Philia
Magazine

Six Dots Design is an East London-based furniture and homeware studio founded by British designer Joseph Ellwood in 2020. With a background in architecture, Ellwood studied at the University of Bath before completing his master’s degree at the Royal College of Art, while an early period working alongside a cabinet designer and maker brought him closer to the process of furniture making. These experiences eventually led to Six Dots Design, where architecture, craft and experimentation come together in a distinctly playful and unconventional approach to furniture.

Since presenting its first collection, Contemporary Vanity, Six Dots Design has developed an increasingly recognisable presence within contemporary British design. Ellwood’s work embraces individuality and the imperfections of the making process, creating objects with a sense of character that often sit somewhere between the functional and the expressive. Alongside independent collections and exhibitions, the studio has collaborated with brands including Rimowa, H&M, IKEA, Maison Margiela and CUPRA, while its work has been presented at Collectible in Brussels and recognised by Wallpaper, which named Six Dots among its “Future Icons” in 2022 and awarded the studio a Wallpaper Design Award in 2026.

Sérgio Rebelo is a Portuguese architect and designer and the founder of Sérgio Rebelo Atelier, an independent architecture and design practice established in Porto in 2018. He studied architecture at the University of Porto in Portugal and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland, developing an international perspective that would continue to shape his professional trajectory. In 2010, Rebelo also served as a thesis reviewer at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) in New York.

Prior to founding his own atelier, Rebelo was Design Director at FR-EE (Fernando Romero Enterprise) in New York City, where he contributed to major architectural projects on an international scale. During his tenure, he played a leading role in projects including the construction of the Soumaya Museum and the winning competition proposal for Mexico City’s New International Airport. Through Sérgio Rebelo Atelier, he has since developed an independent practice spanning architecture and design, building on the experience gained through his work across Portugal, Switzerland, Mexico and the United States.

Nickolas Gurtler is an Australian interior designer and the founder and principal of Nickolas Gurtler Office, a boutique practice established in 2015. Over more than a decade in interior design and decoration, he has developed a distinctive approach spanning residential, multi-residential and commercial projects across Australia and the United States. His work is defined by a discerning and thoughtfully edited sensibility, with each project conceived around the experience of inhabiting a space rather than its visual impact alone.

Drawing from a wide field of references encompassing history, film, fashion and product design, Gurtler brings together different cultural and creative influences to form interiors with a strong sense of identity and atmosphere. His practice is also closely connected to contemporary Australian design, with an ongoing commitment to supporting emerging makers, local artisans and locally produced work. Through Nickolas Gurtler Office, he continues to develop a body of work that reflects both an international outlook and a strong connection to Australia’s creative community. In 2025, Gurtler was shortlisted for Designer of the Year at the IDEA Awards.

Kazuhiro Yamanaka is a Japanese designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans collectible furniture, product and lighting design, and installation. Born in Tokyo, he studied at Musashino Art University before completing his MA at the Royal College of Art in London. Throughout his career, Yamanaka has collaborated with international design houses including Ligne Roset, Boffi, Ingo Maurer, Alessi, Pallucco, and SAAZS, developing a body of work characterized by experimentation, precision, and a particular sensitivity to light and space.

Central to Yamanaka’s practice is an exploration of the relationship between objects, their surroundings, and the invisible void they define. His work has entered the collections of institutions including MoMA in New York and the Power Station of Art in Shanghai, where his first major solo exhibition was held in 2017. Alongside his design practice, he has taught at Musashino Art University since 2014 and has served as a visiting professor at the China Academy of Art since 2020. In 2025, his work was recognized with the Dezeen Award for Best Lighting Design of the Year.

Increments Studio is a Melbourne-based architecture practice founded by Naomi Ng and Liang Hu, whose work explores the intersection of architecture, interiors, and spatial experience. Guided by a philosophy that architecture should resonate rather than demand attention, the studio creates spaces defined by quiet restraint, material sensitivity, and a profound connection to their surroundings.

Approaching each project as a unique response to its context and users, Increments Studio places particular emphasis on light, materiality, proportion, and atmosphere, crafting environments that are both grounded and poetic. Their practice spans residential, hospitality, cultural, and installation projects, united by a commitment to resource-conscious design and meaningful human experience. Recognised internationally, the studio’s work has received accolades including the Dezeen Awards and Architizer A+Awards, reflecting an approach where architecture becomes a vehicle for reflection, belonging, and enduring emotional resonance.