Philia
Magazine

Julian Mayor is a British artist and designer whose work explores the relationship between digital technology, craftsmanship, and sculptural form. Working primarily with welded sheet metal, he develops pieces through a unique process that combines advanced computer modelling with meticulous hand fabrication. The resulting works balance precision and spontaneity, transforming industrial materials into fluid, light-filled forms that blur the boundaries between sculpture, furniture, and functional design.

Educated in Industrial Design at the University of Northumbria and later in Design Products at the Royal College of Art under Ron Arad, Mayor has developed a distinctive practice that merges technological innovation with a deep sensitivity to material and making. His works have been exhibited internationally in institutions including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, and MUDAC in Lausanne. Through objects, installations, and public commissions, he continues to investigate how digital processes can give rise to expressive and deeply human forms.

Fernando Mendes is a Brazilian architect, designer, and woodworker based between Rio de Janeiro and Vale das Videiras. Working primarily with wood, he creates furniture and objects that combine traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design, balancing technical precision with a deep sensitivity to material and form.

After more than two decades in design carpentry and over thirty years of close collaboration with Brazilian design master Sergio Rodrigues, Mendes has developed a distinctive practice that embraces the natural character of wood, including its textures, imperfections, and unique qualities. His work has received numerous international awards, and he currently serves as president of the Sergio Rodrigues Institute.

Hanna Englund is a Swedish ceramic artist based in Rio de Janeiro. With a background in fashion and product design, based in Stockholm and Shanghai, her love of creation has always been an essential part of her life. She turned to ceramics after moving to Brazil, drawn by the grounding and meditative nature of clay. 

Her sculptural work blends Scandinavian minimalism with the organic boldness of Rio. Influenced by the human body and tropical nature, her pieces explore form through hand-building and casting techniques. A signature element is the use of molds made from tropical fruits – an intuitive way of honoring forms that live deeply in the Brazilian imagination. Self-taught, Hanna embraces experimentation, tactility, and material honesty, allowing the process to shape each piece. Many surfaces are left raw, while others are treated with deep, oxidized glazes. Her practice reflects a commitment to durability and timelessness, creating objects meant to endure physically and emotionally. Her work includes sculptures, lighting, and vessels designed for architectural interiors and exhibitions, all made by hand in her Rio de Janeiro studio.

PROSA was created in 2021 by the couple Júlia Rovigo and Gabriel Pesca. An architect and a woodworker, respectively, this project emerged from their desire to combine their experiences and translate them into the design and execution of furniture.

PROSA is dedicated to extensive research and investigation of wood as a material. The studio revives knowledge and techniques from classic naval carpentry for the execution of its works, where strength and durability meet organic curves and forms.

All of their creations incorporate experimental elements in handling wood, seeking new ways to understand and explore its natural characteristics. Their products are made with a focus on nature, the people who inhabit it, and the future of the interaction between the two.

Ricardo Fasanello (1930–1993) was a Brazilian designer celebrated for his innovative approach to furniture and industrial design. Born in São Paulo and later based in Rio de Janeiro, he combined a passion for engineering, craftsmanship, and experimentation to create a distinctive body of work defined by bold forms and technical ingenuity.

Blending artisanal methods with industrial processes, Fasanello developed furniture that balanced functionality with sculptural expression. Best known for his iconic fiberglass seating and conversation-oriented swivel chairs, his designs embody a uniquely Brazilian modernism characterized by fluid forms, material innovation, and timeless appeal.

Today, Fasanello remains one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century Brazilian design, admired for work that continues to feel remarkably contemporary.

Hanna Englund is a Swedish ceramic artist based in Rio de Janeiro. With a background in fashion and product design across Stockholm and Shanghai, she turned to ceramics after moving to Brazil, drawn by the meditative and tactile nature of working with clay.

Her sculptural practice merges Scandinavian restraint with the organic vitality of Rio. Inspired by the human body and tropical landscapes, Englund creates hand-built and cast works that explore form, texture, and materiality. Often incorporating molds made from tropical fruits, her pieces celebrate the shapes and rhythms of Brazilian culture while maintaining a timeless and understated sensibility. Working from her Rio studio, she produces sculptures, lighting, and vessels distinguished by their raw elegance, material honesty, and enduring presence.