PHILIA MAGAZINE

Paul Coenen is a Dutch designer based in Eindhoven whose practice is rooted in experimentation with materials, production processes, and industrial craftsmanship. A graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven, he develops furniture, lighting, and objects through a hands-on approach in which making becomes a tool for discovery. Rather than imposing form onto material, Coenen allows manufacturing techniques and physical properties to shape each design.

Working primarily with metal, Coenen creates sculptural yet functional pieces distinguished by their structural clarity and technical precision. Through an ongoing dialogue between industry and craft, his work reveals the expressive potential of production itself, transforming technical innovation into refined objects that balance engineering with poetic simplicity.

Maria Osminina is a Russian designer whose multidisciplinary practice spans interiors, collectible furniture, and objects. Based in Saint Petersburg, she creates refined works distinguished by minimalist forms, architectural clarity, and a profound sensitivity to space, light, and material. With a background in fine arts, design, and contemporary art curation, Osminina approaches furniture as an extension of architecture, developing pieces that contribute to a calm, contemplative environment rather than existing as isolated objects.

Guided by a philosophy of timeless simplicity, Osminina works primarily with natural materials including stone, wood, and metal, combining precise geometries with tactile surfaces and subtle imperfections. Inspired by Eastern philosophy, modernist architecture, and the dialogue between historical context and contemporary living, her collectible designs celebrate proportion, material honesty, and the quiet emotional power of restrained form.

Victoria Yakusha is a Ukrainian architect, designer, and the founder of FAINA, a multidisciplinary practice renowned for its contemporary interpretation of Ukrainian cultural heritage. Working across architecture, interiors, and collectible design, Yakusha creates sculptural furniture and objects rooted in what she describes as “live design” — an approach that draws from local traditions, natural materials, and a deep connection to the land. Her work is distinguished by organic forms, tactile surfaces, and a strong sense of material authenticity.

Through FAINA, Yakusha has established an internationally recognized design language that bridges craftsmanship, sustainability, and cultural storytelling. From furniture and lighting to immersive spatial environments, her creations celebrate the richness of Ukrainian identity while exploring a timeless dialogue between nature, memory, and contemporary living.

Cara \ Davide is a multidisciplinary design studio founded in Milan in 2016 by South African designer Cara Judd and Italian designer Davide Gramatica. Working across collectible design, furniture, interiors, and exhibition design, the duo creates limited-edition collections and bespoke projects that explore materials, craftsmanship, and cultural exchange through a distinctive sculptural language shaped by collaborations with artisans in Italy and South Africa.

Jan Ernst is a South African designer and ceramic artist based in Cape Town whose work blurs the boundaries between sculpture and function. Trained as an architect, he transitioned from architectural practice to collectible design, developing a body of work that explores organic form, materiality, and the expressive potential of clay. His pieces range from furniture and lighting to sculptural objects, each shaped by a deep connection to nature and the landscapes of South Africa.

Drawing inspiration from natural structures such as rock formations, corals, and fungi, Ernst creates biomorphic works distinguished by their fluid silhouettes, tactile surfaces, and architectural sensibility. Through an experimental approach to ceramics and other materials, he develops collectible pieces that balance emotional resonance with functionality, creating objects that exist between art, design, and storytelling.

Dongwook Choi is a South Korean designer and artist whose practice explores the intersection of computational design, material experimentation, and organic form. Trained in metal craft at Konkuk University in Seoul, he develops sculptural furniture and objects inspired by natural phenomena, scientific patterns, and the relationship between the digital and physical worlds.

Working from his studio in South Korea, Choi combines emerging technologies with traditional craftsmanship to create collectible pieces distinguished by fluid geometries, playful proportions, and a strong sense of spatial presence. His work blurs the boundaries between art and utility, resulting in objects that are both functional and expressive.

Cobra Studios is a multidisciplinary design practice working across collectible design, interiors, and creative direction. Through a sculptural approach to form and materiality, the studio creates furniture and objects that balance artistic expression with functionality.

Drawing inspiration from architecture, craftsmanship, and contemporary culture, Cobra Studios develops bold and tactile works that blur the boundaries between art and design, resulting in pieces with a distinctive and enduring presence.

