Millim Studio
What’s your name and where are you from / based?
We’re Chiara and Edoardo — together we are Millim Studio, founded in 2016 and based in Rome, Italy.
Can you describe what you do in a few words?
We work in research-driven and collectible design, with a strong focus on process, materials, and storytelling.
How did the two of you meet, and what made you decide to start Millim together?
We met during our studies and later worked together for a few years at a design studio. We decided to found Millim Studio when we realized we shared the same vision of design.
How do your individual backgrounds influence the studio’s vision? Where do you complement or challenge one another?
Our individual backgrounds mainly shape the language and outcomes of our work. We have very different approaches and methods, but over time we’ve developed a workflow that embraces these differences and integrates them into our projects. We complement each other in terms of skills, and we challenge each other in terms of vision — always trying to push our research further.
Your works explore material experimentation, cultural expression, and conceptual design, what draws you to each?
What these three aspects have in common is the need to chart new paths and bring valuable meaning to the work. We’re drawn to the idea of combining them to create something original and meaningful — for us, for the culture of design, and for the people who will live with these objects.
Is there a specific piece that holds a personal memory or story no one really knows about?
Yes — Marbelicious. It was the first collection we created from scratch after becoming parents. That period holds a lot of personal memories. What’s funny is that during its development, our daughter was very small and always with us — so in many of our archive photos from that time, you can spot little Olimpia, who was just 6 months old back then.
You often speak of “resonance” between form and content, what does this feel like when it’s achieved?
Peace! That’s when we know a project is truly working. It makes us happy.
Do your objects always need to “do” something, or are some of them just meant to be looked at and felt?
We were taught that for something to be called “design,” it must do something — but within that “doing” we absolutely include intangible qualities as well.
Is there a specific piece that made you see a material differently for the first time?
Yes — among our works, the Miscellaneous collection was the one that made us approach marble not as designers, but as sculptors. In order to work with it by hand, we had to forget what we knew and learn to read the material in a completely new way.
Do you approach an exhibition like storytelling? If so, what kind of story are you usually trying to tell?
When it comes to solo exhibitions, we see them as an opportunity to amplify concepts and invite the audience into the process behind the project.
Are there certain things you do that inspire your creativity without pressure?
Probably many everyday activities fuel our creativity unconsciously — but we’re most aware of it when we enter our daughter’s world: drawing, playing with clay, inventing stories. We also draw great inspiration from contemporary art exhibitions — we visit many, and we always leave feeling enriched.
Where can people find you?
Our studio in Rome is always open — come visit! Otherwise, you can find us on Instagram @millimstudio or at
www.millimstudio.com
