TALKS
Interview with Dora Sicart and Oliver Montiel
Este nuevo Nobodinoz Talks nos presenta a @dorasicart y @oliver_montiel, dos creativos cuyas vidas siempre han orbitado alrededor del diseño, el arte y la cultura visual. Hace nueve meses, dieron la bienvenida a una nueva fuente de inspiración: su hija Uma.
Welcome to the Nobodinoz community: tell us a little about who you are and what you do.
DORA : Hello! I'm Dora Sicart, a fashion designer born in Barcelona. From my studio, I work on the design and development of collections for different brands, in addition to offering creative consulting for fashion and jewelry companies. I am also a professor at LCI Barcelona university, where I mentor new generations of designers in their creative process.
Nine months ago, I became a mother, and I could say that motherhood has completely transformed the way I see life. It has changed my priorities, my way of working, and my way of being in the world.
OLIVER : Hello, thank you very much for the welcome. I'm Oliver, a designer and graphic artist, passionate about design, art, and now, my daughter Uma. I am a partner and Design Director at Bold, where we focus on branding and design. I am also a professor at various design centers, something I deeply enjoy. Additionally, I am a partner at News&Coffee, kiosks where discovering unique international magazines becomes a small ritual accompanied by specialty coffee.
Your first daughter arrived in January. How is this new chapter going for your family? What has surprised you the most, or what do you enjoy the most about being first-time parents?
DORA : It is being a very intense and beautiful stage at the same time. Being a mother for the first time puts you in front of a new version of yourself, and that has something dizzying about it, but also magical. Everything becomes more real, more present.
What has surprised me the most is our capacity to adapt, how, without realizing it, life reorganizes itself around that little being, and nothing is ever the same again. I'm also really enjoying discovering the world through her eyes; it forces you to stop, to look differently, to appreciate the simple things.
OLIVER : It is being an incredible and transformative experience. Being first-time parents has opened our eyes in many ways, especially to the small and the everyday. What surprises and delights me the most is how every moment, however simple it may seem, is filled with meaning: a smile, a gesture, those small daily rituals that suddenly turn into memories you don't want to end.
It's a completely new chapter that teaches you to value time, patience, and connection with another person like never before, and it makes me enjoy our moments together much more. I come from a very close family, my parents became my friends years ago, and I deeply wish to build that bond with my daughter. It is also a very powerful feeling to know that day by day you are building something very big.
Evolving crib Pure in solid oak
As two people with such creative and demanding careers, what do you think will be the biggest challenge in balancing your professional life with raising the baby?
DORA : I believe the great challenge is finding a real balance between work and family life, which sounds simple but in practice requires a lot of consciousness and flexibility. We both have professions that don't follow fixed schedules, and that can work for or against us depending on the moment. We try to organize ourselves with respect for our daughter's rhythm, prioritizing being present without neglecting our projects. I suppose the key is accepting that you can't get to everything, at least not in the same way as before, and learning to let go of certain demands. Motherhood teaches you precisely that: to redefine what it means to do things "well."
OLIVER : I think the biggest challenge will be learning to balance time and energy. Creative and demanding careers often absorb you, but being a parent teaches you that there are moments that cannot be postponed, that are unrepeatable. The beautiful thing is that this stage is also teaching us to be more conscious, to prioritize what really matters, and to find new ways to organize our work without losing the family connection. Ultimately, it's about making every space, professional or personal, meaningful and fully present.
Round beanbag Vibes striped
What does a typical day look like for you now that you are parents? How do you balance work and quality time with your baby?
DORA : Our days start early, almost always after a night with little sleep, but with the energy you get from seeing her smile. Oliver and I get Uma ready together and take her to the 'escoleta' (nursery school) before the workday begins. I work between the studio and home, depending on the day, and in the afternoon I pick her up to go for a walk and disconnect from the pace. I try to make those moments with her just for that: being present, without screens or distractions. When the calm of the night arrives, we take advantage of that silence to reconnect with each other and work if we have anything urgent pending. It's a different rhythm, slower and more conscious, but also fuller.
OLIVER : Little by little, what used to be pure improvisation has been transforming into a more stable routine, without losing the magic. We try to organize ourselves so that one of us is always available and, when we can, share those moments together. During the day, I adjust my work to Uma's schedule: if she's asleep, I take advantage to move forward; if she's awake, everything revolves around her. These first months have taught me that being a father is, above all, learning to be present and to accompany with love, without rush, savoring the everyday.
Knowing your backgrounds in design and creative direction, it's clear you have a spectacular eye for aesthetics. How is this expertise reflected in your home space/decoration?
DORA : I think improvisation is very much a part of us, and that is also reflected at home. We don't plan too much; we let the space slowly take shape, according to the moment we are living. We try not to get carried away by trends, although it's hard to escape them, but I believe that so many different things inspire us that it ends up defining our style. Now, moreover, our home reflects our new priorities.
OLIVER : At home, we try to ensure the space has our own personality and soul. We like every object to have a meaning and value, and to convey something, whether through design, history, or simply what it makes us feel. Our home is our museum. As designers, this translates into caring for details, from colors to natural light, and creating a comfortable, functional, and cozy atmosphere.
Lampshade for suspension diam. 40cm Vibes in red stripes
Evolving crib Pure in solid oak / Round beanbag Vibes striped
How are you planning the baby's space? What idea did you have in mind for this new corner of the house and what elements are key for you?
DORA & OLIVER : For us, two things were fundamental: color, which is always important in everything I do, and that the room truly worked for her. It may look somewhat empty or unfinished when viewed from standing height, but if you crouch down and observe it from her height, everything makes sense: everything is within her reach, it is safe, and it is designed for her to explore. I like the idea that she can enjoy her room right now, without having to wait to "grow up" to do so.
Oliver, as a partner at News & Coffee and designer at BOLD, and Dora, with your eye for fashion and creative direction: do you think the birth of your baby has influenced your creative process?
DORA : Without a doubt, Uma's arrival has changed the way we look at the world, and that inevitably reflects in our creative process. Everything becomes more essential: you value time differently, you better select where you put your energy and from where you create.
OLIVER : This experience has taught me to value patience, observation, and small details, and that is reflected in how I approach every design project: with more authenticity, its own soul, and a deeper sense of care in every creative decision.
Moon cushion L1N0 French linen sandwashed / Strawberry Wabi-Sabi cushion embroidered in double cotton gauze
If you had to design an object or a garment specifically conceived to facilitate the life of stylish first-time parents, what would it be like? What design elements would be essential for you?
OLIVER & DORA : It would be something that combines functionality and beauty. An intuitive, adaptable and durable object that solves everyday problems without sacrificing aesthetics, like your evolving crib that we have chosen for Uma.
How would you describe your adventure as a new family? In one word or a short phrase.
DORA : “Our best trip.”
OLIVER : “Together.”
What are your 4 favorite places in Barcelona?
OLIVER : Barcelona has so many special spots, but if I had to choose a few right now, I would say:
The best French baguette at PAN a MÀ. / A cult place for chocolate lovers: LØT. / Terranova, for the pleasure of choosing a good book. / The new JAÇ cafeteria, where we've already been with Uma.
Terranova: Librairie et maison d'édition de Barcelone
Jaç: Café de spécialité et son Hi-Fi.
