1/08/2008

A couple of years ago, my friend Santiago called me all excited to invite me to dinner. Santi, who was working for a creative agency in Madrid at the time, wanted to introduce me to his good friend Jaime Hayón. Jaime, an artist/designer, had worked with Santi in Fabrica, Benetton Group’s communication research center in Treviso, Italy. There he was appointed head of the design department by Mr. Luciano Benetton and communication guru Oliviero Toscani. Jaime was now back in Spain because he had been asked to revamp Lladró, the, how should we call it, Spanish porcelain doll company. To make a long story short, meeting Jaime was fantastic, his energy, humor, and compulsive creativity were contagious. I still have a fantastic drawing he made for me over dinner on a large orange place mat. Fast forward to last week in Madrid, and Jaime was here, finally showing the collection he designed for Lladró, in an event co-sponsored by Camper, for which Jaime also designs shoes.
The collection has all moments from breathtaking to super funny. My favorite was a little cool monkey, not what you would expect from this Spanish firm that has a huge following with porcelain collectors in the US and Japan. The crowd was young, design oriented, international, with a few Dior snobs. And then there are the shoes, which were made their mark on some privileged feet, and on some of the dolls!
The thing about Jaime, apart from his worldwide design industry wiz kid status, is that he is someone who immediately injects you with a passion for work. Actions are stronger than words they say. But really, sometimes a great way to quiet your mind, and learn as you go, is to put a little bit of your soul, into whatever you consider to be your work. Check out Jaime's work at Madrid's Lladró and Camper shops.

Boutique Lladró
calle Serrano, 68


Camper
C/ Serrano 24, Madrid
+34 915 782 560