In an increasingly connected and security-conscious world, innovation in locks and access control is not just a matter of convenience, it’s a necessity. As threats to physical and digital security continue to evolve, so must the design and engineering of locks and access control solutions.
Advancements in smart locks, biometric systems, and integrated platforms are redefining access control, providing end users with greater control, and seamless interoperability with broader security ecosystems.
Perla Munhoz, Director & Head of Product Design at ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA, discusses how her role is driving impact and helping to engineer a safer and smarter future.
Blending Creativity with Purpose
At ASSA ABLOY, design is more than aesthetics—it’s a strategic enabler that connects creativity with purpose. Perla, a key member of the EMEIA CTO team, describes her role as a mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution. Collaborating closely with colleagues Perla ensures that design is embedded at every stage of the innovation lifecycle.
Perla says: “Our goal is to make sure design is never an afterthought. It’s not just about how a product looks. It’s about usability, manufacturability, security, sustainability—and ultimately, making life easier for the people who use it.”
Together with her team, Perla provides design leadership, customer insight, and practical outputs to support business areas across the EMEIA region. From 3D-CAD concepts and photorealistic renderings to prototypes, user testing, and installation assessments, the team’s contributions accelerate decision-making, improve collaboration, and sharpen focus on customer needs—all while aligning with safety, quality, and commercial objectives.
Perla’s path into design began long before she thought of it as a career path. As a child in Brazil, Perla was endlessly curious, building, creating, and dismantling objects with the instinct of a natural inventor. Perla joined ASSA ABLOY in 1999 as a trainee while studying mechanical engineering and product design in Sweden.
Perla’s early years included hands-on rotations through production and R&D, gaining practical insights into how design decisions influence product performance. From working on lock cases and emergency devices to leading design for architectural and electronic products, her journey has mirrored the evolution of design as a strategic function within the business.
Perla has championed design and innovation through the launch of ASSA ABLOY’s Stockholm design studio, created for usability testing. The design studio promotes innovation through design and engineering by simulating real-life scenarios and offering a scalable model for future testing environments.
To be able to continue to innovate, Perla is passionate about inspiring the next generation. Perla believes that visibility and storytelling are essential to bringing more people, in particular women, into engineering and design.
Perla says: “When we show what’s possible, we help others imagine themselves in our shoes. That’s especially powerful for younger generations.
“I was inspired by my mother who came from a very poor background in Brazil and worked tirelessly so I could study and shape my future. Her quiet leadership taught me that with humility and persistence, anything is possible.”
To learn more about ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions EMEIA and our career opportunities visit: https://www.assaabloy.com/career/en/diversity-inclusion.