A Designer in the Making.
“I grew up with MasayaCo. From the first furniture pieces, this became my education.” — Khurland Lopez, Lead Furniture Designer
Every piece of furniture carries a story. Not only of materials and craftsmanship, but of the people behind it.
For Khurland Lopez, design was not a straight path. It unfolded gradually, alongside MasayaCo’s own evolution. The company began with sustainable timber extraction and reforestation, expanded into milling, and later grew into furniture and ADU design and fabrication. As MasayaCo refined its focus and defined its voice, Khurland was doing the same, growing from early support roles into a designer shaped by that same hands on process.
He joined MasayaCo in 2011 while still studying at university in Managua. Starting as an assistant in the company’s earliest days, he moved through inventory and administrative roles, gaining a full understanding of how the operation worked. With a background in technical engineering, his focus gradually shifted toward product design, influenced by time in the factory, experimentation with materials, and a growing commitment to sustainable innovation.
We sat down with Khurland to talk about growth, curiosity, and what it means to design with purpose at MasayaCo.
In Conversation.
What is your background, and how did your journey begin?
Khurland: I started at MasayaCo in 2011 as an assistant while I was still studying. At first I helped wherever needed. Over time I moved into inventory and administrative roles, which allowed me to understand how the company works from the inside.
Coming from an engineering background, I was always interested in how things function. Working with the international team introduced me to 3D design software. That experience changed my direction and opened the path toward product design. From working on the very first furniture pieces, I feel like I grew up with MasayaCo. This company became my education.
What is your current role, and what does your design process look like today?
Khurland: I am currently the Lead Furniture Designer. I work closely with the design committee on new concepts, prototypes, and product development until the final piece is complete.
We use digital tools to present ideas, but the process remains hands on. Collaboration becomes even more important once a design moves into production. Seeing an idea move from concept to finished piece is always rewarding.
How does the design committee approach new products?
Khurland: The design committee comes together and reviews each proposal before it is approved. Not every project involves creating something entirely new. Sometimes we refine existing pieces or adapt designs for hospitality projects. It is a continuous process. We are always improving and adjusting based on real needs.
Where do you find inspiration?
Khurland: Many ideas come from the needs of the company and from being in the factory with the carpenters. Seeing how pieces come together often sparks new ideas.
I am also inspired by other architects, ongoing research, and especially nature. Nature influences how I think about proportion, texture, and structure. Observing it helps me design furniture that feels balanced and natural.
You mentioned the factory. How does your presence there influence your work as a designer?
Khurland: I have always enjoyed the moment when an idea starts to become something real, especially when we begin working with our FSC® certified teak wood.
Spending time in the factory is important to me. Working directly with the carpenters helps me understand how the wood behaves and how each part comes together. That daily interaction with the material often leads to small refinements or new ways to apply our whole tree approach to manufacturing. It helps the piece feel more resolved in the end.
What is most important when designing furniture?
Khurland: Ergonomics, comfort, form, functionality, and beauty all need to work together. If one element is missing, the piece does not feel complete.
How has your time at MasayaCo shaped the way you design?
Khurland: It has taught me that every product begins long before the final form. At MasayaCo, design is connected to reforestation, material sourcing, and how we use each part of the tree.
Working within our whole tree approach has changed how I think. I do not only consider the aesthetic. I think about how materials are harvested, how they move through milling, and how we can use them responsibly. That includes finding function and form for parts of the tree that might otherwise be discarded.
Over time, I have learned that good design is not only about how something looks. It is about understanding the full process behind it and designing with that awareness from the beginning.
When you are designing a new piece, how do you think about long term impact?
Khurland: I think about durability first. A piece should last, both structurally and aesthetically. If something is made well and designed carefully, it does not need to be replaced quickly.
There is a strong trend toward fast furniture, pieces that are produced quickly and replaced just as quickly. We try to move in the opposite direction. The goal is to design furniture that people can live with for many years, not something temporary.
I also consider how efficiently we are using materials and how the design fits within our manufacturing process. Because we manage our own forests and work with FSC® certified teak, we have a responsibility to use those resources wisely. That includes thinking about circularity from the beginning, how materials are sourced, how they are milled, how offcuts can be repurposed, and how each stage connects to the next.
Long term impact means designing with the full lifecycle in mind, not just the final form.
As MasayaCo continues to grow, what role do you see design playing in that future?
Khurland: Design should stay closely connected to our values. I hope MasayaCo becomes recognized not only for how our furniture looks, but for how it is made and the decisions behind it.
If we can continue to show that reforestation, responsible manufacturing, and thoughtful design can exist together, that speaks for itself. It shows that sustainability and quality do not have to compete.
For me, growth means refining the way we work and continuing to learn. It also means helping younger designers understand that responsibility is not separate from creativity. It is part of it.
What advice would you give to furniture designers today?
Khurland: Take your time. Good design does not happen quickly. It requires patience and discipline, especially in the early stages when ideas are still taking shape.
Stay curious and keep learning from the materials themselves. Spend time in the workshop, not only behind a screen. Understanding how materials behave will change the way you design.
Choose work that feels meaningful to you. When you care about what you are creating, that care becomes visible in the final piece.
A Journey of Continued Growth.
Khurland’s path at MasayaCo reflects the company’s own evolution. What began in the early days of timber extraction and reforestation has developed into furniture design shaped by experience, collaboration, and steady progress.
From assistant roles to leading product development, his growth has unfolded alongside a company that continues refining how it works and why it works that way.
Today, each new design carries that shared history. The materials, the manufacturing process, and the long term thinking behind each piece reflect lessons learned over time. As MasayaCo continues to grow, so does the opportunity to create furniture that honors where it began while building toward what comes next.
Author: Paola Luconi G.
Interviewee: Khurland Lopez