Design debut: Wallpaper* invites five individuals from its global talent pool of artists and designers to test the Sprout by HP

Born in Montevideo, Matteo Fogale moved to Italy in 2001 and studied industrial design. After working on high-end furniture design, industrial product design and bespoke commissions for European design studios, he moved to London to establish brose~fogale, a studio in collaboration with Joscha Brose. They work in the fields of interior and product design, bespoke furniture and installations, with an emphasis on premium materials, functionality and longevity.

Swiss-born Laetitia de Allegri graduated from ECAL in 2004 and moved to London, where she works on private and public commissions for industrial products, furniture design, interiors, textiles and rugs. Her work has a strong focus on graphic patterns, colour and texture. In 2013 she launched Allegri/Feldkamp, a collaboration with Eva Feldkamp. The duo’s projects align feminine sensibility with technical knowledge in graphics, textiles, product design and interiors.

W*: Talk us through your working day. How does it start? Where do you work?
We live in Hackney in east London, so we always start our day here, and depending on the project we are working on we decide whether we stay in the area working or go to our studio workshop in Walthamstow.

W*: How much does technology impact on your creative process? How much time do you spend using pen and paper… and how much time using a computer? Do you use 3D imaging/rendering programs? 3D printing?
We sketch a lot and make plenty of models and prototypes. In this phase we work with 3D CAD to design our pieces, shapes and proportions. In a later stage we use technology mainly to virtually represent the materials we would like to use, and to visualise our projects digitally.

W*: How did you find your HP Sprout experience? Was it easy to use?
Very easy and intuitive to use, kind of playful. We enjoy the combination of tools and action in one device.

W*: How did you feel about abandoning the conventional mouse-operated interface?
It feels good, like we are working with our hands again. It feels more natural and animated – your whole body is part of the action. It gives more space for interaction between two users sharing the same device. And less wrist pain.

W*: In your line of work, how do you think Sprout would be best employed?
At the beginning of a project, for sketching and creating visual mock-ups, patterns, scanning materials and shapes. To create mood-boards and share ideas. We also see the potential for 3D scanning.

W*: How was the instant video link facility, where you can initiate and manipulate collaborative ideas in real time?
This is a very useful tool to use between us when we are not together to share ideas and sketches, but also with clients. It makes it easier to explain drawings in detail or amendments to the design in progress.

W*: What are you working on right now?
We are developing the production pieces for -ISH Collection and working on a project for Milan. We’re also collaborating with Manos del Uruguay, a non-profit organisation providing jobs for craftswomen living in rural areas.