Draga & Aurel is a multidisciplinary studio based in Como, Italy, founded in 2007 by Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow. Working across collectible design, art, and furniture, the duo has developed a distinctive practice that merges rigorous design research with an experimental artistic approach to material, composition, and form. Their work is characterized by a continuous dialogue between art and design, where craftsmanship, intuition, and material exploration play a central role.

Known for their innovative use of resin, transparency, and layered surfaces, Draga & Aurel create sculptural pieces that blur the boundaries between object and artwork. Drawing on backgrounds in fine art, fashion, and craftsmanship, they transform materials through a process of experimentation and discovery, producing works distinguished by bold color, tactile richness, and a strong emotional presence. Their creations have been exhibited internationally and are held in prominent galleries and collections, establishing the studio as a leading voice in contemporary collectible design.

Hakmin Lee is a Seoul-based designer and the founder of Studio HAK, a multidisciplinary practice operating at the intersection of design, craft, and contemporary art. Through an experimental approach that deliberately blurs the boundaries between functional objects and artistic expression, Lee explores the increasingly fluid relationship between high and low culture, creating works that challenge conventional categorizations.

Drawing inspiration from the visual language of mass culture—from consumer products and cartoons to video games—Lee reinterprets familiar forms through a playful and often humorous lens. Working across painting, furniture, and object design, he transforms everyday references into unexpected compositions, developing a distinctive visual language that balances wit, nostalgia, and material experimentation.

Vladimir Naumov is a Russian designer, architect, and artist, and the founder of Numo, a contemporary design studio whose practice explores the emotional relationship between people and everyday objects. Working across collectible furniture and functional objects, he reinterprets familiar forms through unexpected proportions, surreal compositions, and unconventional material pairings, creating pieces that challenge perception while remaining deeply human in their appeal.

Guided by an ongoing process of experimentation, Naumov transforms personal sensations and observations into sculptural furniture that balances function with visual storytelling. Characterized by expressive forms, bold material contrasts, and a playful yet refined aesthetic, his work seeks to evoke emotion and offer new ways of experiencing everyday objects. Through Numo, he continues to investigate the intersection of architecture, art, and collectible design, developing a distinctive body of work that blurs the boundaries between utility and imagination.

Karen Chekerdjian is a Lebanese-Armenian designer and artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans collectible design, furniture, interiors, and spatial installations. After beginning her career in advertising, film, and graphic design, she studied Industrial Design at the Domus Academy in Milan under the mentorship of Massimo Morozzi before founding her eponymous studio in Beirut in 2001. Through a continuous dialogue between concept, material, and craftsmanship, Chekerdjian has developed a distinctive design language that explores objects as evolving forms rather than fixed functions.

Working in close collaboration with local artisans, Chekerdjian creates furniture and objects that embrace ambiguity, transformation, and interaction. Rooted in the cultural landscape of Beirut yet informed by an international perspective, her work balances sculptural expression with everyday use, inviting each piece to acquire meaning through time, memory, and human experience rather than through function alone.

Camila Apaez is a Mexican ceramic artist and the founder of Ila Cerámica, a studio dedicated to creating sculptural and functional objects that explore the relationship between materiality, nature, and everyday rituals. Based in Mexico, her practice emerged from a personal journey of creative rediscovery, with clay becoming both a medium of expression and a tool for reflection.

Working primarily by hand-building, Apaez creates organic, corporeal forms inspired by inner landscapes, natural phenomena, and the human body. Through Ila Cerámica, she develops collections that balance utility and sculpture, resulting in poetic objects that invite contemplation, intimacy, and a deeper connection to the spaces they inhabit.

Julien Manaira is a French designer whose practice explores the intersection of sculpture, furniture, and material experimentation. Working with aluminium, resin, and industrial finishes, he creates collectible objects defined by bold geometries, tactile surfaces, and a refined sense of proportion. His work embraces a minimalist vocabulary while revealing a playful exploration of colour, texture, and construction.

Through his studio, Manaira develops limited-edition furniture and sculptural pieces that blur the boundaries between art and function. Guided by a fascination with materials and fabrication processes, his work balances rational forms with expressive finishes, resulting in objects that are both visually striking and quietly understated.