Today we’d like to introduce you to Corina Durrego Rodríguez.
Hi Corina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I can’t pinpoint a moment when I knew the path I wanted to take. One of my most vivid childhood memories is having a sketchbook with my best friend, where we used to draw dresses for weddings and special events. That passion for fashion shifted quickly and transformed into a passion for design and architecture. From a very young age, I remember traveling and being mesmerized by architecture, museums, and different cultures. The structures’ grandiosity and history made me want to become an architect. In 2018 I arrived at Savannah College of Art and Design to study architecture. When I first started college, SCAD completely changed my way of thinking. I was offered so many possibilities that I didn’t want to limit myself by only being one thing. And that’s how I found Industrial Design, a career that offered endless possibilities and is so broad that it has let me become what I am today. In 2022 I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.F.A in Industrial Design with a minor in Furniture Design. I currently work as a furniture designer at Atelier Jouffre in New York.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a journey that I have enjoyed. Nonetheless, as with any new adventure, there have been obstacles. When I started designing, I needed to figure out what path to take. Being thrust into a competitive and creative field, I pushed the limits of my creativity and slowly began defining the works and pieces I wanted to create. I have always avoided viewing other people’s work for inspiration; excess information impedes my creativity.
Being a designer takes work, as I am more vulnerable when showing projects I have worked hard to make. In the beginning, critics made me feel uncomfortable, but as time passed, I learned to take others’ opinions into consideration, filter, and engage in changes. Now critics are essential to my design process, and I genuinely appreciate it.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Lately, I have had a fascination not only for furniture design but for tabletop and home decor. One of my first opportunities was working for Adriana Castro, where we developed a dinnerware collection for her brand. The collection is currently being sold at Saks Fifth Avenue with an excellent outcome. Also, this year I was honored with two European Product Design Awards, “Bombon Chair” was announced a winner in the Home Interior Products/ Furniture category, and “Dinnerware for Adriana Castro” was announced as a winner in the Catering Products category. In one of my latest projects, I have worked alongside my sister Isabel Durrego on the interior design and furniture design of a concept store called Studio By Grixoa. This project is very close to my heart as we both strived to create a beautiful, modern and sophisticated space in my home country, Venezuela.
Hard work pays off. I am currently working at an extraordinary french firm in NYC, loving my job and starting to grow as a designer and as a person. Having this job is a big step for the designer I will become. It’s great to be living in this buzzing city, surrounded by infinite diversity, and working with a European firm sharing the best of both worlds.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I am always searching and exploring new paths. Lately, I have been immersed in botanical illustrations. It’s something that I find so exciting and beautiful. The intricate details of nature make me think a lot about design in nature. I am learning techniques and styles of botanical illustrations, and I am sure that those details of plants, flowers, and fruits will reveal themselves in my future creations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cdurrego.com/
- Instagram: @corinadurrego
