On this episode I caught up with Juan Junca of Studio Manolo. You can find him at www.studiomanolo.com or @studiomanololtd across the socials.

Speaking with someone who builds things for a living is always an enlightening experience. I had some assumptions beforehand that were totally turned on their head. For one thing, I had this idea that the final design aesthetic initiated the creative process, but as Juan and I discussed, technique, often centuries old, offered the basis from which to build on.

Juan has collaborated with many architects and designers to bring to life the best of any material. He works across residential, retail and commercial and is a strong advocate for maintaining traditional practices whilst delivering functional pieces.

We explored many topics from striking a balance between tradition and innovation, to problem solving as an innate part of creativity, to Juan's interest in material culture and its ability to stimulate the sense.

For more info:

• David Pye - Nature of Design
• William Wallace
• Charles Rennis Mackintosh