images, conversations, particularities, which are then poured into her illustrations, as haiku poems that tell us in half words and half tones how people really are. She has worked with Vodafone, TMN, Optimus, Edp, Playboy, Worten, WESC, Vueling, Clickair, Pampero and, more recently, Maria Clementina from Compal.

The design collective “vivóeusébio” was born at Faculdade de Belas Artes, among friends that attended the same course. As soon as they finished, in 2006, they decided to open the studio. They have been developing projects in various areas of Communication Design, particularly in editorial and print design.

Paulo Arraiano (b. 1977) lives and works by the sea in Cascais, Portugal. After finishing his degree in Business Communication he decided to exchange content for form and followed a career as a Graphic designer. Today he works as a graphic artist, and makes occasional incursions in design. He has commissioned exhibitions, but also regularly exhibits his own work. He divides his time between drawing, painting, surfing, skating and practicing Shiatsu and Qigong.