PORTFOLIO | PROJECTS

(Selection)

IDIOSYNCRATIC CHAIR

3d-Print (black), brushed stainless steel, cork, (optional: cotton blanket)
dimensions & color variable
copyright © 2023/24 Anja Sopic

Idiosyncratic Chair is a piece of furniture that stands out for its unusual interplay of shapes and materials.

This chair offers a spontaneous, yet comfortable seating experience that meets the flexible expectations and usage requirements of its owner. The most special feature of the Idiosyncratic Chair is the 3D-printed seating area, which sports a loosely curved shape with a textured surface - it provides support and grip when sitting on it and at the same time functions as a stylistic instance that visually and haptically loosens up the otherwise sleek and clean overall appearance of the chair.

The chair legs are made of brushed stainless steel, have a slim profile and contribute to a minimalist, modern aesthetic while at the same time providing stability and durability. With their cool elegance, the chair legs form a counterpoint to the backrest, which is made from the natural raw material cork.

Idiosyncratic Chair is a statement of mindful and syncretic design. The combination of 3D printing, cork and stainless steel is an example of the commitment to an AI-supported design process, that combines cutting-edge production technology with renewable and recyclable material.

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IDIOSYNCRATIC CHAIR

2023/24

Our work begins at the point where the immanent of an object is exceeded and its specific functions have shifted.

BLACK FLAMINGO

2018/21

BLACK FLAMINGO

cotton/linen, oak wood
dimensions variable
copyright © 2018 - 2024 Anja Sopic

Black Flamingo is a strict geometrical minimalist bench, made of recycled and waxed oak wood, which contrasts visually and physically with the accompanying fitted cushions. As in the AI-series, the patterns of the cushions here were generated by the algorithms of a 3D modelling program, random generators and through sequencing. These methods are to highlight a possible future, in which AI takes the lead role within the design and production process and opposes with its artificiality to the genetics of organic materials provided by nature. As a design studio, we've been focusing on working with AI for some time now. In our projects, the AI makes essential decisions about the design of an object - its shape, colors and materials - through random parameters consisting of only numerical values, which it then translates into a visual language. What makes AI-initiated designs so interesting is that they are created virtually (without any constraints) and are initially subject to the very conditions of a virtual world. We as a design studio in turn, have the ambition to bring these virtual ideas, which initially seem unattainable, into our reality. In a time when a symbiosis between humans and AI is becoming increasingly relevant, we see ourselves as mediators between the worlds. More importantly, a steady collaboration with AI sparks hopes to eventually being able to facilitate design concepts that incorporate more diversity, opening up to broader possibilities in terms of the design process, but also in terms of communicating and experiencing designs within a social and creative context.

The bench Black Flamingo was first created in 2018 and was introduced on the occasion of Isola Design Festival 2021 initiated by Isola Design District.

Black Flamingo has been awarded with the ICONIC AWARD 2022: Innovative Interior with the »Selection« distinction in the category Furniture and received the GERMAN DESIGN AWARD 2023 - Special|in the category - Excellent Product Design - Furniture. The Project was also nominated for the Isola Design Awards 202 in the category Innovation in Design.

We thank Isola Design for the nomination and the German Design Council and the Jury for the honoring.

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When categorical boundaries between disciplines blur, plans, drawings, maquettes and texts merge into a holistic idea: our furniture objects pass through several states of aggregation during and after their creation, which allows us to re-evaluate our objects and creative practice at any point given.|

introduced at DDW 2020

DOT

2019/20

DOT

cotton, linen, cable, wood
ca. 80 x 45 x 35 cm
copyright © 2019 - 2024 Anja Sopic

