Two years ago the Mexico City-based designers Cecilia León de la Barra and Óscar Núñez had a problem: The day they were supposed to leave to exhibit at the Milan Furniture Show, they learned that their producer had not been able to finish their furniture prototypes.
Instead of canceling their appearance in Italy, they decided to take the individual components with them in their hand luggage and assemble them by themselves in the exhibition hall. Because the furniture consisted only of plastic rope and MDF board, this turned out to be a feasible solution.
When they again exhibited in Milan last year, this time with the new product series “Fill in the Cat” designed together with their colleagues Ricardo Casas, Héctor Esrawe and Emiliano Godoy, there wouldn’t have been room in their suitcases for a similar transport measure. Why? Take a look for yourself: http://www.nel.com.mx
Together they call themselves NEL, “a collective of designers who join forces to explore...” Despite a generally difficult situation for professional designers in Mexico, the response of the international press has been highly promising. With energy and perseverance the young team seems to have managed to achieve status as the poster children of Mexican design. This year they are also planning great things for the Milan Furniture Show, but we hope not too big, because we certainly would want them to finish on time…
NEL participants: Ricardo Casas, Héctor Esrawe, Emiliano Godoy, Cecilia León de la Barra, Óscar Núñez
