Philia
Magazine
Six Dots Design
Six Dots Design is an East London-based furniture and homeware studio founded by British designer Joseph Ellwood in 2020. With a background in architecture, Ellwood studied at the University of Bath before completing his master’s degree at the Royal College of Art, while an early period working alongside a cabinet designer and maker brought him closer to the process of furniture making. These experiences eventually led to Six Dots Design, where architecture, craft and experimentation come together in a distinctly playful and unconventional approach to furniture.
Since presenting its first collection, Contemporary Vanity, Six Dots Design has developed an increasingly recognisable presence within contemporary British design. Ellwood’s work embraces individuality and the imperfections of the making process, creating objects with a sense of character that often sit somewhere between the functional and the expressive. Alongside independent collections and exhibitions, the studio has collaborated with brands including Rimowa, H&M, IKEA, Maison Margiela and CUPRA, while its work has been presented at Collectible in Brussels and recognised by Wallpaper, which named Six Dots among its “Future Icons” in 2022 and awarded the studio a Wallpaper Design Award in 2026.
Arthur Bitsch 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Arthur Bitsch is a French artist and designer based in Strasbourg. Working across collectible design, sculpture, scenography, and artistic direction, he develops a multidisciplinary practice that explores the relationship between function, symbolism, and narrative. Rooted in both design and visual arts, his work challenges conventional typologies through a distinctive sculptural language that balances conceptual inquiry with material experimentation.
Drawing inspiration from mythology, ritual, architecture, and cultural memory, Bitsch creates objects that blur the boundaries between art and design. Combining handcrafted processes with contemporary production techniques, he develops works distinguished by bold forms and expressive materiality, transforming everyday objects into evocative vessels for stories, emotions, and collective memory.
Ayşe Yasaman Demir 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Ayşe Yasaman Demir is an Istanbul-based interior architect and designer whose practice spans interiors and collectible design. Through Studio Ayşe Demir, she creates sculptural mirrors and objects that investigate the interplay between material, light, and perception. Guided by an intuitive, hands-on approach to making, her designs transform everyday elements into expressive forms that blur the boundary between art and function.
Rooted in craftsmanship and material experimentation, Demir’s creative process unfolds through modelling, mould-making, casting, and meticulous hand-finishing. Defined by fluid silhouettes, textured surfaces, and an evolving dialogue between form and fabrication, her pieces invite new ways of experiencing reflection, materiality, and the spaces they inhabit.
Nifemi Marcus-Bello
Nifemi Marcus-Bello is a Nigerian designer whose work examines the social, economic, and cultural systems embedded within objects and their production. Based in Lagos, he approaches design as a form of inquiry, drawing from local manufacturing networks, material histories, and everyday urban realities to create furniture, installations, and objects that spark dialogue about value, labor, and identity. Moving fluidly between art and design, his practice reflects a deep engagement with context, resourcefulness, and the narratives that shape contemporary life. His work has been exhibited internationally and acquired by major institutions including MoMA, the Brooklyn Museum, LACMA, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Design Museum London.
Amarist Studio 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Amarist Studio is an art and collectible design practice led by Spanish artist Aran Lozano from the Pyrenees. Working at the intersection of art and design, the studio explores the relationship between landscape, material transformation, and the passage of time through sculptural works and collectible objects.
Drawing on materials such as alabaster, concrete, wood, and light, Amarist creates pieces inspired by geological processes, erosion, and the evolution of natural environments. Through craftsmanship, digital technologies, and material experimentation, the studio develops works that reflect on the fragility of ecosystems, the memory embedded in materials, and nature’s enduring capacity for transformation.
Miminat Shodeinde
Miminat Shodeinde is a British-Nigerian artist and designer whose multidisciplinary practice explores the intersection of art, architecture, and collectible design. Born and raised in London, she approaches creation as a dialogue between the poetic and the practical, developing sculptural works and immersive environments that challenge conventional distinctions between form and function. Her work is distinguished by a refined balance of contrast and harmony, where contemporary sensibilities coexist with timeless influences to create pieces that are both expressive and deeply considered.
Drawing on her diverse cultural background and architectural perspective, Shodeinde creates objects and spaces that emphasize atmosphere, materiality, and spatial experience. Defying easy categorization, her practice moves fluidly between art and design, resulting in works that are sophisticated, functional, and rich in personality. Through a thoughtful integration of sculpture, design, and architecture, she continues to shape a distinctive creative language that is both elegant and emotionally resonant.
