For me, an object isn't just a "thing" with a function; it starts carrying meaning the moment it touches a feeling, a moment, or a story. That's how I look at objects at Studio HAP as well. I don't want a plate to be just a plate, or a mug to be just a mug. I want it to make people feel good with its color, bring a smile with its shape, and remind them of a table setting or a cup of coffee enjoyed in the past. I think the moment a connection is built between us and an object, it stops being just "a thing." It turns into a part of the little moments in our lives. That is exactly what Studio HAP aims to do: add a bit of emotion, a bit of play, and a bit of happiness to everyday objects.

Yes, absolutely. I believe that items have a memory. Maybe not on their own, but through the memories we attach to them... A mug becomes the thing we reach for every morning, a plate accompanies the same dining tables for years, and sometimes a tiny object reminds us of a person, a place, or a specific period of our lives. That's why, to me, the value of an item isn't just about how it looks or what it does, but about what it experiences with us. Over time, it gathers marks, gathers stories, and after a certain point, stops being just an item and becomes a small part of our lives. Maybe that's why I love handmade objects; right from the start, they carry the mark of someone's touch.

I think my main guide is curiosity. How will I feel when one color sits next to another? What kind of energy will an unusual shape create when turned into an everyday object? I love thinking about these things. Then joy and playfulness come into the picture. Rather than things that are too serious, flawless, or distant, I'm drawn to objects that spark a small emotion in people. Sometimes a color "picks me," sometimes a shape goes somewhere I never planned. I leave room for those coincidences too. Plus, I always ask myself this question: What does living with this feel like? Because to me, a good object isn't just one that looks pretty; it's something you want to pick up, something that makes you happy when you put it on your table, and something that gradually starts to feel like yours.

I think it definitely changes it. The moment we name an object, we set it apart from the rest; we give it a small character, even a bit of personality. It stops being just "a plate" or "a mug" and turns into something with its own story. At Studio HAP, I actually do this quite often. The Ponpon Mugs and Bowls, Stockholm Mugs, Simit Plates, and the Miro Series are just a few examples. I don't overthink or attach grand meanings when naming products; most of the time, the name just comes naturally. Sometimes it comes from its shape, sometimes from a place, a person, or a feeling it reminds me of. Maybe I love this spontaneity because the moment I find an object's name, its character feels a bit clearer. My favorite part is this: I start the story by giving it a name, but once it leaves Studio HAP, the person who brings it into their life gets to decide how that story continues.

If I had an unlimited budget, I think I'd love to own one of the ceramics Picasso made at the Madoura workshop. Especially one of his works in the form of a plate or a large serving platter. What I love most about Picasso's ceramics is how he takes a very everyday shape and transforms it into a completely different character with just a few lines. A plate can suddenly turn into a face, an animal, or a small story. What's more, he does this without trying to be overly serious or perfect; there's always a bit of play and humor in his work. I guess that's the part that resonates with me. Instead of keeping it in a display case just because it's a piece of art, I'd probably put it right in the middle of a dining table. Even if I can't sit at the same table as Picasso, sitting with his plate wouldn't be bad at all :)

I wouldn't call myself a full-on collector, but I definitely have a soft spot for almost anything related to the dining table. Plates, cups, serving bowls, glasses, stemware, cutlery... And it doesn't end there: tablecloths, cloth napkins, napkin rings, small vases, candle holders, salt shakers, and even little trinkets that don't have a clear purpose but look nice on a table catch my eye. I especially love finding these while traveling. It could be an old plate from an antique shop, a colorful glass I stumble upon in a tiny shop, or an embroidered tablecloth from a local market. It doesn't matter at all if it's expensive or a designer piece. If it has a color, shape, texture, or small detail that grabs me, I take a second look.

Actually, I don't picture the things I buy on their own; I immediately imagine them with other pieces. I start thinking, "How would this plate look on that tablecloth? How would this small item look next to flowers? What if this color sits next to a plate from Studio HAP?" So, my collection is more like a table world. I enjoy bringing together pieces that don't belong together to create a new story. The exact same plate can take on a completely different personality with a different tablecloth, flowers, or objects. I guess that's why, rather than collecting objects, I collect possibilities for setting a table.

A pink desk lamp, a lemon juicer, and a disco ball.