We were lucky to catch up with Tiago Raimundo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tiago, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I realized very early that creativity would be central to my life. Growing up around shipyards, I was fascinated by how design shaped both function and beauty. As a teenager, I explored painting and drawing, from murals to surfboards, which deepened my passion for visual expression. Later, experiences like working on yachts and traveling through different cultures made me see design as a way to tell stories and evoke emotion. That was when I knew I wanted to dedicate myself fully to a creative career

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Tiago Raimundo — Art Director, Interior Designer, and co founder of Rebel Rebel Design, a studio based in Lisbon and Buenos Aires. Together with my partner and co founder Eme Carranza, Interior Designer and Art Director, we lead Rebel Rebel as a collaborative platform dedicated to integrating diverse creative disciplines and delivering distinctive, narrative driven design solutions.

From a young age, I was aware of how spaces influence mood and well-being. Growing up in a family connected to shipyards, I observed how boats were designed, where form and function had to work in harmony. Later, working with superyachts sharpened this awareness, teaching me that design excellence is about subtlety, materials, and refined proportions.
My love for the sea, travel, and surf exposed me to diverse interiors worldwide, from hotels to restaurants, and I began analyzing how atmosphere, layout, and lighting shaped experiences. These influences—technical knowledge from ship design, sensitivity to spaces, and passion for hospitality—came together naturally. That convergence led me to commit to interior design and art direction, and eventually to co-found Rebel Rebel Design, where we bring storytelling and emotion into every project.

At Rebel Rebel Design we offer integrated design services that go far beyond simple decoration.
Our work includes:
•Concept & narrative design: every project is treated as a unique story, with its own identity and purpose.
•Interior design for hospitality – restaurants, bars, hotels, guesthouses – where balancing aesthetics, functionality and user experience is crucial.
•Projects in residential, commercial and rehabilitated spaces.
•Curated selection of materials (wood, stone, raw textiles, natural textures) to create warm, authentic and textured atmospheres.
•Integration of vintage or artisanal pieces with contemporary design elements, resulting in layered, lived in, character rich spaces.
•Custom furniture / design pieces and full project direction: from concept and layout to final details. As the studio evolves, one of our ambitions is even to launch a dedicated line of furniture, designed under the same principles of authenticity, functionality and identity.
In short: we don’t just design interiors. We build experiences – spaces that tell stories, evoke emotions, and reflect the identity or vision of our clients.

Many clients come to us when they want more than “something nice to look at.”
They want spaces that:
•Feel authentic and have a distinct identity.
•Work – not only visually, but in terms of flow, comfort, practicality, acoustics, materials.
•Evoke a mood, a memory, an experience, going beyond mere functionality.
•Combine high end design sensibility with real world constraints such as budgets, structural limitations, and operational needs, especially in hospitality.
•What Distinguishes Rebel Rebel Design and my work
•A background that unites technical precision, gained from shipbuilding and yacht projects, with a deep sensitivity for spatial experience. This balance ensures function, comfort, and aesthetics coexist harmoniously.
•Every project is treated as a bespoke narrative. There is no “one size fits all” approach; each space is crafted with careful attention to the client’s identity, the intended use, and the emotional effect we aim to evoke.
•Natural, honest materials are central to our practice, combined with a design language that blends contemporary minimalism with warmth through textures, contrasts, and layers. The result is spaces that feel alive, authentic, and soulful.
•Attention to detail is obsessive, with every element, material, and light considered as part of a larger whole: the experience.
•What I’m Most Proud Of & What I Want People to Know
•My greatest achievement is the ability to transform abstract ideas, concepts, and dreams into tangible spaces that shape people’s everyday lives. These are places where someone sleeps, socializes, rests, or finds inspiration, and where the experience is designed with intention, sensitivity, and identity.
•With Rebel Rebel Design, I want potential clients, followers, and fans to understand that:
•Every project is approached with respect, care, and authenticity. We never rely on pre made formulas.
•We always strive to integrate aesthetics and function. A beautiful space is not enough; it must also work, welcome, and make sense.
•Design is about people, emotions, and life. It is not superficial; it is transformative.
•There is consistency between creative vision and execution, from concept to final detail.
•Our Mission
•At its core, Rebel Rebel Design seeks to create more than spaces. We aim to craft memorable experiences, environments with history and soul, places where people truly feel connected.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The main mission driving my creative journey is to create spaces that have soul and tell a story. Every project I take on, whether it is hospitality, residential, or commercial, is an opportunity to craft an environment that is authentic, functional, and emotionally engaging.
I aim to transform abstract ideas, emotions, and concepts into tangible experiences so that people do not just inhabit a space but feel it, connect with it, and are inspired by it. This vision guides every decision I make, from material selection and lighting to layout and atmosphere, ensuring that every detail contributes to a cohesive and meaningful experience.
At its core, my goal is to bridge creativity and functionality, creating environments that are not only visually striking but also deeply human and memorable.

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

One story that truly illustrates resilience in my journey happened early on with Rebel Rebel Design. Launching a studio with the mission to create ‘spaces with soul’ meant stepping into a highly competitive field where every project is judged not only on aesthetics but also on functionality, practicality, and emotional impact.
One hospitality project tested every aspect of this vision. The client had a bold, ambitious idea, but the space itself had structural limitations, and the budget was tight. On top of that, as a new studio, I had to earn credibility with both the client and the entire network of contractors and suppliers. Every detail, from layouts and materials to lighting and finishes, required careful negotiation and creative problem solving.
There were moments when it felt overwhelming. Delays, material shortages, and last minute changes could have derailed the project. Personally, I questioned whether I could deliver the client’s vision without compromising the integrity of the design. It was a true test of patience, adaptability, and perseverance.
At the same time, this project became a lesson in personal resilience. I learned to trust my instincts, stay calm under pressure, and lead the team while keeping a clear focus on the experience we wanted to create. It was not just about completing a project; it was about transforming abstract ideas, emotions, and concepts into a space that genuinely affects the people who use it.
When the project was completed, the space exceeded expectations: functional, warm, and full of identity. Seeing people connect with it, feeling inspired, comfortable, and welcomed, made all the challenges worthwhile. That experience taught me a core truth I carry into every project: resilience is not only about enduring obstacles, but also about adapting, learning, and staying committed to your vision, both technically and personally, until it comes to life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rebelrebel.design
• Instagram: tiagoraimundo30
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiago-raimundo-61860b215/