At Curiouz, we celebrate the fusion of curiosity, longevity, creativity, and mindful design. Today, we are excited to share an exclusive conversation with Sofia Hagen, the creative director of SOFIA HAGEN studio. Her innovative approach to 3D-printed sculptural products and installations challenges conventional boundaries and redefines the essence of product design. As we look forward to the upcoming HEMPLA SANCTUARY x FUORISALONE Milan event during Salone del Mobile Milano 2025, let's explore Sofia's journey, inspirations, and transformative projects.

1.⁠ ⁠Sofia, your work merges art, design, and technology. What inspires you to explore this intersection, and how do they complement each other in your creations?

I love an interdisciplinary approach; for me, the production process defines my creative process as much as the functionality, aesthetics, and surrounding context. Technology is interesting in terms of its impact; it's a tool to achieve the unachievable. Art and design blend into one for conceptual as well as circular economy reasons—all my design objects are sculptural pieces of art, and all the art installations are designed so that they can be repurposed into useful products afterward.

2.⁠ ⁠What is the most unexpected material in your projects and why?

According to everyone's reaction - Sugar! I work a lot with recycled biomaterials, and bio-PLA derived from fermented sugar cane is one of the materials I use as a base in most of my designs. It's sometimes mixed with recycled wood fibres or, as seen in the latest HEMPLA, recycled hemp fibres. 

3.⁠ ⁠What motivates you to incorporate recycled materials and balance traditional craftsmanship with innovative technology in your projects?

I have always wanted to create objects or spaces with a purpose beyond functionality and aesthetics. The circular economy is an important factor in my design practice, considering the current situation of our planet.

Combining the research of recycled materials with innovative technologies that facilitate a zero carbon footprint gives the design an impactful function above being a useful, beautiful object. Blending this with traditional craftsmanship retrieves the human-centric aspect of design, including ancient manufacturing technologies on which our cultures are based. 

4.⁠ ⁠Your portfólio includes collaborations with firms like Zaha Hadid Architects and Heatherwick Studios. How were these experiences, and how do they influence your approach to design and innovation?

Zaha was my teacher at the University of Applied Arts, where I studied architecture, and my ticket to London when I relocated here. Her educational and professional practice has highly influenced me from the start in terms of risk-taking, experimentation, and formal articulation.

Heatherwick Studios is a fantastic practice that emphasises out-of-the-box material thinking, biophilic and biomorphic design, and incredible attention to detail. And, of course, the people working in both studios are a magnificent source of inspiration on every level.

5.⁠ ⁠How do you describe the vision of your studio?

My vision and goal are to change the future of design, architecture, and our built environment through the inventive use of upcycled/recycled materials and cutting-edge technology. Everything that's being executed and tested in my projects at a small scale now shall one day be applied to large-scale settings.

6.⁠ ⁠Your upcoming installation, HEMPLA SANCTUARY x FUORISALONE Milan, promises a unique blend of mindfulness, advanced design, ancient craft, a bespoke soundscape by The SoundNutritionist, and light at the new Zumtobel Group headquarters in Milan. Can you walk our readers through this experience and explain what they would feel, see, and experiment with? 

The installation will form a biophilic oasis of calm for visitors to reset during the overstimulation of Milan Design Week. Inspired by the principles of the traditional Zen Garden for contemplation, the Sanctuary consists of a curation of HEMPLA meditation furniture - 3D printed hemp & sugar seats and handmade organic hemp & wool rugs.

HEMPLA Sanctuary invites visitors to relax and meditate while immersing themselves in a SONIC MENU consisting of bespoke healing soundscapes by The Sound Nutritionist - The HEMPLAWAVE, based on the geometries of HEMPLA, ephemeral lighting by Thorn Lighting and a daily guided meditation session.

7.⁠ ⁠How do you envision the integration of soundscapes and lighting enhancing the mindfulness experience within the HEMPLA SANCTUARY installation?

