Why a Brazilian designer finds Hong Kong so inspiring it drives him ‘crazy’
Humberto Campana, who has been creating quirky furniture, clothing and lighting with his brother Fernando for 25 years, on how to keep the mind fertile and creative
You trained as a lawyer. How did you end up in design? “After I graduated I gave my diploma to my parents and got on with my life, working with my hands, making simple crafts and objects, and my brother [Fernando] joined me. We grew up in the countryside and didn’t have much, but had fertile minds, so we made our own universe comfortable using our imaginations.”
What spurs you on? “The challenge is to maintain a fresh mind, to be young in terms of creativity. I find travel inspirational. I like to be in ateliers working with people – that really excites me.”
You work with a wide range of materials – which is your favourite? “I love natural fibres, like bamboo. It drives me crazy when I am in Hong Kong because I see it everywhere and it is so inspirational. Brazil has 110 species of bamboo so we use it for all sorts of things.”
