CARA\DAVIDE: Exploring Materials & Collaborations

CARA\DAVIDE, multi-disciplinary design studio based in Milan, is the brain child of Cara Judd (South Africa) and Davide Gramatica (Italy). Their recent works are characterised by an interest in experimenting with diverse materials, techniques and processes.

Cara Judd and Davide Gramatica are two designers whose love for collaborations define their multi-disciplinary design studio CARA\DAVIDE. Inspired by life and walks around the city, these two designers create personal works and limited editions through close collaborations with expert artisans in Italy and South Africa. Their works are represented by galleries and commissioned by brands. Being from diverse cultures, Cara from South Africa and Davide from Italy, allows them to appreciate different perspectives, and challenges the two designers to go beyond comfort zones.

We find out more about their work and collaborations.
SCALE: Tell us about your love for design? How and when did you decide to embark on a path of design?

CARA\DAVIDE: From an early age, we both knew we wanted to work in the creative field. Our practice is varied and we have the privilege of working across materials, culture and disciplines thanks to the collaborations that are formed and it’s one of the aspects that we love the most about our work.

SCALE: Tell us about your initial work? Was it appreciated as much as you had expected?

CARA: A lot of our early works received little or no interest from the industry. We often proposed ideas to brands, but it wasn’t until we took the initiative to produce our own pieces that we started to gain attention. By exploring the more artistic side of design, our first clients were private art collectors and galleries. From there, we expanded to work with brands in both furniture and retail, while maintaining our personal artistic explorations as a fundamental part of our multidisciplinary studio today.

SCALE: Which product design of yours put CARA\DAVIDE on a path of fame?

DAVIDE: Our “Territorio” collection is probably our most recognizable work. It also marked a shift in our studio’s direction, as we began focusing more on personal editions rather than maintaining an academic approach in our design process.

SCALE: Tell us about CARA\DAVIDE collaborations, including the recent one for Universo Maglia.

CARA: We collaborate with a wide range of clients and brands and work closely with expert artisans to produce our own editions. When a client or collaborator gives us the freedom to explore materials, techniques, and ideas, we’re in our element. This creative freedom is both a challenge and a blessing, allowing us to slow down and explore unconventional methods without the expectation of producing commercial pieces.

With Universo Maglia, we were able to experiment with many ideas before settling on the “00” stools. The interpretation of wood was encouraged, and the unconventional use of wood wax was embraced as a technique.

These experimental practices not only influence the project at hand but also inspire the aesthetics and methods used in our future work. In a fast-paced industry overwhelmed by trends, this exploratory approach is essential to us.

SCALE: Which are the materials that you are most comfortable to work with?

CARA: Since we work with a variety of materials and expert artisans, we don’t have a single favourite. Discovering a material or a particular production technique is what excites us the most. Being able to visit the artisan or the production facilities is always an incredibly inspiring moment where we learn and talk to the experts of the materials who are always super keen to share their know-how and expertise. We especially love when our initial ideas take on a new form as a result of a chat with these collaborators. Our designs are often the product of many influences, and this collaborative process is key to our work.

SCALE: ⁠Do you try to work on new materials and how do you decide which material you would want to work with. What decides that?

DAVIDE: Discovering new materials is one of the most exciting aspects of our work. We’ve collaborated with brands that specialise in wood, metal, marble, ceramics, and other materials, but we also enjoy taking a hands-on approach.

For example, in our project with Universo Maglia, we experimented with simple materials like wax, which added a unique dimension to the work.

SCALE: ⁠In your career, do you think that the space of design is already crowded? How do you distinguish yourself from what is already available.

DAVIDE: It is definitely a saturated field, and the need for new objects is relatively low. We tend to work in collectible design and limited editions, which allow us to experiment outside of industry and market constraints. This creative freedom allows us to produce bold, expressive designs using diverse materials, resulting in unique and memorable pieces.

SCALE: How important is the Milan Design Week for designers from Italy? Thoughts on improvements.

CARA: Milan Design Week is an important event, both for the city of Milan and for international brands. For Italian designers, it provides a great opportunity to showcase their work and engage with the design community. However, due to its scale and popularity, it can sometimes feel overcrowded. We prefer smaller, more intimate events and fairs that focus on specific themes, as they offer a clearer reflection of Italian culture and design.