The HEMPLAWAVE was composed based on the geometries and material frequencies of Hempla - Soundwaves are geometries, after all. The fact that you can listen to what you're sitting on is already a mind-blowing experience in itself, besides the fact that the Sound Nutritionist added scientifically proven healing frequencies that balance your nervous system.

Lighting is another crucial aspect to consider in the realm of mindfulness. Soft, warm lighting can help create a sense of calmness and relaxation, while bright, white lighting can help energise and uplift the mind and body. Zumtobel and Thorn Lighting have curated a lavish space of light, immersing the visitor in an oasis of calm for an all-over holistic experience.

8.⁠ ⁠Your installations have graced various international venues from London to Los Angeles. How does the cultural context of each location influence the design and execution of your projects?

The context of each venue highly influences my design thinking, which is probably rooted in my architectural background. For instance, the CONTOUR 3D printed concrete benches were designed for a show in Western Austria, inspired by the alpine surroundings and the fact that it is an area with the proportionally widest variety of sediments within such a small footprint. This is reflected in its organic shape and the variety of finishes within each piece.

Another installation that we recently launched in the same area is CRYSTALLINE, a large-scale light art installation made of 3D printed medical waste with integrated lighting and a bespoke soundscape by artist LouLou Raven, which was featured at the Spotlight festival in the public realm and will tour two more exhibitions this year. The crystals forming the sculpture are inspired by the local historical context of the medieval town they were created for, which was a major hub for the salt trade. Salt is what generated the wealth of its surroundings, and CRYSTALLINE is an iconic representation of this.

HEMPLA was conceived in and made for Los Angeles. Considering California's passion for mindfulness, meditation, and cannabis, creating a meditation furniture range made of 3D-printed hemp was evident.

9.⁠ ⁠Collaboration seems integral to your practice. How do these partnerships enrich your creative process?

T eamwork is an integral part of the creative process, both conceptually and in terms of production. Blending various skill sets and ideas of creative minds is incredibly inspiring, enriching, and educational. I think designers and artists should always collaborate rather than compete with each other.

10.⁠ ⁠You've been addressing many project topics, from digital fabrication to sustainable material research. What key messages do you aim to convey to audiences about the future of design, furniture, and technology?

I hope to convey to audiences that the future of design and furniture goes hand in hand with technology and that we should embrace the efficiency of new technologies and AI to the fullest. In my fabrication process, the robots are all run by AI-based software that simulates the print process and eliminates errors before the print, reducing materials, time, and costs that would normally be incurred. Similar technologies are applied in medical drug research, where AI simulates the effects of drugs on human cells, reducing real-life experiments and fatalities.

11.⁠ ⁠What emerging technologies or materials are you excited to explore in future projects?

I would love to make a collection of 3D-printed coffee, oatmeal, or beer next (breakfast, lunch, and dinner covered!). I'm also very excited about a new collaboration with LA-based artist/designer Moral Turgeman, who combines recycled limestone, granite, 3D printing, and molding technologies. Stay tuned for more!

12.⁠ ⁠What advice would you share with aspiring designers who wish to integrate sustainability and technology into their creative endeavors?

Do your research, talk to people, and then do it. There are many excellent platforms for these topics, such as Material Matters by Grant Gibson and Oliver Heath Design, in terms of biophilia and their database of designers and makers who work within that realm.

13.⁠ ⁠What can those attending Salone del Mobile Milano 2025 expect from the HEMPLA SANCTUARY x FUORISALONE Milan installation, and how do you hope it will impact their perception of your work?

I hope they will find a moment of calm, immerse themselves fully, take a moment to reset, and come out of it refreshed with a mindset of how impactful holistic design is on our well-being.

We invite you to immerse yourself in the HEMPLA SANCTUARY x FUORISALONE Milan during Salone del Mobile Milano 2025. Experience the harmonious fusion of design and technology at the Zumtobel Group's new Milan headquarters. Witness how Sofia Hagen is pioneering the future of sensory design. For more details on the event and to stay updated on Sofia's innovative projects, visit the studio's official website.

Photo credit headshot: Anthony Karayan
Photo credit Hempla: Gokay Sarioz