Ulap Design (founded by Cris Tumedei and Andrea Pregl), an Italian business with an undeniable commitment to design and manufacture according to sustainable standards, is another business that joins Ekohunters in the search for a sustainable production and consumption model.

On this occasion, we interviewed its founders to tell you a little more about its history and to present to you, our readers, this project that leaves no doubt about its responsibility and environmental awareness.

The story behind Ulap Design, its mission and vision

Ulap Design is a brand that goes beyond its name. Founded in 2017 by Cris Tumedei and Andrea Pregl, this Italian design business is the result of a deep connection between them. Sharing similar professional skills, values and principles, they decided to create both a family and a business together.

Andrea Pregl is the creative designer behind Ulap Design’s products, while Cris Tumedei is the brand strategist and marketing director. Both decided to take control of their lives and embrace a sustainable and community-oriented lifestyle.

Their three main principles are Slow Living (valuing time by transforming every action into a concrete gesture for change), Commitment (trust and motivation as the basis for creating concrete solutions), and Creation (living as an act of creation). These principles guide their daily work, where they value their time and turn it into concrete actions to create change. At Ulap Design, they have demonstrated without a doubt that it is possible to choose a different, slower path and follow it without abandoning their values. Their goal is to contribute in a concrete way to the planet and the creatures that inhabit it, being flexible and adaptable to the unexpected.

The slow philosophy

Ulap Design is a business that promotes the slow movement in the design and production of its furniture, with the aim of contributing to the planet in a conscious and responsible way. Its co-founders, Cris Tumedei and Andrea Pregl, embrace the slow philosophy, which focuses on making good use of time and prioritizing quality over quantity.

In their slow design approach, they imagine their objects as products of exploration, searching for ideas, forms and ethical uses that generate conscious consumption experiences. Inspired by nature and its fundamental values such as respect and freedom, Ulap Design’s designs seek to reflect this connection and stimulate reflection in their customers.

The slow philosophy is reflected in six principles that guide Ulap Design’s entire working process. This process follows a precise path, beginning with a thorough exploration of various aspects such as nature, the human soul and context. Then, they immerse themselves in the inspiration found and let their creativity run free to reflect on the impact and values they want to convey. After selecting the creative idea, they create prototypes and conduct tests without impacting the environment. Finally, with the collaboration of trusted partners and manual assembly, they bring each slowly designed piece to life, guaranteeing its uniqueness and quality.

Which products does Ulap Design offer?

At Ulap Design there are passionate designers and craftsmen who take care of every detail of their designs. For this reason, in the company created by Cris and Andrea, the working approach is focused on 3 main values (respect for the environment, local manufacturing and slow design) and they reflect this in each of their designs.

Currently they are launching a new collection of lamps called Unahi by Ulap Design. However, they are also the creators of fun and unique products with a great educational purpose, such as the Yem bird feeder or the Mhuka animal puzzle.

Unahi lamps are more than just lamps. Each product in the collection is handcrafted with the utmost respect for the environment. The materials used include birch plywood (which is finished and assembled by hand and then treated with a special vegetable wax) and ebony wood (which is ebonized by hand with a special ebony-colored stain).

The production process of Unahi lamps follows the philosophy of slow design, which gives importance to manual labor. Time, care and craftsmanship combine to create unique and high quality pieces.

How does Ulap Design ensure that its products are truly sustainable?

Ulap Design has taken specific measures to ensure that its products are truly sustainable. As part of their commitment to nature and the environment, they have adopted eco-friendly, Made in Italy and slow design practices focused on the three key values of the brand.

In terms of eco-friendliness, Ulap Design focuses on creating unique and high quality products, focusing on natural and environmentally friendly raw materials. These raw materials, in turn, are recyclable and certified to minimize environmental impact, and all objects are easily disassembled to facilitate proper recycling.

The label “Made in Italy” is a guarantee of quality for Ulap Design. All its products are conceived, designed and produced in Italy, in the Ledro Valley, surrounded by a beautiful natural setting of woods and mountains. Craftsmanship is valued and respected, as each product is assembled by hand, which allows them to maintain strict quality control.

As for slow design, as mentioned above, the design of their products is slow and careful, using an innovative system that allows them to simulate and test the product from prototypes, ensuring that the object is ready for production.

In conclusion, Ulap Design stands out as an exemplary business in its commitment to environmental sustainability and quality in furniture design. Through its eco-friendly approach, the use of natural and recyclable raw materials and its handcrafted “Made in Italy” production, it demonstrates its love and respect for nature and the environment. Their philosophy of slow design goes beyond the mere creation of objects, encouraging reflection, active customer participation and the drive for positive change in the community. Ulap Design not only offers exceptional designs, but has also become a benchmark that shares with Ekohunters the path towards conscious and responsible consumption that benefits both the planet and its customers.