The jury described Viccarbe as “an international benchmark in the design and manufacture of contemporary furniture, and an undisputed representative of the best Spanish design with Mediterranean inspiration,” praising especially its ability to combine excellence, innovation, quality, and environmental responsibility in an exemplary business model.

With over two decades of history, Viccarbe has forged a distinctive language—instantly recognisable around the world for its understated elegance, material honesty and warmth. From its headquarters in Valencia, the company has built an ecosystem where craft and technology, local tradition and global ambition, form and content all coexist.

“Receiving the National Design Award is an immense source of pride and great joy for the entire team. This recognition motivates us to continue championing an honest, functional, and emotional design rooted in our Mediterranean essence,” said Rubén Mateos, Head of Design at Viccarbe.

Design from coherence

For Viccarbe, design is not an accessory: it is structure, decision, attitude. The company has integrated a design culture at every level—from the furniture and its function to packaging, graphic identity and visual communication. That is how you build a brand with soul, one that is recognisable not only by its products but also by its way of being in the world.

Pieces designed for Viccarbe by Patricia Urquiola, Jaime Hayon, John Pawson, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba, Naoto Fukasawa, Jean-Marie Massaud, Piero Lissoni, Víctor Carrasco, Jasper Morrison or Meike Harde, among many others, are a reflection of that essential, kind, lasting and deeply human design. Their creations, present in iconic spaces such as the Centre Pompidou, Microsoft offices or the Takasaki Theatre in Japan, connect cultures and contexts without losing their Mediterranean identity.

A shared award

The team’s excitement is amplified by the fact that this award is shared with designer Patricia Urquiola, who also received the National Design Award in this same edition. “She was the first Spanish company she worked with in product design,” they recall at Viccarbe, with a mix of gratitude and admiration. The company also maintains a close relationship with Jaime Hayon, who received the same award in 2021, another of the great designers with whom Viccarbe has grown and learned.

For Daniel Benedito, the company’s CEO, “this recognition is also a tribute to all the people—designers, collaborators and suppliers—who have believed in our vision from the very beginning.” His words reflect the conviction that creativity, coherence and commitment can transform a local project into a global reference.

A way of being in the world

Now present in more than 80 countries and with a team of over 120 people, Viccarbe exports not only its furniture, but a way of understanding design, as a tool for transformation, a generator of wellbeing and a transmitter of values.

In every one of its collections shines the light of the Mediterranean, the respect for what is essential, and the will to create better environments, whether in offices, homes, schools or hospitality venues, where people can connect, work, find inspiration, or simply be.

Viccarbe does not design to decorate spaces, but to give them meaning. This National Design Award 2025 is not only a recognition of what has been achieved, it is also a promise of everything that is yet to come.

Sources: Viccarbe y Lelien.

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.