Maile Castaneda
Maile Castaneda
Interior Design
Miami International University of Art & Design Global Campus
I love elegance, sophistication, but also a theme, a story to every design, inspired maybe by something from the past, one’s culture, and one’s own past. Design itself is a story about something, an interpretation, an art. Maile Castaneda Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design, , Miami International University of Art & Design Global Campus
Q & A with Farrey’s Lighting & Bath Contest Past Winner
What is your design signature and how did the competition impact that?
I love elegance, sophistication, but also a theme, a story to every design, inspired maybe by something from the past, one’s culture, and one’s own past. Design itself is a story about something, an interpretation, an art. I love design, whether it’s a whole house, piece of furniture, or a light fixture. One is not more important than the other. It’s like your child—you give life to it.
What other designers inspire you?
In broad terms, I find inspiration everywhere. It can be anything. I like art that positively showcases the life of another person. Modern art, though expressive, is sometimes less about the art itself, but rather about the artist’s opinion. It doesn’t necessarily produce a feeling of beauty or transcendence, which is why I’m drawn to impressionism and the art of the Renaissance.
What is your design process, inspiration and how did you determine materials?
I have always been inspired by the Versailles building outside of Paris and wanted to do a modern reincarnation of that period. A fashionable historical figure named Madame Pompadour, commonly called ‘La Queenette,’ was important to Louis XV. It is said that she was driven by ambition and superficial matters, but was also considerate of the society of the time. I was inspired by her and by the interior design of Versailles itself—the way the Baccarat chandeliers are very opulent and attractive. I wanted to do a simpler, more modern version to emulate that feeling of extravagance and opulence. The design materials included Lucite, stainless steel, and LED light, modern materials handled in a Rococo fashion.
Where would a luminaire like the one you designed be installed? What type of client does your design aesthetic actively court?
I thought a little bit about the high-end market, where the light would be a decorative object, a piece of artwork, not simply a piece that illuminates a space. Kartell’s use of acrylic material inspired the direction I wanted to head in.
How did winning affect your life, in school and outside it?
Always when you win something, you feel more confident about what you’re doing. Winning this competition validates my skills and creativity, providing me confidence in my abilities.
Additional information on Maile:
I was born in Cardenas, a coastal city in Cuba, where the opportunity to study interior design was not available. Architecture can only be studied in areas closer to Cuba’s capital. I’ve always admired architecture, particularly old architectural ruins. Everyone else saw them as ugly and abandoned, but I perceived them as majestic, as having a soul. I’m nostalgic for past eras and always find myself imagining that I lived during those times. I love historic buildings—in Cuba, in Miami, anywhere—and I'm always curious and excited about the possibility of breathing new life into them.
Follow Maile on Instagram: @maile_castaneda
What is your design signature and how did the competition impact that?
I love elegance, sophistication, but also a theme, a story to every design, inspired maybe by something from the past, one’s culture, and one’s own past. Design itself is a story about something, an interpretation, an art. I love design, whether it’s a whole house, piece of furniture, or a light fixture. One is not more important than the other. It’s like your child—you give life to it.
What other designers inspire you?
In broad terms, I find inspiration everywhere. It can be anything. I like art that positively showcases the life of another person. Modern art, though expressive, is sometimes less about the art itself, but rather about the artist’s opinion. It doesn’t necessarily produce a feeling of beauty or transcendence, which is why I’m drawn to impressionism and the art of the Renaissance.
What is your design process, inspiration and how did you determine materials?
I have always been inspired by the Versailles building outside of Paris and wanted to do a modern reincarnation of that period. A fashionable historical figure named Madame Pompadour, commonly called ‘La Queenette,’ was important to Louis XV. It is said that she was driven by ambition and superficial matters, but was also considerate of the society of the time. I was inspired by her and by the interior design of Versailles itself—the way the Baccarat chandeliers are very opulent and attractive. I wanted to do a simpler, more modern version to emulate that feeling of extravagance and opulence. The design materials included Lucite, stainless steel, and LED light, modern materials handled in a Rococo fashion.
Where would a luminaire like the one you designed be installed? What type of client does your design aesthetic actively court?
I thought a little bit about the high-end market, where the light would be a decorative object, a piece of artwork, not simply a piece that illuminates a space. Kartell’s use of acrylic material inspired the direction I wanted to head in.
How did winning affect your life, in school and outside it?
Always when you win something, you feel more confident about what you’re doing. Winning this competition validates my skills and creativity, providing me confidence in my abilities.
Additional information on Maile:
I was born in Cardenas, a coastal city in Cuba, where the opportunity to study interior design was not available. Architecture can only be studied in areas closer to Cuba’s capital. I’ve always admired architecture, particularly old architectural ruins. Everyone else saw them as ugly and abandoned, but I perceived them as majestic, as having a soul. I’m nostalgic for past eras and always find myself imagining that I lived during those times. I love historic buildings—in Cuba, in Miami, anywhere—and I'm always curious and excited about the possibility of breathing new life into them.
Follow Maile on Instagram: @maile_castaneda
