It took me some time to get back into relying solely on my intuition. For many years, I worked as part of a team and could count on honest feedback and in-depth discussions about our design work. I would like to take this opportunity to thank David Antonin, my long-time studio partner through the end of 2024 and for more than a decade, for this exciting and thrilling journey.

Now it’s time to go my own path. And once again, it feels like a whole new experience! I’m creating new ideas, interior stylings and designs for new products and new clients. The starting point for the new STUDIO NIRUK was in June 2025. I presented the NIRUK Edition at Tokyo´s Interior & Lifestyle, a collection of small, limited-edition designs that combines design and creation while expressing materials and craftsmanship in a unique way. Together with Sandy Karstädt of welcome design pr and her label mimicri, we presented exquisite products to the Japanese audience. Edition NIRUK is an ongoing collection, published by myself. It embodies creative freedom in design and direct collaboration with European manufacturers and artisans. Each piece highlights the connection between design and craftsmanship and reflects the studio’s spirit of constant exchange between creativity, know-how, manufacturing techniques, materials, and the love of creation.

More to come soon.

Der Beitrag NI-NA-NI-RU-K – creative freedom in design erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Productive Spaces – Art and Design from Krefeld / Exhibition 26.03. – 10.09.2023

The exhibition „Productive Spaces“ at Haus Esters is dedicated to the lively design and art scene with a connection to Krefeld.

More than 60 renowned,  local and international designers and visual artists have participated in this exhibition with a total of 54 positions and around 90 exhibits in Haus Lange, Haus Esters and their gardens. The flowing spatial concept of the architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was taken into account in the conception of the exhibition. The Bauhaus-inspired BAU door handle for the Italian company Olivari and the PLAY side table for Cork Units complement the presentation in these special rooms with their geometric straight lines. Our organically shaped Lunaria luminaires and our Bramble vases connect to the surrounding garden landscape, which is omnipresent through the large modern windows the buildings are known for.

We are delighted to be part of this special opportunity and recommend the recently published publication accompanying the exhibition.

Der Beitrag EXHIBITION – PRODUCTIVE SPACES erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Design Studio Niruk has created baskets for Bolia. The Bramble vase, the Lily candleholder and the Lunaria pendant light are now followed by the Tulip range of baskets.

Nina Ruthe and David Antonin from Design Studio Niruk continue their collaboration with Bolia: consisting of three different designs, the new Tulip range of baskets is made of 100% palm leaves and is woven by hand.

Pure harmony: using traditional weaving techniques, with Tulip, Design Studio Niruk once again prove their passion for craftsmanship and natural materials, and in keeping with Bolia’s standards, Tulip is produced by a certified manufactory. The storage objects made of palm leaves are characterised by a perfect harmony of look and feel, aesthetics and function. Visually simple and homogeneous, the baskets are smooth and of high tactile quality. Their pleasant and soft, slightly curved shape combines with a firm weave and a waterrepellent surface structure.

Sculptural tulip shape: the Tulip range of baskets consists of three different sizes of tulip-shaped baskets, which together or as solitaires make for special interior objects. What they all have in common is that the lower part of the basket is round and bulbous in shape, while the opening has a slight outward curve.

Der Beitrag NATURALNESS IN A SIMPLE FORM. erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„CORCRETE is a special material, both in terms of visual and tactile qualities – and it is also an alternative to conventional materials.“

Nina Ruthe and David Antonin use their curiosity and intuition to develop an exciting materiality in their designs. In this project, they also developed a new material: by combining the contrasting qualities of cork and concrete, the design duo created their own natural-looking material for interior design and architecture. Originating from the attempt to make concrete lighter, over the years, the material development has been perfected and the process patented. A process influenced by many internal as well as external test series, which revealed unimagined potential.

Back in 2016, CORCRETE won the Biennale Interieur Kortrijk Award as well as the Green Product Award and Green Product Traders Award in Stockholm, reaping praise for the successful combination of aesthetics and innovation. Multifaceted in its variety of uses as well as in its visual and tactile qualities, this material is the ideal protagonist for contemporary interiors and individual as well as unusual projects. Following an intensive development phase, the main focus centered on finding the right production partner – a complex and demanding task.

