Less than a year before the fair, Sindmóveis develops actions to encourage design   Casa Brasil 2013, one of the largest design fairs in Latin America, once again is working to promote furniture design, in terms of both business and appreciation. Less than a year to go before the next edition, preparations are in full swing. Sindmóveis, organizer and promoter of the event, has been developing a series of activities to consolidate the show as a benchmark for design in Brazil and an important element to foster the local economy.    One of these initiatives, in partnership with architects Tina and Lui Lo Pumo, curators of Casa Brasil, and designer Renato Imbroisi, is promoting together with local artisans several workshops for the production of contemporary items with typical materials found in the region. The objects will be manufactured in the coming months and will be launched in August during the fair.   Besides encouraging the production of original design and products with added value, Casa Brasil also invests in the training of professionals who work for this increasingly demanding public. In the last week of August, the fair participated as a supporter in Portal Luxo Brasil, which held a meeting focused on consumers and professionals in the high-end segment.   An evidence of the consolidation of the fair as an important platform to promote design is the fact that large furniture companies have already confirmed their participation in the event. The trade show expects to overcome figures of the three previous editions, which totaled more than 50,000 visitors and approximately R$ 500 million in business.