Guto Indio da Costa
Guto Indio da Costa, born in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro, studied product design and graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Switzerland in 1993. He is design director of Indio da Costa A.U.D.T, a consultancy based in Rio de Janeiro, which develops architectural, urban planning, design and transportation projects. It works with a multidisciplinary strategic-creative group of designers, architects and urban planners, supported by a variety of other specialists. Guto Indio da Costa is a member of the Design Council of the State of Rio de Janeiro, former Vice President of the Brazilian Design Association (Abedesign) and founder of CBDI (Brazilian Industrial Design Council). He has been active as a lecturer and contributing writer to different design magazines and has been a jury member of many design competitions in Brazil and abroad.
Red Dot in an interview with Guto Indio da Costa
Red Dot: What is the design culture in Brazil like?
Guto Indio da Costa: Brazilian design culture is clearly perceived in its architecture, fashion, as well as graphic, product and furniture design. From Oscar Niemeyer, who surprised the world in the early 1960s by turning concrete buildings into sculptures, to the provoking design language of the Campanas brothers, Brazilian design culture has always attracted attention. Today, design culture is most active in the contemporary furniture scene where small manufacturers are achieving high recognition and success building new products and brands.
Which products do you most enjoy designing?
Diversity has played an important role in my design activity. From pens to trams and trains, my team and I have been involved in all sorts of design developments. One of the fields I most enjoy is design in the urban environment. Urban furniture and urban transportation systems must serve all kinds of people, and they must both work in and fit into complex environments.
Which three aspects make a product perfect?
Aesthetic quality, smart function and clever manufacturing.