Philia
Magazine

Studio Chacha, founded by Cha Shin-sil, is a Seoul-based design studio working primarily with glass. Her practice explores the delicate balance between control and unpredictability inherent in the material, embracing the transformative qualities of heat, light, and transparency.

Through experimental processes, Cha reinterprets familiar forms into sculptural objects that blur the boundary between function and art. By layering colors, altering geometric structures, and manipulating glass through lampworking techniques, her work creates optical depth and shifting visual effects that invite closer observation.

Positioned between collectible design and material exploration, Studio Chacha produces objects and furniture that emphasize the expressive potential of glass, where subtle variations in color, texture, and form transform everyday typologies into unexpected visual experiences.

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.

Hyungshin Hwang is a Seoul-based designer whose work explores memory, materiality, and structure through furniture and objects. Trained in woodworking and furniture design at Hongik University, where he earned both his BFA and MFA, Hwang develops a restrained visual language that translates everyday experiences and emotional narratives into carefully crafted forms.

Central to his practice is the ongoing Layered Series, first introduced at the Korea International Art Fair in 2007. Through modular construction and layered surfaces, the series reflects the accumulation of time, memory, and lived experience. Hwang’s work has been exhibited internationally at Milan Design Week, DMY Berlin, Design Days Dubai, and Art Beijing, and presented at institutions including La Triennale di Milano and the Korea Craft & Design Foundation.

Kazuya Ishida is a Japanese ceramic artist based in Bizen, one of Japan’s six ancient kiln sites, known for its traditional unglazed stoneware. Born into a family of potters, he trained at the Bizen Ceramics Center and Kyoto Prefectural Ceramics Technical Institute before completing an apprenticeship under Jun Isezaki.

Following several years in the UK, where he expanded his approach to ceramic practice, Ishida established his independent studio in Bizen in 2013. His work is distinguished by dynamic, spiraling surface marks—an expressive language rooted in rhythm and movement, influenced by his early interest in breakdancing.

Working with natural clay and ash glazes in dialogue with Bizen tradition, Ishida develops contemporary forms that evoke elemental landscapes—eroded rock, shifting tides, and geological textures. Bridging heritage and experimentation, his practice reflects a deeply physical engagement with material, where process, fire, and movement shape each piece into a singular, tactile expression.

Zanini de Zanine is a Brazilian designer based in Rio de Janeiro whose multidisciplinary practice spans collectible furniture, interiors, and art. Drawing inspiration from Brazilian culture, craftsmanship, and natural materials, he creates sculptural works that balance organic forms with a refined contemporary sensibility.

Blending artisanal traditions with industrial production, Zanini de Zanine develops pieces distinguished by expressive materiality and a strong connection to place. His work reflects an ongoing dialogue between heritage, sustainability, and innovation, resulting in timeless designs with a distinctive sculptural presence.

Zena Holloway is a British bio-designer and founder of Rootfull, a London-based studio exploring the intersection of nature, craft, and material innovation. Her practice centers on cultivating plant roots into sculptural lighting and objects, allowing natural growth processes to shape each piece. Formerly an internationally acclaimed underwater photographer, Holloway’s experience documenting marine environments inspired her transition into bio-design. Through Rootfull, she has developed a pioneering process that merges biological growth with traditional craftsmanship. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the London Design Festival.