Hondo is a joyful convergence of minds, material and meaning

The story of Palma de Mallorca and London-based design studio Hondo is one of collaboration and creative elation. Having more recently met after over a decade in the design industry, María Vioque and Fran Mendez began partnering with one another on projects during lockdown before finding the confidence to formally solidify their two practices together. “That’s how Hondo was born,” María and Fran tell us, “a design venture driven by our shared motivation to create work that brings us joy, and hopefully, joy to others as well.”

Naturally, Hondo is drawn to cultural work, crafting brands that directly engage with specific communities, which requires a fundamental appreciation and dedication to research. “We invest time in understanding their nature and needs,” the founders say, “which gives our work a sense of purpose beyond the screen and helps us truly connect with others.” Due to the symbiotic nature of Hondo’s practice – between both María and Fran and their clientele – the pair place great emphasis on their ability to understand and, likewise, adapt; remaining perpetually interested in creative innovation, education and community. “Staying at the forefront of design,” they explain, “we experiment with both analogue and digital mediums to develop solutions that are unique, relevant, and forward-thinking.” This approach is nothing new to the pair, especially considering Fran’s background in corporate and innovation design where he worked within Samsung Design Europe and the Huawei Innovation Centre. Similarly, María and Fran’s integration into the creative community is central to their character as a duo, having met at Greenwich University. “Both of us also teach at the university level,” they explain, “which allows us to inspire the next generation of designers and continually expand the creative community around us.”

A project that embodies Hondo’s collaborative and forward-thinking creative philosophy is its brand for Castil, an Italian furniture brand. Specialising in contemporary metal seating, Hondo opted for a visual identity that mirrored the innovative, material nature of the company, comparably shaping letterforms akin to Castil’s designers. “Castil’s approach centres on precision, strength, and versatility,” María and Fran say, utilising the tangible, elegant qualities of steel and aluminium to do so. “To reflect these qualities, the new visual identity features a clean, adaptable design system,” they continue, championing the product’s customisability and commitment to both form and function in equal measure. Leading the charge is the bespoke monospace typeface, Castil Mono, that Hondo crafted in collaboration with Ignacio Casco. “This typeface and the new logo evoke the precision and modularity of industrial production,” María and Fran end, “while also capturing the distinctive curves and tactile qualities of Castil’s furniture.” Combined, each studious graphic element combines to create a neat harmony between the technicality of Castil’s metalwork and the design-driven personality behind it. A tone not too dissimilar to Hondo’s own meticulous and characterful practice.