Creative spirits

15th anniversary at Eyestylist.com / Special Content: As we look back at the last 15 years in independent eyewear to mark our anniversary, we will be highlighting some of the people who have inspired us through the years – and who continue to do so – across the disciplines of eyewear design, optical retailing and related fields in the optical + eyewear worlds.

Our first ever interview on Eyestylist with David Duralde is dated July 2016 (https://www.eyestylist.com/2016/07/david-duralde/). A subsequent interview appeared in April 2019 when David was working as Chief Creative Officer at Kenmark Optical. Today, David is Chief Creative Officer of the US label, OGI Eyewear.  OGI is part of The Optical Foundry, a collective of 9 independent eyewear brands, including l.a.eyeworks, Article One and Scojo NYC.

David, we have been in close contact over the last 15 years and enjoyed following your creative role in eyewear. What have been the highlights for you in these years? For me, the greatest highlight has always been creating eyewear that genuinely connects with people—pieces that influence how someone feels about themselves when they put them on. Eyewear is intimate. It sits at the intersection of identity, confidence, and self-expression, and I’ve always been drawn to that emotional power.

Earlier in my career, I had the opportunity to work at a scale that was both demanding and exhilarating—absorbing the DNA of many fashion houses, collaborating with creative directors across cities and cultures, and translating their visual language into eyewear. That process taught me discipline, restraint, and respect for brand integrity. You learn quickly what lasts and what doesn’t.

What’s especially meaningful now is seeing how certain design gestures—details that once required spirited internal debates—have quietly endured and evolved within those brands over time. There’s something humbling about knowing your work can outlive a season, or even a generation, while remaining largely anonymous. Those years felt like a masterclass—brief, intense moments of critique and clarity from people with extraordinary instincts for taste—and I still carry those lessons with me every day.

You were appointed Chief Creative Officer at OGI in January 2020 – part of The Optical Foundry. In these last years, what have you most enjoyed working on – and what has been most inspiring? What I’ve enjoyed most is the challenge of evolution—taking a well-loved, established brand with deep emotional equity and thoughtfully guiding it forward without losing its soul. That requires intention, patience, and a willingness to rethink familiar ideas.

I joined OGI at a moment of enormous change. The pandemic accelerated shifts that were already underway: consolidation, new ownership models, changing retail dynamics, and a redefinition of what it means to be independent in optical. At the same time, many long-standing industry leaders were stepping aside, creating both uncertainty and opportunity.

Against that backdrop, The Optical Foundry became a place to ask bigger questions. How do we support independent practices in meaningful ways? How do we celebrate individuality, invest in innovation, and approach business with optimism rather than fear? The most inspiring part has been aligning with people—internally and externally—who believe that independence is not about resisting change, but about shaping the future on your own terms.

You began your optical design training at l.a. eyeworks. How do you reflect on that initial phase of your work, and how does it influence what you do today? That early chapter shaped everything. At l.a. eyeworks, the driving question was simple: Why does eyewear have to be done the same way it always has been? We questioned materials, processes, finishes—everything. New technologies weren’t used for novelty, but as tools for expression. I’ve since seen the industry move through different eras: innovation-driven design, logo-centric fashion cycles, and now a renewed interest in authenticity and story. None of these phases are inherently better than another—they simply reflect what the market values at a given time. What influences me today is the return to curiosity. Consumers are once again asking why—why this shape, why this material, why this brand. That means we, as designers and optical professionals, have to talk about eyewear differently. We need to design with intention, communicate with clarity, and offer narratives that feel personal rather than prescribed.

Over the last 15 years, eyewear design has evolved significantly. What do you see as the fundamental changes, and how will they shape the future? One of the most fundamental shifts is how eyewear is perceived. It’s no longer just functional or purely fashionable—it’s expressive. People understand that eyewear can alter how they see themselves and how they’re seen by others.As a result, my design approach has changed. Today, I’m less interested in creating objects and more focused on capturing emotion—reflecting personality, individuality, and nuance. Consumers no longer want to be walking billboards. They want pieces that amplify who they are, not obscure it. Looking ahead, I believe the future belongs to brands that design with empathy—brands that understand the wearer as an individual rather than a demographic.

Colour has always been an important part of your work. For OGI Eyewear and the Spring collection, what’s new in how colour is expressed and combined? What’s fascinating right now is the tension between caution and creativity. Many suppliers are seeing strong demand for safe, familiar colours—classic tortoises, neutrals, predictable palettes. That reflects the broader economic mood. For me, that challenge becomes an opportunity.

This season is about the subtle wow—introducing surprise through refinement rather than volume. Colour is used strategically: navy instead of black, nuanced greens, controlled neon accents, and unexpected touches of orange. These are balanced with grounding tones like soft greys and warm beiges. It’s about confidence without noise—designs that reveal themselves slowly.

Do you have a favourite colour palette for this year? I’ve always been drawn to green, especially when it’s handled in a way that feels approachable and modern—even for those who don’t think of themselves as “green people.” I also continue to explore rich metallics and antique finishes, which bring a sense of craft and depth while still feeling contemporary.

What other creative projects or brands are you working on this year that you can share with us? Across brands like Article One and Red Rose, the focus remains the same: bringing forward-looking ideas into highly wearable contexts. Whether through material innovation, proportion, or colour, the goal is always to balance relevance with longevity—designs that feel current, but not fleeting.

Is there anything else you’d like to add that’s relevant to Spring 2026? Spring 2026 reflects a quiet confidence—for OGI and for me personally. It’s about clarity of vision, thoughtful design decisions, and a belief that independence still matters deeply in optical. The collection is not about chasing trends, but about offering something considered, human, and emotionally resonant—eyewear that feels intentional, not incidental.

Find out more at www.ogieyewear.com