PODCAST: PORTUGAL MANUAL

LISBON DESIGN WEEK 2026 SPECIAL SEASON

De La Espada has been a major supporter of Lisbon Design Week since its first edition, and for 2026 we are the official sponsor of the special Lisbon Design Week season of the Portugal Manual podcast.

Throughout design week, Portugal Manual recorded a series of 10 episodes that bring visibility to the practices, processes, and people shaping the landscape of design and craftsmanship in Portugal today.

More than a one-off collaboration, our partnership stems from a shared way of thinking about design, production, and the networks that sustain them.

Listen to the first episode of the special season below, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes will be released weekly throughout the summer.

 

 

LISTEN TO LUIS IN CONVERSATION WITH FILIPA BELO

In the first episode of this special season, Portugal Manual founder Filipa Belo speaks with co-founder of De La Espada, Luis De Oliveira. They discuss creativity and risk, the need to continue experimenting even when a project is already established, and the role of design in valuing materials, crafts, and human labour.

They also address the relationship between craftsmanship and contemporary production, the challenges of accessibility, the importance of events like Lisbon Design Week, and collective responsibility in building a more sustainable creative ecosystem.

A conversation about vision, collaboration, and the future of Portuguese design.

Please note: This episode is conducted in Portuguese.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PORTUGAL MANUAL

In addition to their podcast, Portugal Manual supports Portuguese artisans through over 120 projects, from facilitating creative collaboration and business opportunities, to amplifying messaging, to encouraging public engagement with artisanal craft skills.

Learn more about their inspiring work in our Journal, where Portugal Manual founder Filipa Belo shares insights on what the organisation has achieved so far, and what is coming up next.

 

Top image by Pedro Sadio; Filipa portrait courtesy of Portugal Manual