Ana Mestre and Susdesign Design Studio combine creativity and sustainability in exclusive cork furniture and pieces.
Discover the design studio where creativity meets sustainability in cork pieces and unique furniture
Ana Mestre and Susdesign Design Studio & Consultancy are at the forefront of sustainable design, and shape a more ecological and conscious future. Specializing in design for sustainability and sustainable interiors, Susdesign designs projects, solutions and products that promote more responsible production and consumption, with a design process rooted in eco-efficiency and circularity.
O Susdesign Design Studio & Consultancy was founded by Ana Mestre in 2005, and since then has been at the forefront of activities related to sustainability. Studio covers sustainable interior and product design, investigation, education and consultancy, with an unwavering commitment to sustainable innovation.
Ana Mestre, born in Lisbon, was born in 1978 and followed a remarkable path in the world of design. With a degree in Industrial Design in 2001, obtained a Master's degree in Renewable Technologies in 2005. Em 2014, completed his PhD on the topic “Innovation in Sustainable Products”. She is recognized as one of the first eco-design researchers in Portugal, marking the beginning of an impressive career.
Is at 2004 who founded Susdesign, a brand and studio dedicated to sustainable innovation. Em 2006, leads the creation of “Design Cork for Future, Innovation, and Sustainability”, the first internationally applied design research initiative for cork innovation, an iconic material from Portugal. Your portfolio has more than 50 exhibitions around the world, covering Europe, America and Asia. Furthermore, actively participates in academic work in the USA, Portugal, Holland and the United Kingdom, contributing to the dissemination of sustainable design.
Ana Mestre's work is widely acclaimed and awarded, being recognized by internationally renowned publications such as the New York Times, Wired e Monocle Magazine. It also received nominations for international awards and exhibitions, solidifying its status as a leader in the field of sustainable design.
Em 2021, was appointed Sustainable Design Consultant for the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a testament to your experience and contribution to sustainability.
Susdesign operates at the intersection between art and sustainable innovation, developing sustainable projects with local value and global impact. Collaborating with a vast international network of innovators, the studio guides people, companies and institutions towards sustainability.
A notable facet of Susdesign's contribution is the design brand Corque, created in 2009. This brand sells furniture pieces and home accessories made from high-quality cork.. Each piece is unique, with distinct sensory properties and exceptional environmental characteristics. The public that values creativity, functionality and sustainability-conscious design, finds in these pieces a unique expression.
Inside the Corque portfolio, stand out pieces of our own design and collaborations with internationally renowned designers. A notable example is the Cork set 1, 2, 3, 4, a project by Fernando Brízio for Susdesign. This collection of four cork candle holders is available in natural cork or black agglomerate, and reimagines the connection between cork stoppers and recycled wine bottles.
The Vine Wine Cooler is another highlight, incorporating the tradition of serving wine, taking advantage of the thermal insulation of cork to keep the drink cool. Created by the Susdesign team, This ice bucket combines elegance, attractiveness and functionality, and can be complemented with an optional base to optimize table space.
The Corque collection had its debut at Destination Portugal, promoted by MoMa, and became the first series sold at the MoMa Design Store in New York, demonstrating the brand's global reach.
Another impressive creation by Ana Mestre is the Cork Stool Caterpillar, a playful modular bench made from expanded cork. These benches provide a sensorial and playful experience, together with a unique aesthetic in any living space. With expanded cork, They are soft to the touch and resistant, allowing multiple units to fit together to create an infinite and fun modular system.
Cellula is an innovative shelving/space separator system made up of six modular pieces, that fit together in a customizable way to create a shelf unit. This project was a collaboration between Ana Mestre and Rasim Can Savaskan, inspired by the cellular structure of cork. It debuted at the Triennale Design Museum during the 21st Triennale International Exhibition in 2016, Captivating the attention of the public and the industry.
Finally, The centerpiece of this innovation journey is the Forest Chair, also written by Ana Mestre and Rasim Can Savaskan. This circular design chair is a true revolution in the use of sustainable materials. Uses biomaterial waste from the forestry industry, cork, load pallets and paper to create a unique piece of furniture. The Forest Chair is available in four varieties, with combinations of materials such as agglomerated cork or toasted agglomerated cork for the interior lining, and eucalyptus leaves or forest residues for the exterior structure. Each chair incorporates a side table made of pine wood recycled from unused cargo pallets..
The Forest Chair was designed to respond to the needs of the Covid-19 pandemic and social distancing. Originally intended for lounges of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2021, the chair was also presented at the exhibition as an innovative and adaptable solution, standing out as an inspiring example of how design can respond creatively and effectively to the emerging challenges of our society.
Susdesign's current work, developed by Ana Mestre and her co-partner Rasim Can Savaskan, is in the area of training and consultancy in design for sustainability, with the interior design project aspect, where the majority of Corque brand pieces are combined with other sustainable materials.
Susdesign is a Portuguese brand referenced in Mapas Portugal Faz Bem de Brands with all your Contacts and Technical Data Sheet. Also find out which Sustainable Development Goals the Susdesign elected as priorities.
