Nika Zupanc’s works bring inspiring reports from the outer frontiers of technologies, materials and possibilities.

Her product design collaborations include distinguished design companies such as Moooi, Se and Dior. Nika Zupanc creates limited edition collections for Rossana Orlandi, while continuing to design and produce her own brand. Since emerging at the Milan Design Week she has been closely watched by the industry and the press, describing her work as everything from “punk elegance” (Elle USA) and “techno chic” (BusinessWeek) to “larger than life” (Clear magazine) and Zupanc as “the real star” (The Wall Street Journal).

 
 

BIOGRAPHY


Product and interior designer Nika Zupanc became a globally recognised name with the launch of the Lolita lamp, her first object to be produced by Moooi. 

In 2008, she established her own studio and since works with her team as a product and interior design studio, that is constantly involved in fresh projects that grow out of distinctive interpretations of modern culture, contemporary design and available technological options. Her designs are part of the range of distinguished design companies such as Alessi, Moooi, Qeeboo,  Dior, Driade and Natuzzi and she works with prestigious clients on a specially assigned projects as was her installation Room of one’s own for Dior.  Her praised limited edition collections and installations are exhibited around the world, sometimes as part of high-end collaborations like the one with Rossana Orlandi. Along the way, Zupanc continuously produces objects under her own brand Nika Zupanc and is involved in various interior projects, exciting iconic collaborations, like the one with Porshe, for whom she designed an Art car, a graphic wrap for 911 4 GTS in 2022.

Besides the Lolita lamp, Zupanc has designed a long line of signature ready-to-use pieces like Golden chair (Moooi) or Ribbon chair (Qeeboo), to name jus a few. But it is also her conceptual installations and limited editions that saw her evolving into an authentic global voice – I Will Buy Flowers Myself (2009) and Gone with the Wind (2010) presented a collection of objects inside blown-up doll house structures that became a hallmark of Milan Design Week. The Black Cherry lamp, now one of the iconic pieces of her own brand, also debuted at Milan Design Week. The installations that followed, Selfdiscipline (2011) and Summertime (2012), mark the beginning of limited edition collections in partnership with Rossana Orlandi, where with a stubborn passion Zupanc examines the nature of furniture. In 2012, her hometown of Ljubljana had the privilege to be the first with an interior designed and art-directed by Zupanc personally. The noir refurbishment of As Aperitivo is an introduction to her new venture of designing interiors.  

In the grand scale of things, in november 2013 Zupanc presented a wooden structure, a pavillion, A room of one‘s own as part of an exhibition Esprit Dior : Miss Dior in Galerie Courbe - Grand palais in Paris and created a Collection III. for luxury London based company Sé.  The collection was claimed to be one of the best collections presented at Milano design week 2015 by Dezeen, The telegraph and The Luxury channel to name a few. The collection was  awarded with Editors award for best furniture at ICFF in New York. 

In the recent years Zupanc presented exciting new objects with new contemporary furniture brand Qeeboo, established by a renewed italian designer Stefano Giovanonni  and designed a collection, titled Take me to Miami for Italian brand Ghidini1961. She also designed collections of furniture for young and up- comping luxury brand Scarlet Splendour. Elsewhere, she has continued to build her portfolio to rising acclaim, with awarded designs for companies like Contardi lightning & De Castelli. Her Longing cabinet for Italian company Decastelli was part of Tracing identity project, that was awarded with prestigious special  Salone Del mobile award 2017 and her Crystal lamp, designed for Contadi was awarded as best German design award in 2018. In 2020 she designed an extensive collection of furniture for Natuzzi Italia, the best selling Natuzzi collection in that year and she received 2020 Archiproduct design award for best furniture design for Wave sofa, that is a central object to the collection.n 2023 she also received an Archiproduct design award for Vento armchair, designed for Ditre Italia  and  NYCxDesign award for Knitty armchair for Moooi.

Extensive  body of her works was recently wrapped in a monograph, titled Nika Zupanc: Breaking the Rules, that was published by Rizzoli in september 2022.

Zupanc’s pieces carry an emotional charge as well as being exquisitely finished, which is why Elle USA characterised her work as “punk elegance”. There's a touch of theatre and Film Noir in her work, and somehow her pieces make the user feel like an actor. As for Zupanc, explanation is unnecessary. 

Her visual language comes from deep within and is about "communicating the things that cannot be told.”


