Friday Forage | Utopia & Utility - An interview with co founder Pia Wustenberg

Utopia & Utility was founded by brother and sister duo Pia & Moritz Wustenberg, the industrious pair pooled their talents to create the company, which was founded in 2012. Pia is the Creative Director, her extraordinary designs incorporate paper, wood, ceramics and glass. Pia honed her design skills whilst studying for a Masters in Design Products at the RCA. Moritz uses his business acumen to oversee the finance and logistics of the company. Their goal is to grow a business with integrity and good intentions. Pia recently collaborated with Heal's to create a range of lights.

What initially drew you to glass making and what do you like mostly about this medium?

I enjoy the process from liquid and malleable to something hard and stable. The making of glass is really spectacular, and the material holds some of this story in it, it is very alive and full of narrative.

How long did you study for?

I studied Furniture Design for my BA and Product Design for my MA, so all in all five years.

You founded Utopia and Utility with you brother, do you collaborate on the designs together? 

My brother deals with the finance and business, I am the creative director and designer. I think it is very important to distinguish between the roles and have a clear work separation.

"Everything we consider beautiful, has something familiar in it..." I really like your design manifesto, it seems quite an old fashioned concept to have one! It's reminiscent of William Morris' ethos, of the importance of nature within Arts & Crafts. Is it an important factor that the designs resonate on a deeper level than their sheer aesthetic value? 

I believe this is the only way to create something meaningful, for the object to hold more value than just the function or a fashion. When you make something that speaks to the soul, not just of the person using it, but also the person making it, then you achieve something truly beautiful.

The patinated processed paper forms are interesting, can you describe the making of these? And how did they come about?

Those came about as an experiment, using processed materials and trying to find new applications for traditional crafts. 

The process is simple: the paper sheets are glued and rolled into a raw material that is then left to dry. Once dry it is cut on a saw or on a lathe to expose the layers within.

What has been your design highlight so far?

Difficult question- I guess its the moments when you realise you can do something. Once you have mastered a process or a material, and you really understand how to work with it.