Philia
Magazine

Nicholas Bijan Pourfard

Nicholas Bijan Pourfard

Nicholas Bijan Pourfard is a Southern California-based designer whose work moves between furniture and collectible design, shaped by an early foundation in luthiery. After crafting over 400 bespoke guitars under his label Prisma Guitars, he transitioned toward furniture as a means to expand his exploration of form, material, and expression.

His practice is driven by a dialogue between structure and movement, where materials are not only shaped but activated, giving rise to objects that feel both dynamic and grounded. Through a process rooted in making, Pourfard develops a sculptural language that balances tension and fluidity, precision and intuition.

Blending traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary sensibility, his work reflects a deeply personal approach to design — one where each piece becomes an extension of identity, narrative, and transformation.

"I started designing out of a sense of absence, feeling like there weren’t enough objects around me that evoked emotion or had personality."
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
7 April 26
Phillip Jividen1 scaled 1

Phillip Jividen 5 Picks From Philia Collection

Phillip Jividen is an American designer whose practice explores the relationship between material, form, and function through collectible furniture and objects. Guided by an intuitive approach, he creates pieces that balance familiarity with surprise, combining practical purpose with sculptural playfulness. Working in close collaboration with skilled fabricators, Jividen produces small-batch and limited-edition works distinguished by refined compositions and a quiet sense of permanence.

Rooted in material exploration and thoughtful craftsmanship, his designs seek a timeless quality that transcends trends. Through restrained forms and carefully considered proportions, Jividen creates objects that are both functional and enduring, reflecting a contemporary design language defined by simplicity, balance, and longevity.

READ MORE
11 October 24
Christopher Boots

Christopher Boots

Christopher Boots is an Australian designer and the founder of Christopher Boots Studio, a Melbourne-based practice renowned for its collectible lighting, furniture, and objects. His work explores the intersection of art, design, and material experimentation, drawing inspiration from nature, geology, cosmology, and ancient cultures.

Working with materials such as quartz crystal, bronze, brass, stone, and glass, Boots creates sculptural pieces that balance technical innovation with a deep sensitivity to form and atmosphere. His designs are distinguished by their expressive materiality and their ability to transform light into an immersive spatial experience.

Spanning collectible design and large-scale commissions, Christopher Boots’ work reflects an ongoing fascination with the natural world and the enduring relationship between craft, material, and light.

READ MORE
8 October 24
Dongwook Choi

Dongwook Choi Picks From Philia Collection

Dongwook Choi is a multidisciplinary designer based in South Korea. He majored in metal craft at his college. Computational design, organic form, active acceptance of evolving technology, and material exploration are keywords that represent his work. Breaking the boundaries, transferring objects from imaginary digital scenes to tangible reality, is the most important progress in his workflow. He believes that his pieces should be more than just functional; it should also evoke emotion and bring joy to those who use them. That’s what drives his designs.

READ MORE
4 October 24
Michel Amar

Michel Amar

Michel Amar is a Paris-based architect and designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans architecture, interiors, and collectible design. Rooted in his Mediterranean heritage, he creates sculptural furniture, lighting, and objects distinguished by elegant proportions, refined craftsmanship, and a poetic approach to materiality, working primarily with bronze, stone, and alabaster.

Balancing architectural precision with artistic expression, Amar develops timeless collections that celebrate the dialogue between form, light, and natural materials. His work reflects a sensitive exploration of craftsmanship and contemporary living, resulting in pieces that combine sculptural presence with enduring elegance.

READ MORE
1 October 24
Selma Larzak

Selma Lazrak Picks From Philia Collection

Selma Lazrak is a Moroccan architect and product designer based in Munich, Germany. Working across architecture, interiors, and collectible design, her practice explores the relationship between identity, material, and cultural heritage. Drawing inspiration from her Moroccan roots, she creates sculptural furniture and objects that reinterpret traditional craftsmanship through a contemporary lens.

Combining advanced fabrication techniques with meticulous hand-finishing by Mediterranean artisans, Lazrak develops collectible pieces distinguished by refined materiality and thoughtful experimentation. Her work balances architectural precision with emotional resonance, creating timeless designs that celebrate both craftsmanship and place.

READ MORE
27 September 24
NUDA Andrea Lardizábal

NUDA – Andrea Lardizábal

NUDA is the creative practice of Mexican architect and designer Andrea Lardizábal, whose work explores the intersection of sculpture, architecture, and the natural world. Born and based in Mexico City, Lardizábal approaches design as an instinctive act of creation, guided by imagination and an enduring fascination with nature, landscape, and materiality. Her practice embraces an intuitive process in which form emerges as a direct expression of observation, emotion, and lived experience.

Working across sculptural design, Lardizábal investigates the expressive potential of materials through objects that challenge conventional notions of monumentality and scale. Deeply influenced by Mexican and Arabic landscapes, as well as figures such as Isamu Noguchi and Hassan Fathy, her work seeks to evoke contemplation rather than prescribe meaning, inviting each viewer to form a personal connection with the pieces.

READ MORE
24 September 24