 

SELECTED
EXHIBITIONS

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS 

2024

xoxo chair by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Via Stendhal 35, Milano design week 2024)

Arcade coffee table by Nika Zupanc or Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2024)

Vento sofa by Nika Zupanc for Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2024)

Kitty armchair by Nika Zupanc for Moooi (Moooi showroom, Milano design week 2024)

Mr. and Mrs. Love, tea set by Nika Zupanc for Bosa ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2024)

Rock Karl by Nika Zupanc for Karl Lagerfed & Bosa ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2024)

Melt me, collection of objects by Nika Zupanc for Driade ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2024)

Freeze me cabinet by Nika Zupanc for Driade ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2024)

Edges, collection of tableware by Nika Zupanc for Il Tornitore Matto by Alessi (Alessi showroom, Milano design week 2023)

Kitty armchair by Nika Zupanc or Moooi (Moooi showroom, New York design week 2023)

2023

Ribbon mirror by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Via Stendhal 35, Milano design week 2023)

Arcade table by Nika Zupanc or Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2023)

Vento armchair by Nika Zupanc for Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2023)

Kitty armchair by Nika Zupanc for Moooi (Moooi showroom, Milano design week 2023)

Mr. and Mrs. Love, tea set by Nika Zupanc for Bosa ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2023)

Rock Karl by Nika Zupanc for Karl Lagerfed & Bosa ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2023)

Melt me, collection of objects by Nika Zupanc for Driade ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2023)

Edges, collection of tableware by Nika Zupanc for Il Tornitore Matto by Alessi (Aless, Milano design week 2023)

Kitty armchair by Nika Zupanc or Moooi (Moooi showroom, New York design week 2023)

Deep, collection of furniture by Nika Zupanc for Natuzzi (Natuzzi showroom, New York design week 2023)

2022

Ribbon armchair by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Via Stendhal 35, Milano design week 2022)

Arcade table by Nika Zupanc for Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2021)

Grace sofa & Silence Lamp by Nika Zupanc for Sé (Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Milano design week 2022)

Gentle touch of re -waste / masters exhibition ( Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Milano design week 2022)

Mr. and Mrs. Love, tea set by Nika Zupanc for Bosa ( Salone del Mobile, fiera Milano 2022)

2021

Ribbon chair baby by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Via Stendhal 35, Milano design week 2021)

Multitude, collection of mirrors by Nika Zupanc or Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Milano design week 2021)

Grace sofa & Silence Lamp by Nika Zupanc for Sé (Rossana Orlandi Gallery, Milano design week 2021)

Grace sofa & Silence Lamp by Nika Zupanc for Sé (The Set, London design festival 2021)

2020

Stoli / Seaters (City Plaza, Zagreb)

Stoli / Seaters (Mao, Museum of design and architecture, Ljubljana)

Deep, collection of furniture for Natuzzi (Natuzzi showroom, Interni Milano design week 2020)

Clip, collection of furniture for Ditre Italia (Ditre Italia showroom, Interni Milano design week 2020)


2019

SJuliette chair for Hotique (maisonette et Objet, paris, france, 2020)

The Tower cabinet, The Tower coffer Table & limited edition collection by Nika Zupanc (Edit Napoli / Napoli 2019)

Ro Plastic-Master’s Pieces / tic tac clock (Rossana Orlandi gallery, (Railway Pavilion of the Museo Scienza e Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci in Milan. Fuori Salone 2019,  Milano, 2019) 

Clip collection for Ditre italia (Salone Del Mobile,  Milano, 2019) 

Strings collection for Scarlet Splendour (Salone Del Mobile,  Milano, 2019) 

Golden chair / new editions for Moooi (Fuori Salone  2019,  Milano, 2019) 

Take me to Miami & Love chair By Nika Zupanc for Ghidini1961, (Ghidini 1961, salone del mobile 2019,  Milao, 2019 ) (Maison et objet, Paris, France, 2020)

Dalmatia, collection of outdoor furniture by Nika zupanc for Point, (Point, Salone del mobile 2019, Milano, 2019) 


2018

Dasy lamp, X chair and x table, Ribbon chair, & Cherry lamp by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Il Saloni 2018, Milan, Italy, 2018) 

Take me to Miami & Love chair by Nika zupanc for Ghidini1961, (Ghidini 1961, Il Saloni 2018,  Milan, Italy, 2018) 

Dalmatia, collection of outdoor furniture by Nika zupanc for Point, (Point, Il Saloni 2018, Milan, Italy, 2018) 

88 Secrets, collection of furniture by Nika zupanc for Scarlet Spendour, (Scarlet Splendour, Il Saloni 2018, Milan, Italy, 2018)

Soulcare, a collection of surf boards by Nika Zupanc for Flikka Boards, (Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milano, 2018)