In 2021, the designers came into contact with HARTIS: in addition to a passion for craftsmanship, manual work and innovation, the Belgian family business has a distinctive and long-term track record of projects that involve natural stone, terrazzo and concrete. In HARTIS, Nina and David have found like-minded material enthusiasts. The result: tailor-made solutions including comprehensive advice on project planning and technical implementation for a wide variety of interiors.

„We especially want to reach architects and interior designers with the special aesthetics of the material for the implementation of their projects. Because: CORCRETE is versatile and can be used in interiors as floor and wall covering, as well as for furniture and surfaces. CORCRETE is unique and distinct, just like every project.“

But what makes CORCRETE so special? It seems familiar – but atsecond glance it’s surprising. While the material initially looks like terrazzo, on closer inspection, it reveals a more natural appearance. The first touch of CORCRETE also imparts an unexpected sensation: it feels velvety and warm. The natural material cork unfolds its unmistakable visual and tactile aesthetics in combination with the cool concrete. Also special: the hidden structure of CORCRETE – just like terrazzo. It is only when the cast surface is sanded that the added granules become visible and create the beautiful, vibrant terrazzo effect.Compared to conventional concrete materials, CORCRETE is around 40 percent lighter thanks to the addition of cork granulate from Portuguese cork production; in addition, much less sand, an increasingly scarce resource, is needed in the production process. CORCRETE is produced in white, black and grey. There are no standard dimensions – because every CORCRETE project is unique and is planned and implemented exclusively for and with the client.

An example reference: the VEJA headquarters in New York. The sneakers label also follows sustainable principles in the design of its interior – natural, aesthetic, casual and appealing. Custom-made sideboards and a bench made of CORCRETE complement the interior designed by the Brooklyn-based architecture firm JDY, giving the space a unique look and feel. Find out more about CORCRETE at www.corcrete.de

Der Beitrag MATERIAL INSPIRES OUR SENSES erschien zuerst auf niruk.

Elegant, natural, pure. LUNARIA is not just a luminaire – it is a luminous object. Unique in its free form, it is both sculptural and light. Designed by Nina Ruthe and David Antonin for the Danish manufacturer Bolia, it is a product that perfectly captures the essence of DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK.

In the beginning, there was a rattan cane, a material the studio loves to work with – and which has unique properties in terms of how it can be bent. The special shape of LUNARIA was created from a single piece and, in the course of the design process, developed into a bent metal frame. Covered with a delicate fabric, it creates differently shaped surfaces, gently diffusing the light through space. LUNARIA is a shape-shifter, appearing, depending on the viewing angle, in different forms.

„In the design process, we like to use materials that, first of all, allow us a free approach to finding the form. We do not follow any predefined plan or technical drawing. This playful approach was also the starting point for the design of LUNARIA. Following an initial intuition, the design was refined in terms of form and, considering technical feasibility, perfected down to the last detail.“

LUNARIA is the first luminaire by NIRUK. A special milestone in the portfolio and a positive challenge in terms of implementation. In addition to the designers’ subtle and elegant signature style, LUNARIA is characterised by its materials. For both the design studio and for Bolia, the focus was on durability: the fabric is not only OekoTex certified, but also removable and washable. The fabric and the metal frame come flat-packed to avoid unnecessary packaging waste and to save resources. Choosing the right fabric was the biggest challenge for the two designers: it had to be stretchy, supple and translucent – but not too transparent. When choosing the right materials for their products, the two materials experts use their profound knowledge of the field, which they have accumulated over the years: effect and workmanship – traditional and industrial. Working as a tailor was a new role: a precise pattern was created for the lampshade and the unique expression of LUNARIA with its different surfaces was defined in detail.

The luminaire‘s namesake is the plant of the same name: Lunaria, also known as silver leaf. The iridescent shapes of the seed pod can be found in the luminaire’s unique silhouette. The delicacy and shape of Japanese paper lamps provided additional inspiration for DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK. The Lunaria pendant is available in three different sizes and works beautifully as a single light or as an ensemble.

