Profile
Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg)
Born: 1986
Hometown: Kitee
Based in: Germany
Utopia & Utility is a journey filled with joy and beauty, from the process to the finished object.
The studio was founded in 2012 by Finnish-German designer Pia Wüstenberg.
Our story is all about crafts: we collaborate with specialised workshops all around Europe to make each one of the materials that compose the final piece.
For 8 years now, the Stacking Vessels and other collectibles from u&u have made their way all around the world to prestigious boutiques and design exhibitions.
Handmade in Europe, by people:
Everything we do is shaped by the hands of a maker. Glass blowers, carpenters, ceramicist, metal spinners, etc… we find the talent that is needed in small, specialised European workshops.
A u&u product travels through many hands before it reaches our warehouse in Germany. Things need to fit together precisely and each craftsman secures that they do just that.
Our materials & their origins:
Glass - England, Czech Republic
Ceramic - Germany, Austria, Scotland
Wood - Finland, Germany
Metal - England
Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg), Finland
Design Objects
US$ 1,280
Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg), Finland
Design Objects
US$ 1,280
Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg), Finland
Design Objects
US$ 1,050
Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg), Finland
Design Objects
US$ 790
About Utopia & Utility (by Pia Wüstenberg)
What inspires you?
Contrast. I get ideas when I move between places, from travel , or going from urban environments to the countryside. I get ideas moving between different cultures and people. In general, it is the change of things that inspires me.
Describe your creative process.
I like to sketch. I use old fashioned methods of paper, different pens, watercolours. I am intrigued by processes and limitations - limitations of materials, or their processes. Often these restrictions are a good starting point for a brief.
What are 3 words that best describe your work?
Contrast. Colour. Natural Materials.
Who are some artists that have influenced your work?
Kaj Franck, in his philosophy. Kaffe Fassett, in his colour use. Same for Emil Nolde. Alvar Aalto.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
Pen and Paper.
What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
It's from my granny: if something deserves to be done, it deserves to be done well. I dont always manage, but it's something worth aspiring to.
Where do you go for inspiration?
IdeallyI travel and see how people live, the tools they use, the materials they source.