by Anna Lazzaron
Exploring how Inma Bermúdez Studio and Sancal turned a curious animal into a furniture symbol of connection, adaptability, and joyful design.
Playful yet functional, Suricata is a desk-chair hybrid that captures the essence of how design can bridge nature with creativity. This compact and versatile piece is the first collaboration between Spanish manufacturer Sancal and Valencia-based Inma Bermúdez Studio, who together created a lively seating system which reimagines what a desk can be in dynamic contemporary environments.
The name of the product itself offers insight into the design’s concept: Suricata is Spanish for meerkat, drawing inspiration from the charming little African animal and its upright posture. Mimicking these inquisitive creatures, Suricata’s seat is designed to encourage active sitting, promoting engagement both in the body’s physical muscles and in the social environment of the surroundings. This exemplifies another form of biomimicry, which focuses on functional behaviour as well as metaphor.
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At Madrid Design Festival © Sancal
Quad configuration © Sancal
At Madrid Design Festival © Sancal
Single configurations © Sancal
At Madrid Design Festival © Sancal
Duo configuration © Sancal
Line configuration © Sancal
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Suricata is a desk-chair hybrid, distinguished for its adaptability. Designed for use in classrooms, creative workshops, hospitality, and more, the product’s modules can be grouped in many different compositions, providing flexibility. From solo desks to lined compositions to group hubs, the product is adaptable to various social scenarios, useful especially in educational environments. Suricata is available in its natural maple veneer or in any stain colour, which uses a special process that accentuates the wood’s natural grain through a watercolour-like effect.
Inma Bermúdez Studio brings a rich background to the collaboration. Founded in 2007 by industrial designer Inma Bermúdez in Valencia, with architect Moritz Krefter joining later in 2009, the studio has earned worldwide recognition through various design awards, including the Premio Nacional de Diseño awarded in 2022. This achievement made Bermúdez the third and youngest woman to receive this honour in the award’s history. The duo’s approach reflects their diverse backgrounds, which together share formative years in Germany, Sweden, and France. The studio works on versatile projects, from mass production to unique pieces, and from high-end to low-end options, which all share a human-centred philosophy.
Suricata at Madrid Design Festival © Sancal
Suricata’s positive character perfectly embodies its company’s philosophy, as Sancal’s motto is “Smile, break the mold and be happy.” The company was founded in 1973, at the height of Spain’s democracy after the Franco dictatorship, and the brand experienced its key turning point with the 1992 Olympics, when it began to work with Juli Capella, JJ Bela, and the iconic Miguel Milà. Today, the business is still family-owned, and production is local, taking place in two factories in Yecla, on the eastern side of the Iberian peninsula, in a 16,000 square metre factory that employs 80 professionals.
For all its versatility and thoughtful design, Suricata does present a significant limitation: its fixed configuration makes it inaccessible to many users with physical disabilities. This is particularly relevant in educational environments, where it is fundamental to avoid differences between students, especially during developmental years. While social dynamics are forming, requiring certain students to use different furniture can create uncomfortable distinctions and contribute to feelings of exclusion.
Suricata in a quad configuration © Sancal
In its design, Suricata embodies the energy and dynamism of the charming animal from which it takes its name, endearing and fun, but above all, functional. The piece goes beyond its role as a piece of furniture, becoming instead an instrument for participation and social activities. Its flexible configurations respond to the evolving needs of modern learning and working environments. The product stands as a symbol of optimism and adaptability, values embedded both in Inma Bermúdez Studio‘s human-centred philosophy and in Sancal’s spirit of joyful innovation.
