Material explorations, traditional craft and the hand of the maker place these emerging designers at the forefront of collectable design.
This piece originally appeared in est magazine issue 55: ‘Faces of Design’.
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Born from serendipity and shared vision, Studio HAOS is a Portugal-based studio founded by Sophie Gelinet and Cedric Gepner in 2017. With no formal design training, the studio developed organically but has always maintained the principles of spontaneity and authenticity.
Studio HAOS rejects reliance on heavy machinery and external expertise, instead elevating accessible materials through a hands-on approach. To this end, their studio is equipped with a workshop where all parts of production are handled under one roof.
Inspired by the Dogme 95 movement in cinema, they focus on stripping away excess to uncover raw elegance and emotional resonance in their work. “We believe there is a particular form of elegance in the ability to evoke emotions with restraint and purposely limited means,” Gelinet explains. Each piece reflects the process, embracing the imperfections and accidents that add depth and character.
Cedric Gepner and Sophie Gelinet in their Lisbon workshop; Sophie sits on the Aluminum Lounge chair (2023). The couple often use familiar materials, pushing them into new and unexpected forms.
Various Studio HAOS pieces, including Aluminum armchair (2023) and Chair in Oak Finish (2022).
Instinct and kismet have been the driving forces behind Studio HAOS, where exploration and manufacturing are combined under one roof.
