To go inside the mind of Louis Vuitton’s designer Cristián Mohaded is to encounter an approach shaped by craftsmanship, materiality, landscape and the belief that objects should carry stories. The Argentinian designer and artist traces his creative instincts to childhood, surrounded by a mother who worked with textiles and a grandmother who painted landscapes. Drawing became a lasting part of his practice, establishing an enduring connection between the hand, the mind and the act of making.
For more than 15 years, Mohaded has worked closely with artisans in Argentina, developing a deep appreciation for processes spanning weaving, metalwork and clay. Inside the mind of Louis Vuitton’s designer is an understanding that materiality gives an object its expression. Rather than designing a piece solely for its function or appearance, Mohaded seeks to give it a concept, a history and a sense of place, often drawing upon the landscapes, materials and people behind its making.
This philosophy can be seen in works such as the Chicana carpet, whose name means mountain in an Indigenous language. Conceived as a landscape brought into the home, its colours and textures evoke the experience of moving through a valley. The Atlas table explores another interpretation of place, bringing onyx and travertine together so that individual layers of stone form a map-like composition. His Sunset collection similarly translates an experience of landscape into an object, responding to changing colours, reflections and the personal perception of watching the sun descend over water.
Exploring inside the mind of Louis Vuitton’s designer also reveals the complexity of designing within the heritage of a house with a 170-year history. Mohaded describes working with Louis Vuitton as both a challenge and an opportunity, requiring consideration of what a new piece can contribute to an established story. Throughout the process, from early sketches to developed ideas, creative freedom remains essential, with the Louis Vuitton team encouraging his individual approach, concepts and perspective.
For Mohaded, luxury is personal and cultural rather than universal. This perspective is fundamental inside the mind of Louis Vuitton’s designer, where honesty, connection and soul take precedence over objects without meaning. At a time defined by speed, he sees the home as a place for pieces that invite a more considered relationship – much like the connection formed with a book or a piece of music.
Ultimately, inside the mind of Louis Vuitton’s designer reveals design as something extending beyond beauty. For Mohaded, it is a means of expressing culture, carrying stories and shifting perceptions. Through craftsmanship and material exploration, his work proposes that the objects brought into a home can connect people with landscapes, makers and ideas, giving design a role that is both intimate and far-reaching.
0:00 – Inside The Mind Of A Louis Vuitton’s Designer
0:18 – Where It Begins
1:41 – Care And Craftsmanship
2:29 – The Embedded Storytelling And Soul
4:41 – Considering A Global Audience
6:17 – Designing For The Home
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Photography by Nicholas Caldwell.
Filmed by The Local Production.
Edited by SIRAP.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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