Philia
Magazine

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 distinctive formal language that transforms everyday experiences and emotional narratives into carefully crafted forms.

Central to his practice is the ongoing Layered Series, first introduced at KIAF 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 Festival, Design Days Dubai, and Art Beijing, while also being presented at institutions including La Triennale di Milano, the Korea Craft & Design Foundation, and the National Hangeul Museum. Alongside his studio practice, he has taught at several leading universities in Korea, continuing to shape a body of work defined by a quiet sensitivity to material and form.

Stem is a design studio founded by Aman and Sugandhi, whose practice explores the relationship between material, emotion, and everyday objects. Guided by a quiet appreciation for nature and craftsmanship, the studio creates collectible lighting, sculpture, and functional objects that balance sculptural simplicity with a strong sense of intimacy and meaning.

Working slowly and intentionally with carefully selected materials, Stem develops timeless pieces that celebrate tactile beauty and emotional resonance. Each object is conceived as a lasting companion, reflecting a philosophy of thoughtful making, enduring craftsmanship, and quiet, purposeful design.

Toshiki Omatsu is a Tokyo-based Japanese designer, born in 1973, and a member of the Architectural Institute of Japan. He graduated from the Kyoto Institute of Technology, Department of Architecture and Design (B.Arch.) in 1996, and later received a diploma from The Berlage Institute in Amsterdam in 1999, supported by the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Overseas Study Grant.

After working in several architecture offices across London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, he founded his own practice, Toshiki Omatsu Atelier, in 2005, where he designs architecture, furniture, products, and artworks. Over the years, he has won several competitions in Japan. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Space Design Department at Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo, the oldest design school in Japan.

Since 2018, Omatsu has been actively developing furniture under the concept “Aluminium x Technology beyond Art & Design”, with a particular focus on the expressive and technical potential of aluminum.

Beatriz Bolibar is a Barcelona-based interior designer, ceramic artist, and founder of Cuit Studio. Trained in interior and hospitality design, her practice brings together interior architecture and handcrafted stoneware objects, exploring the relationship between space, material, and everyday rituals.

Through Cuit Studio, she creates interiors, lighting, vessels, and sculptural objects guided by a sensitivity to craftsmanship, natural materials, and a slow, intentional design process. Her work seeks to create warm, timeless, and emotionally resonant spaces for contemporary living.

Nelson de Araújo is a Portuguese designer and the founder of Nelson de Araújo Design, a conscious luxury furniture label rooted in a deep commitment to craftsmanship, material integrity, and timeless design. His work explores the balance between beauty, comfort, and functionality, resulting in refined pieces that are both expressive and enduring.

Designed and handcrafted in Portugal by skilled local artisans, Nelson’s creations emphasize thoughtful construction, high-quality materials, and quiet sophistication. Through a sensitive and deliberate approach, he seeks to create furniture that not only serves a function but also evokes atmosphere, longevity, and emotional connection.