Cate & Nelson, a double inspiration

B25 armchair and ottoman for Blå Station

Founded in Sweden in 2006 by Nelson Ruiz-Acal and Cate Högdahl, two internationally renowned designers, Cate & Nelson is a multidisciplinary design studio, headquartered in London and working in a variety of industries, such as furniture, lighting, interior products and artistic direction.

The Cate & Nelson duo is made up of Swedish designer Cate Högdahl and Spaniard Nelson Ruiz-Acal. They met in Madrid, while studying industrial design at IED (Europeo di Design). Their workshop covers a wide variety of industries, including furniture, lighting, personal products, such as watches, and home decor. What these two passionate craftsmen have in common is that they work with the highest quality materials, while applying a sustainable production process. Their creations are distinguished by a wide range of skills and high functionality. Thus, their products reflect the sobriety and honesty of the Scandinavian style, with an emphasis on details that make them both beautiful and practical tools.

With offices in Sweden, Spain and the United Kingdom, the studio seeks to create elegant and refined interiors, clean and timeless. Their imagination comes from a constant dialogue on design and from the observation of everyday situations and needs in relation to materials and spaces. This firm is involved in all stages of design, thanks to a collaborative vision between designers, manufacturer and end user, taking great pleasure in being part of the journey from the first idea to the product outcome. “We are inspired by Cate’s Scandinavian origins and my southern European heritage, Ruiz-Acal explains. We want to remove the overly classic elements and create a new language, the result of a careful process that allows us to use details in meaningful ways with a well-balanced aesthetic. Our objects are designed to belong to people who love craftsmanship and design, and for whom ease of use is a requirement.”

The duo is also involved with the Cate & Nelson Watches brand, which designs unisex watches, inspired by the iconic Stockholm metro clock. In early 2017, they founded the architectural firm Cate & Nelson/Del Castillo, in partnership with the Spanish architect Rafael del Castillo. There, architecture and design combine to develop new residential construction and conversion projects, such as offices, interiors and hotels. Cate & Nelson has become a staple, receiving extensive international media coverage and its products are exhibited and broadcast around the world.