Philia
Magazine
Dimitrih Correa 5 Picks From Philia Collection
Dimitrih Correa is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Rio de Janeiro. Working at the intersection of collectible design and sculpture, his practice explores the relationship between material, memory, and time, with a particular focus on reclaimed hardwood and traditional craftsmanship.
Correa’s connection to materials began during his childhood in the mountains of the Atlantic Forest and later developed through his studies in Industrial Design and his experience at Oficinaethos, where he encountered the conceptual possibilities of authorial design. After a period in Dublin collaborating with design and art studios, he returned to Brazil and established his own atelier in Rio de Janeiro’s historic city centre in 2020. His works move between functional objects and sculpture, transforming reclaimed materials into pieces that combine structural precision with expressive form while reflecting on permanence, consumption and the relationship between people and the natural world. His work has received recognition, including First Place at the Salão Design Award and an Honorable Mention at the Prêmio Design MCB, and has been exhibited internationally in cities including Milan, Paris, New York, Brussels, and Antwerp.
Hamed Ouattara
Hamed Ouattara is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. For more than three decades, he has transformed reclaimed industrial oil drums into sculptural furniture and objects that reinterpret the architectural and cultural heritage of the Sahel through a contemporary lens. Working alongside a workshop of skilled artisans, Ouattara combines traditional craftsmanship with material innovation, creating distinctive works defined by intricate textures, rhythmic forms, and a deep connection to place and history.
His work has been exhibited internationally and is held in the permanent collections of several leading museums and cultural institutions. Through a practice rooted in sustainability, craftsmanship, and storytelling, Ouattara continues to expand the dialogue between African artistic traditions and contemporary collectible design, creating works that celebrate material transformation, cultural identity, and enduring craftsmanship.
Kaori Akiyama
Kaori Akiyama is a Japanese designer and the founder of STUDIO BYCOLOR, a Tokyo-based design practice established in 2013. Working across product, furniture, interior, exhibition, and branding design, she explores the expressive relationship between colour, material, and form, seeking to uncover the essential character of an object while questioning conventional perceptions of the everyday.
Driven by a process of observation and material experimentation, Akiyama creates works that balance functionality with a refined sensitivity to colour and texture. Her practice has received international recognition, including the iF Design Award Gold, iF Design Award, DFA Gold Award, DIA Top 100, and Good Design Award, reflecting an ongoing commitment to thoughtful, research-led design.
Louise Liljencrantz
Louise Liljencrantz is a Swedish interior and furniture designer based in Stockholm and co-founder of Veermakers, whose practice explores the relationship between sculptural form, natural materials, and enduring craftsmanship. Since founding her interior design studio in 2009, she has become known for creating refined, bespoke interiors distinguished by timeless elegance, tactile materiality, and meticulous attention to detail.
In 2017, Liljencrantz co-founded Veermakers in collaboration with KFK Cabinet Makers, extending her design philosophy into a collection of collectible furniture, lighting, and objects. Working closely with master cabinetmakers and artisans, she creates pieces defined by honest materials, balanced proportions, and uncompromising craftsmanship, resulting in works that celebrate permanence, sustainability, and the enduring beauty of Scandinavian design.
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.