How can we reduce our resource consumption (for raw materials) and adapt the production of our products so that we as a company can significantly reduce our ecological footprint? - Our approach for now is primarily aimed at promoting and practicing upcycling. We know that this aspect is only one out of many on the way to a more sustainable industry, but it represents a beginning transition from past production methods to a much greener future. We have started to use recycled parts of old, disused furniture and combined them with new and more natural materials. The first project of this kind was the SPIDER project, where we turned a used swivel chair from around 1950 into a lamp in 2017. Not only was it interesting to see how the function of a piece of furniture had changed, but we also recognized the potentials of upcycling - less waste production through reusing furniture (building) parts while saving energy and material on the way. Since 2017, we have not only extended the range of our lamps, but we have focused even more on the materials to be processed during our production. We are now using mainly recycled or organic materials in all of our projects. Additionally, we avoid to extensively print on fabrics in order to maintain the natural characteristics of the material. We also use recycled wood as basic material for our furnitures, where we preserve the natural wooden look and haptics by abandoning varnishes and paints.

The lamp DOT was first introduced on the occasion of Dutch Design Week 2020 as part of the exhibition "Materialized", which was hosted by Isola Design District.
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One of our approaches for now is primarily aimed at promoting and practicing upcycling. We know that this aspect is only one out of many on the way to a more sustainable industry, but it represents a beginning transition from past production methods to a much greener future. We have started to use recycled parts of old, disused furniture and combined them with new and more natural materials.

SPIDER

metal with chrome finish, wood, fabric, cable, lightbulb, ca. 88 (max.)/ 73 (min.) x 42 x 42 cm (entire lamp) // 40 x 20 cm (lampshade)
copyright|©|2017 - 2024 Anja Sopic

The approach into the design for this object was primarily driven by the motivation to develop a formal vocabulary, that would prompt a user to engage with the history of an old chair and embrace its forms and functions|that had been translated into an entirely new type of furniture - a lamp named SPIDER: a swivel chair from around 1950 with a reduced formal language and a timeless minimalistic look served as a starting point for the development of this object. SPIDER‘s most notable feature is a single central leg which allows the lampshade to be turned to at least 720 degrees, thereby in- and decreasing the lamp‘s overall hight while in rotation. This gimmick, which has been taken from the chair and was integrated into the design for this lamp, facilitates the idea of objects being flexible in size, appearance, usability and at the same time correspond with a user‘s desire for participation and engagement. The key aspect to SPIDER is defined by a multi-level celebration of versatility and an experimental approach into sustainability.

This work was on display in VICIS|at the occasion of Munich Creative Business Week|in 2018 and was also featured in the catalogue VICIS 2018 | published by State of Design, 76 pages, 14,8 x 10,6 cm

Later in 2018, SPIDER was also presented during Karlsruhe DesignWeek.
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SPIDER

2017/18

We are working on a broad palette of works, but one group of works we particularly enjoy working on are||lamps. Here is a selection of objects that were also exhibited and/or featured on various occasions. This series is to be continued.

GHOST

2016

GHOST

wood, stainless steel, acrylic glass, cable
ca. 160 x 40 x 40 cm
copyright|©|2016 - 2024 Anja Sopic

The somehow squared, convexly shaped and strictly geometrically arranged metallic feet represent an immediate counterpart to the opal colored cylindrical lampshade that holds a chaotic-looking motive of black paint splashes - this is GHOST.|The first model for this lamp was developed in 2016|with an acrylic glass shade on which the motif was to be applied to via water transfer printing. Successor models with a glass cylinder as shade and a third model with a fabric cylinder followed in 2017|as variants GHOST 2|and GHOST 3.

Plans & maquettes for the lamp GHOST|were on display during The Wall, Nieuwe German Gestaltung #004|- a show initiated by Max Borka|for the occasion of Biennale Interieur 2016; additionally, project GHOST|was shown during Berlin Design Week|2017 and was also featured in|DM Magazine|// De Morgen, Oct 2016, Nr. 231 p.118 and in the catalogue Breaking Down Walls|// Shapeshifting Future Design, State|of Design, Berlin 2017
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We create stylistic, aesthetic and narrative models. Our furniture objects are highly speculative by nature.

