USM X ARMANDO CABRAL unveil NKYINKYIM
A cultural design showcase marking a homecoming in Lisbon
Celebrated designer and cultural storyteller Armando Cabral, founder of his namesake luxury lifestyle brand, ARMANDO CABRAL, and Swiss modular furniture pioneer USM, present the collaborative design showcase, NKYINKYIM.
Rooted in heritage, adaptability, and community, NKYINKYIM reimagines contemporary living through the lens of cultural memory and modern design. At the Sala dos Geradores, at MAAT Central, the showcase represents a symbolic homecoming—returning Cabral’s evolving creative language to the city and country that shaped his early life.
The showcase is named NKYINKYIM after the Adinkra symbol created by the Akan people of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, representing transformation, progress, and the non-linear paths of growth. For Cabral, the symbol holds deep personal meaning. Born in Guinea-Bissau, raised in Portugal, educated in London, and now residing in New York, his life has been defined by movement, layering, and cultural exchange. NKYINKYIM becomes both a design philosophy and a reflection of that journey, how independent elements come together to form a cohesive, evolving whole.
“At its core, NKYINKYIM is about movement—how we grow, adapt, and build together,” says Cabral. “Presenting this work in Lisbon feels especially meaningful. It is a return, not to the past, but to the foundation that continues to inform my perspective.”
The showcase brings together a series of the newest custom-designed pieces from the collaboration, including a modular daybed, a mini lounge chair, a credenza, a coffee table, a desk, and two bookshelves; all conceived as functional artifacts rather than static objects. Together, they form an immersive domestic environment that evolves with its inhabitants, blurring the boundaries between furniture, architecture, and cultural expression.
This marks the second collaboration between USM and Armando Cabral, with both teams working seamlessly to realize a shared vision. Centered on the home as a site of gathering, ritual, and storytelling, Cabral’s approach reflects his belief that home is not a fixed place but a living system shaped by people, memory, and design. Anchored by a legacy of timelessness and precision, USM brings this vision to life through its modular systems and a philosophy rooted in longevity, sustainability, and adaptability, providing the structural language for NKYINKYIM.
The showcase is further enriched by a curated group of creative partners, including Fabricaal, Garcé Dimofski, Junto, Amalia, interior designer Maria Branco, and Paris:Sete. Each contributing materiality, texture, and atmosphere underscores the collaborative spirit at the heart of the project.
NKYINKYIM is not positioned as a finished statement, but as a living proposition—one that invites reflection on how we inhabit space, how design supports community, and how culture continues to evolve across geographies.
NKYINKYIM will be on view at Sala dos Geradores, at MAAT Central, in Lisbon, from 30 January to 7 March 2026. The ticket price is €11.
ABOUT ARMANDO CABRAL
ARMANDO CABRAL is an inspired luxury lifestyle brand founded by designer and entrepreneur Armando Cabral. Rooted in a distinctive dialogue between African heritage and European craftsmanship, the brand began in 2008 with a singular focus on men’s footwear. Since then, it has expanded into apparel, fine fragrance, and home through ARMANDO CABRAL A CASA, all defined by exceptional quality at an accessible luxury price point.
www.armando-cabral.com
@armando_cabral
ABOUT USM
Swiss-based USM has been providing timeless modular furniture designs suitable for both home and office environments for more than 50 years. Recognized as a design classic, USM was formally accepted into The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Architecture and Design collection in 2001. Created from a few basic elements, the company’s furniture offers tailor-made solutions that can be expanded or reconfigured as needed. Each furniture piece offers maximum versatility and creativity. To encourage long-term use, all USM product lines are made from high-quality materials for strength and durability. The USM Haller product line carries the Cradle-to-Cradle® certification, the leading multi-attribute standard used globally across industries to design and make products that enable a healthy, fair, and sustainable future, based on the world’s most advanced science-based measures.
www.usm.com
@usmmodularfurniture