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 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.

Studiopepe is a Milan-based architecture and design studio founded in 2006, working across interiors, collectible design, and creative direction. Renowned for its multidisciplinary approach, the studio creates immersive environments and objects that balance refined materiality with a strong sense of narrative, combining formal precision with poetic expression.

Through a thoughtful interplay of colour, texture, and composition, Studiopepe develops projects distinguished by their layered atmosphere, contemporary elegance, and enduring emotional resonance

Harshita Jhamtani is an Indian designer and the founder of Harshita Jhamtani Designs, a Mumbai-based studio established in 2019. Her practice is rooted in a thoughtful balance between material innovation and environmental responsibility, with a focus on creating objects that are both visually striking and enduring in function.

Trained in architecture at the University of Mumbai and in furniture design at the Florence Institute of Design International (FIDI), Jhamtani approaches design through a multidisciplinary lens. Her work reflects a sensitivity to form, material, and process, often exploring sustainable techniques and conscious production methods.

At the core of her studio is a commitment to longevity — designing pieces that transcend trends and are intended to be lived with over time. Through a refined, minimalist language, her work engages with a broader dialogue on sustainability, craftsmanship, and the evolving role of design in shaping a more responsible future.