Designers Rita Nazareno and Gabriel Lichauco have been collaborating on projects since 2016: curating collections, mentoring designers, and developing new product designs and concepts for numerous brands. Their work has highlighted contemporaneity and innovation in traditional craft and materials.

Nazareno/Lichauco curated the 2019 Philippine participation at Maison et Objet Paris under Kindred Design Collective for Citem’s Design Philippines. They have since done the creative direction for the 2020-2022 Maison et Objet editions.

They also curated the 2020 design exhibition ITIM: Material Manipulations in Black, originally slated for Milan Design Week’s Fuorisalon, and reinstalled in Manila and online at FAME Plus.