França

In the early 1980s, Hugo França made a career change from industrial engineering in São Paulo to a life in Trancoso, Bahia, to be closer to the natural environment. Observing the widespread devastation of the local Atlantic Forest deeply affected him, inspiring his current work as a designer. He works intuitively, letting the natural forms of each tree guide his artistic process. He values the unique character and history of each tree and makes minimal changes to preserve its characteristics. The designer exclusively utilizes tree parts that have already been condemned – either by natural causes or human activity.