Encouraging the internationalization of Brazilian designers, the Raiz Project, promoted by the Furniture Industry Association of Bento Gonçalves (Sindmóveis) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), takes part in the second High Design - Home & Office Expo, the largest design fair in Latin America. The event is the anchor of DW! - São Paulo Design Weekend that will take place from August 8-10 at the São Paulo Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. In the exhibition space of the project at the fair, six out of the 35 designers that participate in the initiative are representing the Brazilian design exhibiting their creations, namely Aristeu Pires, Carol Gay, ITENS by Ana Neute, Marta Manente, Ricardo Rangel and Studiopoli.

In addition to the exhibition of products to the Brazilian market, the project holds the 1st  International Business Meetings, an initiative that establishes a contact between Brazilian companies and major importers in this line of business. The goal is to explore the potential of the Brazilian designer's service in regions of commercial interest, especially the American and European markets, and thus establish the first contact for future sales abroad. The short meetings will be held on August 8 and 9 in the morning at the VIP Lounge of the fair, with the participation of 9 buyers from around the world. Companies exhibiting at High Design Expo and the studios participating in the Raiz Project, even if they are not exhibitors, can participate.

The action plan will continue on August 10 and 11. The international buyers will take a tour of the main showrooms owned by the member designers of the project based in São Paulo aiming to strengthen the qualified positioning of the Brazilian design service. The studios taking part in the initiative include ITENS, Fahrer, Paulo Alves, Noemi Saga Atelier, estudiobola, Carol Gay and Alessandra Delgado Design. The Raiz Project devises positioning strategies for the sector in the foreign market, enhances the use of contacts and commercial intelligence reports for the designers, promotes greater exchange of information and experiences between companies, and conducts the promotion development and the entry of these professionals into the priority markets offering them individual support.

HIGH DESIGN – Home & Office Expo
Date: August 8-10,  2017 
Venue: São Paulo Expo Exhibition & Convention Center – Rod. dos Imigrantes, Km 1,5
Raiz Project (in the Salão Design Award booth) - Street C – Designer segment