Raúl De La Cerda

Raúl de la Cerda is a Mexican interdisciplinary designer based in Mexico City, whose practice encompasses furniture, objects, interiors, and creative direction. Born in 1988, he trained in Mexico, Paris, and Madrid, developing an approach that connects international experience with a strong commitment to his Mexican identity. Through de la Cerda Studio, he creates products and spaces guided by conceptual research, material exploration, and an understanding of the context in which each project will exist.

Wood, stone, and metal are central to his work. De la Cerda approaches these materials through their inherent qualities, favouring clear forms that reveal texture, construction, and proportion. His inspiration comes from everyday life, travel, art, and Mexico’s cultural history, translating these influences into contemporary objects without losing their connection to place. Collaboration shapes this process, bringing designers, manufacturers, and craftspeople together around the practical and emotional possibilities of a project.

This commitment to local production extends to Baron & Vicario, the design brand he founded to support small Mexican workshops. Developed through a close exchange with an experienced resin artisan, the project brings material experimentation and skilled handwork into the creation of objects. Its approach recognises the many people involved in making each piece, placing value on their knowledge, the quality of the finished work, and the working conditions that sustain craft production.

His spatial projects apply the same attention to narrative and atmosphere. For Gin: Lab, presented through Design Week Mexico’s Design House programme, he developed an experimental environment inspired by the American writers associated with Paris in the 1920s. Created with Bombay Sapphire and a network of collaborators, the space incorporated botanical references, art, and a working laboratory for exploring distillation, essences, and fragrances, connecting interior design with an active sensory experience.

De la Cerda’s work has been presented at Salone del Mobile and SaloneSatellite in Milan, London Design Festival, Dutch Design Week, and Design Week Mexico. In 2015, he received first prize in the Utilitarian Object category of the Hugo Salinas Price National Silver Award. His practice has also been featured in Architectural Digest and Glocal, with coverage examining his collaborative outlook, material sensitivity, and the importance of identity within his approach to contemporary Mexican design.