Rui Grazina is an architect, designer, researcher and visual artist.
Rui Grazina completed his PhD in Design at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon in July 2022, with distinction and appraisal. His supervisors were Full Professor Fernando Moreira da Silva from the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Lisbon and Dr Fernando Poeiras from ESAD – Caldas da Rainha.
In 1996 he obtained the degree in Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Porto.
His scientific production has been carried out through "peer-reviewed" publications namely at international meetings such as the "RUColor" conference at Smolensk University in 2020, "CA2RE" Hamburg in 2021, Darch Istanbul in 2022 and AHFE in San Francisco in 2023.
In his professional career stands out his work with John McAslan and Partners from 1997 to 2000, in London, and later his collaboration with Francisco Providência with exhibition and installation design, namely in the context of Porto 2001 Capital of Culture.
He has presented his work in exhibitions such as "Remade in Portugal", curated by Roberto Cremascoli, at the Gallery of the House of Architecture, in Matosinhos and at Fundação EDP Art, in Porto. Also at "Experimenta Design" Biennale in Lisbon as part of a design retrospective and also with an installation piece at fashion designer Alexandra Moura's store, in Lisbon both in 2015.
Internationally, he has exhibited at the Design Week in Rio de Janeiro, at "100% Design" in London, The Fostering Arts and Design association – FAD - in Barcelona and "Talents Ambiente" in Frankfurt. In the context of the "Art on Chairs" 2014 project, he exhibited in Beijing, Singapore, Miami, New York. He was also present at the 2018 exhibition "Tanto Mar" Transatlantic Design Flux" at the Rhode Island School of Design and at the exhibition "Quasi segreti. Cassetti tra Art and Design" curated by Beppe Finessi and Annalisa Zanni in Milan - with artists such as Los Carpinteros, Martino Gamper, Maarten De Ceulaer, Fernando and Humberto Campana, Marina Abramovic and Marc Newson.
He has lectured at the University of Aveiro and at ESAD – Caldas da Rainha. Also at Centro Carioca de Design in Rio de Janeiro, and in Matera, Italy in the context of an artist residency for the "Open Design School". This residency was part of the Matera 2019 program with scientific direction by Joseph Grima.
In 2018, the RG21 piece was acquired by MUDE, Museu de Design e Moda de Lisboa for its permanent collection. He has received several distinctions namely the first prizes of the design competition for the Design Store of Berardo Museum in 2009 and for "Lisbon Design Show" 2015 with a set of pieces for the Portuguese brand Topázio.
He received the 2015 "Disegno y Empresa" Award as a member of Burel Factory designers, at the Bienal Iberoamericana de Diseño in Madrid. In 2012, "A Cube In Twelve Parts", a book about his work was published in paper and digital format.
He was a member of several juries namely at Casa da Arquitetura, Burel Factory and Aveiro City Council. He is an invited member of the International Colour Association.
His work has been published in publications such as Ottagono, Frame, Wallpaper and the New York Times.
His pieces have been sold and are present in collections in different places such as Germany, England, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia and the United States.