When pinpointing where his interest in design began, Diego Olivero credits two things: his family members, who all work in creative fields, and his home country of Guatemala, which he affectionately describes as a die-hard country for materials and colors. “I was always amazed by all the crafts in Guatemala, the materials, [and] all of the techniques,” he says, referring to the long legacy of craftsmanship in the country, with some artisans’ skills dating back thousands of years. “I thought, ‘How can I bring a creative twist to this?’ That’s where it started.”
After pursuing industrial design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, Olivero returned to Guatemala in 2008 to launch Diego Olivero Studio, which brought him into the world of interiors. He describes his approach as “modern and tactile with cultural relevance,” seen in the bold blue walls and handfinished guestroom furnishings for Casa Palopó hotel in Guatemala.
His two passions formally melded when he got a call from a company working on a hotel in Venezuela that allowed him to partner with artisans on the interiors. “Everything started to get mixed,” he recalls. “That’s how I got myself in the hospitality business with a handcrafted, sustainable approach.”
The Arco series of objects for West Elm is crafted from solid rubberwood
A couple of years later, he launched Meso Goods, a shoppable online platform of products by artisans. Although it started in Guatemala, Olivero now travels the world scouting makers to work with—and learn from. “Inspiration comes from visiting local artisans and countries. I immerse myself in the culture, understand the history, understand where it is now and where it’s headed, and how I am going to help it have a sustainable future.” He travels anywhere from five to 10 days at a time to work with artisans, soak in their knowledge, and create together. “It’s a very successful story of how design and innovation can really change people’s lives in a very positive way and keep traditions alive,” he adds.
Recently, Olivero, who is now based in New York, launched the Andino collection for West Elm, a collaboration with 15 artisans. Spanning objects, textiles, lighting, and pottery, highlights include terracotta vases featuring a dappled surface handcrafted in Chulucanas, Peru, as well as 3D wall art carved from yellow pine in Honduras. “I think my legacy is to continue to preserve traditions and give importance to voice to artisans globally. That’s my calling.”
For West Elm, Olivero created a line of Honduran-made sculptures
This article originally appeared in HD’s May/June 2023 issue.