NAMELESS

stainless steel / chrome, acrylic glass, cable, lightbulb,
ca. 160 x 40 x 40 cm
copyright|©|2016 - 2024 Anja Sopic

This concept was featured in A&W Architektur & Wohnen (Issue 2/2016 April/May) and received special mention by the editors of A&W|on A&W Talente|(platform closing announced on Dec 21st, 2017). This lamp is also part of the ongoing research project the object as image.
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featured in A&W

NAMELESS

2016

NAMELESS|is a lamp that comes with a classic metallic base and an opal coloured, filigree lampshade that features a reduced motif of curved lines. These lines, which aren't just randomly arranged into a composition, were particularly inspired by Japanese calligraphy, respectively the Cǎoshū|characters, which are not just being read as typical letters, but are rather perceived as complete images. This aspect is a relevant feature for the design of this object, as it functions as a metaphor, suggesting the overall concept for this object is not just about designing a lamp, but it is revolving around designing a specific perception: aesthetic features come to the fore, while immanent practical functions |move into the background.

MORE PROJECTS

There has always been a particular interest in furniture design. Furniture objects often cameoed in earlier art shows until 2015, either as found objects, studies or complete and newly built furniture pieces.

Untitled (study Josef Albers chair), 2011
wood, fabric, foam, rivets
ca. 65 x 65 x 60 cm
copyright © 2011 - 2024 Anja Sopic

This work was on display during OFF EMPIRE at Reisebürogalerie, initiated by Galerie Nagel Draxler in 2011.
Products
Green, 2018
metal with chrome finish, wood, fabric, cable, hight ca. 88 (max.)/ 73 (min.) x 42 x 42 cm (entire lamp), 40 x 20 cm (lampshade only)
copyright © 2018 - 2024 Anja Sopic

BLUE and GREEN are additions to the ongoing project reshaping forms and functions, which investigates notions of sustainability. Both objects were first presented during EUNIQUE and DesignWeek Karlsruhe in 2018, later at Talents on the occasion of Tendence in 2019.

Events
AI-Series, 2017- ongoing
foam, fabric, 50 x 40 x 10 cm
(other dimensions available soon)
copyright © 2017 - 2024 Anja Sopic

This object was featured in the exhibition pamphlet for Talents - a special section on the consumer goods fair|Tendence|in Frankfurt am Main|(2019 June/July). This object is part of our new product group sculptures wanted.
Digital PR

However, we eventually started to professionalize and expand our practice and research onto a broader furniture palette. We see all of our objects as plays with open storylines.

Untitled (table shelf sculpture), 2011
acacia wood, ca. 110 x 50 x 45 cm
copyright © 2011 - 2024 Anja Sopic

Untitled (table shelf sculpure)|is a working model for a table, which at the same time and at will can also be used as a shelf, or even be seen as a sculpture in its own right - the usability of this piece is open|and is geared to meet a user’s needs, which are not just pragmatic by nature, but above all, express a profound desire for flexibility.

This work was on display during OFF EMPIRE at Reisebürogalerie, initiated by Galerie Nagel Draxler in 2011

Products
Sunset Serenade, 2013
fleece, lightbulb, cable, dimensions variable
copyright © 2013 - 2024 Anja Sopic

This object was on display during Because you placed your bet on the visible it doesnt mean the invisible isn’t there|at former Blanket (now Galerie Natalia Hug, Cologne) and also as a black version during Derangement Arrangement|at Hinterconti,
Hamburg, both in 2013.
Events
Blue, 2018
metal with chrome finish, wood, fabric, cable, hight ca. 88 (max.)/ 73 (min.) x 42 x 42 cm (entire lamp), 40 x 20 cm (lampshade only)
copyright © 2018 - 2024 Anja Sopic

BLUE and GREEN are additions to the ongoing project reshaping forms and functions, which investigates notions of sustainability. Both objects were first presented during EUNIQUE and DesignWeek Karlsruhe in 2018, later at Talents on the occasion of Tendence in 2019.
Digital PR

Stay tuned for more coming up soon!

Anja Sopic | Design