The Tower cabinet, a limited edition by Nika Zupanc for Rossana Orlandi, (Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milano, 2018)

The Golden chair, new editions by Nika Zupanc for Moooi, (Moooi, Milano, 2018)

2017

Dasy lamp, X chair and x table, Ribbon chair, & Cherry lamp by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Fuori Salone 2017, Via Stendhal 35, Milan, Italy, 2017) 

Collection III, (Se, Fuori Salone 2017, Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Italy) / 2017

Take me to Miami by Nika zupanc for Ghidini1961, (Ghidini 1961, Il Saloni 2017, Fiera Rho Pero, Milan, Italy, 2017) 

Longing cabinet by Nika zupanc for DeCastelli, (DeCastelli, Salone del mobile 2017, Fiera Rho Pero,, Milan, Italy, 2017) 

Crystal lamp by Nika zupanc forContardi lightning, (Contardi Lightning, EuroLuce, 2017, Fiera Rho Pero,, Milan, Italy, 2017) 

Maid chair, SaloneSatellite, 20 Years of New Creativity,  ( Fabbrica del Vapore, Milano, Italy, 2017)

Konstantn Beta by Nika Zupanc for Nika Zupanc, (Giro, Giro tondo. ( Triennale di Millano, Milano, Italy, 2017)

Doppia Firma  / DaVecchi : Silver Shot  by Nika Zupanc for Da Vecchi / Coffee set in silver,  (Galleria D’arte Moderna, Villa Reale, Via Palestro,  Milano, 2017)

88 secrets, a collection of furniture by Nika Zupanc for Scarlet Splendour,( Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milano, 2017)

The Golden chair, new editions by Nika Zupanc for Moooi, (Moooi, Milano, 2018)

 

2016

 Collection III by Nika Zupanc for Sé, (Se, Fuori Salone 2014, Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Italy) / 2015

Take me to Miami By Nika zupanc for Ghidini1961, (Ghidini 1961, Fuori Salone 2016, Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Milan, Italy, 2016)

Dasy lamp, X chair and x table, Ribbon chair, & Cherry lamp by Nika Zupanc for Qeeboo, (Qeeboo, Fuori Salone 2016, Via Stendhal 35, Milan, Italy, 2016) 

Infinity clock and Remember me box by Nika Zupanc for Bosa, (Bosa,  Hall16, StandE32, Salone Internazionale Del Mobile,  Milano Fairgrounds, Rho)

Naked desk by Nika zupanc for Rossana Orlandi ( Galeria Rossana Orlandi, Via Matteo Bandello 14/16, Milan, Italy, 2016)

 

AWARDS

2023

Archiproducts design award, winner 2023, furniture / Vento Table for Ditre Italia

NYCXDESIGN award, winner 2023 / Knitty armchair for Moooi

2022

Archiproducts design award, winner 2022, furniture / Arcade table for Ditre Italia

2020

Archiproducts design award, winner 2020, furniture / Wave sofa for Natuzzi

2019

International Designer of the Year Award, Interiors magazine, Spain

Big SEE Award, Design City, Ljubljana for STAY DAYBED by Nika Zupanc for Sé (UK )

Big SEE Award, Design City, Ljubljana for 88 SECRETS by Nika Zupanc for Scarlet Splendour (India)

Big SEE Award, Design City, Ljubljana for LONGING CABINET by Nika Zupanc for De Castelli (Italy)

2018

German design award winner for Crystal Lamp for Contardi lightning

 

2017

Special salone del Mobile award for Tracing identity project for De Castelli ( Longing cabinet)

Nomination for EDIDA by Elle decor India for Best furniture for Scarlet Splendour

Trend Award for best product designer, Slovenia

 

2015

Elle woman of the year, Slovenia

ICFF award for best furniture for Collection III for Se, ICFF, New York, USA

 

2014

Nomination for EDIDA by Elle decor Spain:

Bestdesigner 2014

best furniture 2014

 

 

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2022

Nika Zupanc : Breaking the Rules (Rizzoli)

2020

Century of color in design (Thames and Hudson)

Il design dei piccoli (L’ippocampo)

2019

100 ideas that changed design

2018

Sofas: 340 iconic designs (Thames and Hudson)

2017

Architecture in Monochrome (Phaidon)

2014

Terrific design by Cristina Morozzi (24 ore Cultura)

2012

Let's Go Out (Gestalten)

2009

Once upon a Chair (Gestalten)

2008

Idea Searching (Ava Academia publishing)

Material Thoughts (Ava Academia publishing)

Desire, Shape of Things to Come (Gestalten)