A selection of publications that address details of national production to a panorama of global icons
Submitted at Nov 20, 2025, 8:00 AM
Livros de design para presentear e aprender mais sobre o tema (divulgação/CASACOR)
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Although Brazilian modern furniture has gained national and international recognition from renowned names, this story goes beyond them. It also includes a vast universe of factories, carpentries, stores, publications, architects, and independent creators. This is the focus of the book Anônimos - Brazilian Modern Furniture beyond the Icons, released by Editora Olhares. The publication—signed by Giancarlo Latorraca, Karen Matsuda, Jayme Vargas, and Ruy Teixeira—brings together an extensive iconography, featuring an unprecedented photographic essay conducted in a historic warehouse of the Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo. There are over 200 images, including editorials and advertisements from the time, as well as recent photographs of pieces from the period, provided by partner galleries. Structured in three parts, the first, written by Giancarlo Latorraca, presents a historical review of furniture production in Brazil. Next, in partnership with Karen Matsuda, the author contextualizes the local insertion of modern design and reflects on how this movement acquired peculiar characteristics in the country. In the second part, Karen analyzes recurring typologies, forms, and materials, in addition to mapping design, production, and diffusion strategies for the consumer public. The third part, authored by Jayme Vargas, gathers furniture from dozens of productive experiences.
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Written by Professor Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos, the book Modern Furniture in Brazil is the result of a detailed research on the formation of Brazilian modern furniture. The work analyzes the cultural and aesthetic character of furniture amidst technical and commercial issues. Moreover, it outlines a perspective that goes from the origins in the 1920s to the independent creations of the 60s to 80s, reaching contemporary times.
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Created by historian Jayme Vargas and photographer Ruy Teixeira, this book outlines a panorama of Brazilian modern furniture production through the collection of national and international galleries. With texts and photographic essays on 31 specialized collections and galleries, the book Expanded Horizon – Brazilian Modern Design highlights how this material heritage is valued today. The publication also reveals the maturation of the projects that permeate Brazilian modern furniture today, as demonstrated by the high quality and historical vision present in the collections of collectors and gallery owners portrayed in the work.
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Regarded as one of the most important architects in the history of national architecture, Ruy Ohtake (1938-2021) also worked as a designer. This trajectory was reviewed in the book Ruy Ohtake - the design of form, organized by Fabio Magalhães, Marili Brandão, and Priscyla Gomes. Ruy began his career in the 1960s, in the context of brutalism of the Paulista School, and from the first projects, there was a concern with furniture design, especially with the predominant use of fixed concrete structures. Later on, the architect's work became characterized by curves and colors, extending these features to the pieces that complemented the projects. The architect also started producing autonomous design series marked by the experimentation of the limits of materials such as steel, MDF, and glass.
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In the book Sustainable Craftsmanship: nature, design, and art, Mônica Carvalho presents her journey as a letters professional passionate about nature and shows that, with creativity, nature's leftovers can be transformed into unique and sustainable products. She also addresses her work in various social projects in the country and how she has partnered with designers and artisans through examples of techniques used in making objects made from discarded materials. Mônica also shares information about the characteristics of seeds, fruits, and fibers most common in Brazil, as well as ways to preserve them and where they can be found. The content is supported by photos, specially produced for the book, that demonstrate the main stages of production of bags, necklaces, and bracelets, among other artisanal pieces.
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Are you passionate about lighting fixtures? Then, this book is for you. The publication Brazilian Design: lighting fixtures presents chronologically 135 pieces from the modern period to contemporary production, designed by more than 100 Brazilian designers or those active in the Brazilian market. Among them are names like Campana Brothers, Carlos Motta, and Zanini de Zanine, in addition to specialized professionals such as Fabio Alvim, Francisco de Almeida, and Fernando Prado as well as young talents in this universe like Estúdio Prole, Dennys Tormen, and 80e8. Finally, it is possible to immerse oneself in the evolution of national design through the production of lighting fixtures.
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The 20th century was marked by great changes in the universe of design, which is why it became the theme of a book. Aesthetics reached everyday objects with designs that became icons. In Design of the 20th Century, it is possible to take a stroll through the production of furniture and graphic elements. The publication showcases the work of artists who shaped and recreated the modern world with an immense variety of materials. From organic to geometric, from Art Deco to Pop Art and High-Tech, the book brings together emblematic names of world design, such as Harry Bertoia, De Stijl, Dieter Rams, Philippe Starck, Charles, and Ray Eames. It is an essential publication for those who love the subject, besides providing a journey through forms and colors, figures, and functions in the history of design in the 20th century.
