Doni Clemons
One of Rio's newest museums has recently opened one of Rio's newest design stores. Novo Desenho, housed in the Museu de Art do Rio is much more than a simple museum gift shop. Although the store sells items in relation to their latest exhibits, the focus is primarily on the promotion of local Brazilian designers. And the museum itself just won a design award so they know what they're talking about when it comes to design. Smartly-crafted children's toys, home furnishings, jewelry, decor, and accessories all displayed as if the room is another annex to the museum. And all of the products are made in Brazil. From the stools made using leftover goat leather from Espírito Santo by designer Jacqueline Chiabay to the waterproof Bike Bags, perfect for cruising Rio's beachside bike lanes by designer Pierro Carolina, the store is a design conscious shopper's wonderland. And many of the items would make great locally-constructed souvenirs like the small sculptural trays crafted by designer Marcos Duarte from discarded wood in Parque Large. After your tour of the museum and Novo Desenho, finish it off with a walk to the rooftop, its view of the Guanabara Bay is unforgettable.
