M.E talks to Robson Oliveira of EUBRA, who will be attending this year's Milan Salone del Mobile.

Eubra is a firm based in Brazil, working to highlight the cause of sustainability in design. They'll be presenting two collections at the Salone 2009; 'Brazilian Landscape' - a concept designed to bring humans back in touch with nature through form and material, and Messages from Pompei which seeks to present the fragility of man in the face of nature via hand crafted objects created by Brazilian and Italian architects and craftsmen who have collaborated for the project.

What does exhibiting at the Salone del Mobile mean for you? How would you describe the positives (and maybe negatives?) of the experience?

We believe the Salone is the best door to show new products and specially to create new tendencies. It is extremely positive to be at the biggest event in the area although since we are still very small it might be difficult to get the attention expected. 

We're sorry, it has to be asked - How do you think the current economic situation will affect the climate in the design world, and particularly this year's Milan Salone? Do you foresee any positive or negative knock on effects or adaptations that might happen as a result?

We will probably have less people presenting products due to the economical crisis. On one hand it is good to create more space, but on the other, we will probably have to dispute this space with big companies who are already very settled in the market. Also, it is a difficult moment to aggregate value to pieces since most of market is looking for easy, cheap solutions.

Do you have any predictions for trends in design this year?

Everything that leads to conscious environmental solutions. 

Is there anything you're especially looking forward to at this year's Salone? Can you let us in on the stands you'll be checking out for yourself/selves or new names to watch?

I do not have anything special to cite, but I will be looking into new trends for environmentally correct products.

And of course, its not all work! Where do you think this year's best Salone party will be?

For us it will be only work due to budget issues. It is the crisis...