Héctor Serrano Barbeta, National Design Award 2024

Designer Héctor Serrano, recently honored with the National Design Award 2024, introduces us to his latest project for Faro Barcelona: Tierra, Mar y Aire, a collection that exemplifies the necessary transition toward circularity and the urgency of rethinking our relationship with the planet. It is a series of large-format luminaires 3D-printed with bioplastics and plastics that are 100% recycled and recyclable.

The collection: Tierra, Mar y Aire

Tierra

The Tierra luminaires are made from a bioplastic composed of PLA and cellulose—a biodegradable and compostable plant-based material. The three models subtly and abstractly evoke the forms of honeybee hives, referencing the vital role of pollination in preserving biodiversity. Their matte, random texture gives them a hand-crafted feel, reminiscent of paper or terracotta. They reflect the idea of digital craftsmanship—contrasting additive manufacturing with traditional artisanal techniques.

Mar 

Mar addresses the critical issue of marine pollution. By 2050, the oceans are expected to contain more tons of plastic than fish. These luminaires are made from a polypropylene compound composed of 73–75% recycled fishing nets, reinforced with fiberglass. Inspired by the shells of sea urchins, they serve as a visual reminder of their raw material—reclaimed marine waste.

Aire

The Aire series is produced using 100% recycled PETG. PET is the most commonly recycled plastic worldwide, and its composition allows for multiple recycling cycles without loss of performance. However, only 9% of global plastic waste is actually recycled. If we are to advance toward circularity, this percentage must increase—so that plastic waste does not end up in our oceans, landfills, or incinerators. The luminaires’ shapes evoke large-scale air bubbles—forms only made possible through digital manufacturing.

Héctor Serrano

Héctor Serrano studied Industrial Design and later completed a Master’s in Product Design at the Royal College of Art in London. He founded Héctor Serrano Studio in London in 2000. His projects combine innovation with the communication of familiar ideas in unusual and inventive ways. The studio’s work spans product design, spatial design, communication, and a research lab, where experimental projects explore new possibilities and question existing systems.

His clients include renowned brands and institutions such as Roca, Moooi, ICEX – Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade of Spain, Droog Design, Metalarte, La Casa Encendida (Caja Madrid), and the Valencia City Council, among others. The studio has received several awards, including the Peugeot Design Award and the Premio Nacional de Diseño No Aburridos. His designs have been widely exhibited in museums such as the V&A in London and the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum in New York, and are part of several permanent collections including the Central Museum in Amsterdam.

Photography: Javier Márquez.
Vídeo: Farra__Visual.

Project by Héctor Serrano