Maker Monday: An aspire Exclusive Interview With Andrés Montoya

Andrés Montoya is the director of design at Transformer Table, a Montreal-based furniture company known for adaptable, space-saving designs that transform to meet the demands of modern living. Educated at Universidad EAFIT in Colombia, Montoya approaches product design through a balance of function, form, and emotion, leading the creative direction behind Transformer Table’s growing collection of modular furniture. His work explores how thoughtful engineering and considered aesthetics can allow a single piece to serve multiple purposes without compromising its visual presence. In his role, Montoya helps shape products designed around flexibility, responding to changing spaces and the different ways people use their homes. Meet Andrés Montoya and his adaptable approach to modular furniture design in today’s Maker Monday.

Designed to adapt beautifully to the way we gather, the Transformer Nova Extendable Dining Table pairs with a matching extendable bench and chairs from the Nova Collection, all shown here in a warm Scandinavian Oak finish.

Andrew Joseph: Can you describe a project that you’re particularly proud of?
Andrés Montoya: The collection I’m most proud of is the Round. It was the first indoor table I designed for the brand, and it quickly became a favorite among our customers. For me, it embodies everything Transformer Table stands for: the perfect harmony between functionality and aesthetics. It’s not just a piece of furniture; it’s a symbol of how thoughtful design can transform everyday living.

AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
AM: My design philosophy is transformation, emotion and purpose.

AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
AM: I believe inspiration begins with a spark… an emotion that can emerge from a conversation, a piece of art, or simply discovering a new place. These moments open the mind, allowing creativity to flow and transform shapes, concepts, and ideas into silhouettes that define a new project. It’s in this blend of experience and intuition that true design is born.

Warm walnut tones give the Transformer Table Nova Dining Set a richer, more tailored presence, paired with matching stackable upholstered chairs that keep the setup as practical as it is polished.

AJ: How do you balance functionality and aesthetics in your designs?
AM: For me, functionality and aesthetics must always move together. Functionality defines the parameters of a design, while aesthetics gives those parameters meaning and focus. When a product leans too heavily on one without the other, it loses its narrative and with it, its ability to create real impact.

AJ: What is your favorite thing about being a designer?
AM: What I love most about being a designer is witnessing the moment when a freehand sketch becomes a tangible object as if the idea itself takes on life and identity. Seeing that transformation from imagination to reality is what makes this craft truly meaningful.

A natural fit for lighter, more relaxed interiors, the Scandinavian Oak Transformer Nova Extendable Dining Table brings clean-lined versatility to the dining room, paired with matching Nova Dining Chairs for an easy, cohesive setup.

AJ: Can you describe a project where you had to work with a limited space?
AM: Working in a small space perfectly reflects our daily reality at Transformer Table. We always begin with the idea that spaces must adapt to changing needs, not the other way around. For me, this constraint isn’t a limitation; it’s an invitation to design, to rethink, and to create solutions that transform the way people live.

AJ: What is your favorite design style and why?
AM: Wabi-sabi, the beauty of imperfection, authenticity, and simplicity. In design, it reminds us that natural textures, honest materials, and imperfect details are often what make a space feel truly human and timeless.

AJ: What is your favorite design-related quote?
AM: “Good design tells a story.” -Dieter Rams

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