Design Lab’s story begins with its founder, Esteban Salazar, an interior designer whose career has developed across Costa Rica, France, and the United States, combining nearly two decades of international experience with a multidisciplinary approach to design.
From studying and working in Paris, France to developing projects across hospitality, residential, retail, corporate, and experiential design, Esteban’s trajectory has shaped not only his own creative language, but the way Design Lab approaches every project today.
His work has led to collaborations and projects connected with internationally recognized names including Dolce & Gabbana, Adobe Systems, Marriott, Hyatt, Land Rover, John Deere, among others.
But understanding Design Lab requires first understanding where that perspective came from.
From Costa Rica to Paris
Esteban’s passion for design began long before his formal education. Growing up in Costa Rica, he spent much of his childhood at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica, a landmark hospitality destination founded by his great-grandfather, Luis Paulino Jiménez Ortiz, in 1930. Being immersed from an early age in an environment where architecture, service, atmosphere, and guest experience came together naturally shaped his appreciation for the elegance of the hotel, first-class international events, distinguished guests and celebrities, grand banquets, and the distinctive savoir-faire of Central American hospitality of the era. From the precision of the kitchen and the art of service to the refinement of the spaces and the standards of international hospitality, he experienced a level of sophistication and global class as part of his everyday life. This constant exposure became an education in itself and laid the foundation for his passion for design, refinement, and the art of hospitality.
At the age of fifteen, he moved with his family to Paris, where he discovered a city in which architecture, fashion, art, and design coexist in constant dialogue. The experience broadened his perspective and inspired him to pursue a creative career in later years.
He first studied General Design at Académie Charpentier, where he built a strong multidisciplinary foundation in art, visual culture, composition, and design thinking. He later specialized in Interior Architecture at Créapole – École de Design Paris, where his education extended beyond the classroom through collaborative projects with internationally renowned luxury maisons, including Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Working on real-world design briefs for these iconic brands allowed him to explore the relationship between craftsmanship, innovation, storytelling, and luxury brand identity.
His years in France quickly evolved into opportunities that extended well beyond academic training.
In 2009, Esteban participated in a scenography competition for Boffi Bains Paris during Designer’s Days, presenting H₂O Reflections, an art installation developed for the brand’s Paris showroom. That same year, his photographic series, Costa Rica desde el cielo, was exhibited at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, marking an early recognition of his creative vision.
He also joined Zoevox, a Paris-based creative agency recognized by Architectural Digest France. There, he collaborated on projects for the Municipality of Paris, experiencing firsthand the exceptionally high creative standards of a public institution that embraced innovation, design, and culture as tools for shaping the city. This experience broadened his perspective on how a municipality can become a platform for creativity and cultural impact, challenging the conventional boundaries of public design. He contributed to exhibitions and public events that celebrated design and culture. He also participated in the design of a pediatric oncology hospital environment developed in collaboration with Disney, creating spaces intended to bring comfort, imagination, and hope to children and their families.
An International Career
After Paris, Esteban continued his career in New York, where he worked on the transformation of a Dominican restaurant in Brooklyn named “Puerto Viejo”, further expanding his experience across markets and cultures.
He later returned to Costa Rica, bringing with him a perspective shaped by years of international education, professional practice, travel, and exposure to different creative industries. Over the years, that trajectory has expanded into projects and collaborations involving global brands.
His work and creative trajectory have also been featured in multiple design and lifestyle publications, reflecting a career that has consistently moved between interior design, art, culture, and experience. In 2017, he was selected as “Man of the Arts” by Traffic Magazine, recognizing his creative vision and contribution to the intersection of design, art, and culture.
From Esteban’s Vision to Design Lab
That multidisciplinary background became the foundation for Design Lab by Esteban Salazar. Rather than separating interior design, branding, art, graphics, and experiences into independent disciplines, Design Lab approaches them as interconnected parts of a larger idea.
Rather than following trends, Esteban approaches each project as an opportunity to create something with a distinct identity. His work balances creativity with strategy, resulting in environments that are deeply connected to the people they are designed for. The result is a design language that can be whimsical, dramatic, cinematic, and unexpected, while remaining grounded in strategy and function.
As he expressed early in his career:
“In every space, I like to place at least one piece that provokes surprise.”
Today, that instinct can be seen throughout Design Lab’s work, from unexpected materials and sculptural interventions to immersive environments and details designed to become part of how a place is remembered.
This approach has also earned Design Lab international recognition. The studio is a Marriott Certified Designer and has been recognized by Luxury Lifestyle Awards among the Top 100 Designers of the World, reflecting its commitment to excellence in hospitality and design.
At the same time, Design Lab believes that design carries a responsibility beyond aesthetics. Environmental impact and sustainability are an important part of the studio’s creative perspective. This commitment led to the creation of Fossils of the Anthropocene, an art installation developed in collaboration with 5 Minute Beach Cleanup and Esencial Costa Rica. The piece explores the lasting impact of plastic on our natural environment and has traveled through several European cities, including Zurich, Frankfurt, Geneva, and Nice, bringing together design, art, environmental awareness, and cultural dialogue.
But Design Lab has grown beyond the vision of one person. That foundation now supports a multidisciplinary team capable of translating an initial idea into interior environments, visual identities, art interventions, high-end events, and experiences across different industries and markets.
Esteban created the vision. Design Lab became the platform to take it further.
