The Uruguay-based design agency seeks partnerships in the North American market for its contemporary kitchen systems.
By Dianne M. Pogoda
La Agencia, an international award-winning design agency that specializes in kitchen furniture systems, is branching into the North American market. Established in 2010, the Montevideo, Uruguay-based company produces sleek, modular kitchen systems for modern spaces. It began working on a global level in 2015, collaborating with manufacturers in Spain, Italy, Argentina and Brazil. Now, it seeks partnerships in North America to develop home-grown brands, produced in this market, for this market. To that end, it has joined NKBA’s Global Connect program, which strives to help international companies connect with advisors and potential partners with which to do business in North America.
“Demand for contemporary kitchens is growing rapidly in North America,” said Sebastián Rial, Design Director of La Agencia. “Relatively few North American manufacturers have kept up with this trend. And while the industry has high levels of development, the high-end and ultra-high-end market is dominated mainly by European brands — essentially from Italy and Germany.”
“For this reason, we see a big opportunity to develop truly American brands that are capable of competing in these segments,” he added. “Considering the long and distinguished tradition of industrial design in the U.S., it’s important to develop a solid and strong kitchen and bath industry that honors and represents this heritage.”
La Agencia operates with a three-prong approach, said Andrea Damico, export manager of La Agencia.
• Design Consulting: Identifying and understanding design opportunities and providing an objective perspective on the needs of the market, the partner company and the client.
• Product Design: Creating furniture systems capable of transforming the market and building a strong identity for clients. Working in stages allows a fluid dialogue and well-organized collaboration throughout all phases of the development process.
• Design Management: Identifying and creating an ideal environment in which projects may develop and thrive.
“We believe the kitchen is the center of the home, not only for food preparation but also for integration with other areas of the house and activities other than cooking,” Rial said. “It is a system of pieces that is broad enough to adapt to different purposes, and we can develop solutions for these unique needs and design approaches.”
La Agencia’s product portfolio has won more than 20 international design awards, including numerous European Product Design Awards, German Design Awards, Good Design Awards, Italy’s A’Design Awards, multiple selections to the BID Ibero-American Design Biennial, and many others.
“Over the next 18 months, our main objective is to connect and establish business relationships with two to three manufacturers in North America, work alongside American brands to redefine the concept of the contemporary American kitchen, and launch the production and commercialization of at least one product line,” said Damico. “Within five years, it would be reasonable to have three to five product lines being produced and sold across the North American market. By that time, these products should have gained consumers’ recognition and loyalty.” Learn more about La Agencia here, and NKBA’s Global Connect program here.
