We were lucky to catch up with Pedro Villar recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Pedro, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Imagine growing up in the vibrant city of Rio, where every street corner is a canvas of inspiration and every person you encounter is a walking masterpiece of creativity. That was my playground, and in the midst of this artistic haven, I discovered my mission – to transform the daunting into the effortless, doing so through beauty, emotion, rhythm, and stories. From the early days, my life was a dance between imagination and reality. Rio introduced me to some of the most captivating individuals. These weren’t just people; they were living stories, and I had the privilege of being both spectator and creator.
Despite the kaleidoscope of creativity around me, my formal education seemed like a different universe. Logical thinking, numbers, and facts took center stage, leaving little room for playing, drawing, and making up stories. I was never good at school, but at the time I still thought I would be some kind of engineer because that’s what everyone else was doing.
Yet, destiny had other plans. Gratitude fills my heart for those who saw beyond my awkward sketches on scratchy pieces of paper, recognizing the potential within. It was their encouragement that emboldened me to take a leap, defying the conventional narrative.
Fast forward, and my journey has unfolded into a mesmerizing tapestry of design and storytelling. By luck, I stumbled into the world of industrial design, where I now immerse myself in the art of creating objects and experiences that resonate with people. Each project is a symphony of narratives – listening to stories, rewriting them, and adding my own strokes of creativity.
I owe my unconventional path to the serendipity of chance and the boldness to defy expectations. Today, I revel in the joy of transforming challenges into captivating designs, making the once hard things appear beautifully easy. I coudln’t do anything else.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I don’t conform to the conventional mold of an industrial designer. My professional journey and personal passions have led me through a diverse range of creative realms – from consumer tech and furniture to motion graphics and user experience design. I’ve come to understand that design is a multi-dimensional tapestry, and the more one delves into various fields, the more refined and effective their work becomes. It’s about viewing challenges from different perspectives and telling stories through someone else’s lens. Some might look at my portfolio and wonder about the apparent lack of focus – is it tech, furniture, branding, graphics? The truth is, all these are interconnected, they have to be. While my formal title is Industrial Designer, my approach transcends the boundaries of traditional design. I conceive and craft objects, and to create truly innovative and unique things, I avoid confining myself to the narrow scope of analogous objects.
Consider furniture and tech products – they have distinct priorities. Furniture leans toward the harmony of shape and form, while tech products prioritize the experience and interaction with their digital counterparts. In my work, I infuse the harmony of form from furniture into tech products and incorporate the functional and systematic aspects of tech into furniture. The result is a symbiotic enhancement of both, making each stronger and, most importantly, different.
In essence, I see myself as an explorer, uncovering inspiration in diverse fields and applying it where it was never expected. I’m constantly on the lookout for tools from different industries that can elevate the quality and efficiency of my work. I’ve learned that while mastering the basics is crucial for creative individuals, it’s equally important to venture beyond the traditional and explore the unconventional. Advancement in our field comes not from adhering strictly to norms but from pushing boundaries and embracing the extraordinary.
I take immense pride in my body of work, yet my excitement lies in the future. I don’t live in the past; it’s the prospect of what lies ahead that propels me forward. Internally, I remain that same daydreaming kid who used to create new worlds in his mind. The difference now is that I have the knowledge and resources to turn those dreams into reality.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To be an artist is to breathe life into the intangible, and as a designer, it’s about sharing that magic with anyone open to the experience. What makes this creative journey truly exhilarating is witnessing people, beyond yourself, interact with, enjoy, and talk about something you’ve poured your heart into.

We live in a world surrounded by products, but how often do we pause to unravel the mystery of their creation? Who conceived the idea? Why does it look the way it does? We’ve become somewhat oblivious to this fascinating process, turning design into a kind of everyday magic for many. And it’s the sheer joy of seeing people react to this magic that fuels my passion and keeps me inspired.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Design is fun —getting paid to envision and draw is a joy unlike any other. However, the field is flooded with aspiring talents, and only a select few find their spot. Recently, I triumphed over a period of despair that I hope never to revisit. For a long time, I found myself in a professional void—no freelance clients, no one-off projects, and certainly no full-time positions. Despite ticking all the necessary boxes, luck seemed to have alternate plans. Frustration set in, and I thought about leaving the industry altogether, seeking a field with more abundant opportunities.
During this disheartening phase, I faced countless rejections, and the industry’s bleak outlook pushed me to the brink. Yet, amidst the gloom, a singular “yes” emerged—a game-changing affirmation that revitalized my spirit. This challenging period spanned about two years, finally concluding through longstanding connections that manifested into a much-anticipated opportunity. My point here is, sometimes it’s all about timing, and that’s not on you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pvillar.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phvillar
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pvillar/