Der Beitrag LUNARIA erschien zuerst auf niruk.

With the LILY candle holder, NIRUK has created a design that  looks equally at home on elegantly set restaurant tables as in cosy living areas. The polished stainless-steel version emphasises a festive, luxurious ambience, while the brushed version of LILY is a little more subtle. Thanks to the design style, which is both curved and organic, and yet very graphic and clear, the candle holders can be arranged in straight rows or in more playful, freely distributed configurations. 

The initial impulse for the design process of LILY was artistic and intuitive. It was based on simple strips of paper, the ends of which the design duo joined together to form a round opening at the top. The long leaves of the iris, whose upper tip naturally bends downwards due to their weight, served as inspiration. The shape bent from a strip of paper with a round opening was developed by DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK into the idea of a candle holder: the designers gently pressed the resulting loop against a flat surface, thus creating the base. Thin metal sheet was used to evaluate the design’s stability. As a shape-retaining and fire-resistant material, metal also lent itself to the final design. Moving from a dimensionally stable, functional prototype to a balanced design, 3D models were used in the further course of the process. These were particularly helpful to the designers in their evaluation and guided the process from artistically intuitive to a technically accurate and detailed finished product. 

„We looked very closely at the relationships between open and closed surfaces. For LILY‘s balanced appearance, characterised by a special lightness, we coordinated all relevant parameters in interaction. To achieve a natural harmony between material thickness, weight and height – both for a single candle holder and for an ensemble.“ 

Der Beitrag BALANCED ELEGANCE OF LIGHTNESS. erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„Porcelain is a high-quality and durable material. Pure white and with transparent glaze, it has a very purist look. With this classic, white finish, the material itself – the porcelain – becomes the protagonist. But colours and glazes are also an exciting option for this material. We particularly like porcelain because it is so simple and elegant.“Fine. Smooth. Pure. Porcelain possesses a special materiality. High-quality and long-lasting, for centuries it has enjoyed incomparable significance in design and everyday culture and it is the protagonist of the most diverse product applications. Its impact resistance makes it durable; its appearance evokes a clean feeling. Different manufacturing processes – such as casting, extruding, rolling or pressing – provide a wide range of creative options. In recent years, Nina Ruthe and David Antonin from DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK have researched the material, approaching it with a great deal of sensitivity and patience in collaboration with traditional manufacturing partners. Three products were created that will celebrate their premiere this autumn. Varying in form and function, they demonstrate the manifold applications of porcelain.

Clay, quartz, feldspar: these raw materials are ground and mixed with water to produce porcelain. Cast, extruded, pressed:

„Each manufacturing process requires a specific composition of ingredients for the porcelain mass and also individual specifications for further processing. This involves a lot of research, testing and know-how, as well as a good collaboration between the designer and the porcelain manufacturer who implements the design,“ say Nina Ruthe and David Antonin, explaining the challenges in the design process with porcelain. Whilst sharing similar manufacturing processes and the classic white appearance, in terms of application, the resulting products are very varied.

Teapot warmer CALM Soft and flowing. Like a nest, the round organic shape of the CALM teapot warmer catches the candlelight, creating a calm and inviting atmosphere. A particularly friendly companion for the cold season. CALM is produced using a traditional casting technique. The metal holder for the tea light creates a material contrast to the white, pure porcelain and is designed in such a way that teapots of different sizes can be placed on it. The CALM teapot warmer is now included in the product portfolio of the traditional manufacturer KOBER Porzellan. ‘Made in Germany’ from fine porcelain and durable metal. www.enterporcelain.de

Door handle BAU A new symbiosis of materials: porcelain-coated brass. With BAU, a special door handle has been created for the Italian handle manufacturer Olivari. Inspired by Bauhaus architecture and the industrial manufacturing process of extruding porcelain in strands, BAU is characterised by a very graphic design vocabulary. NIRUK has carefully chosen the materials for interior and exterior use: Porcelain does not change its appearance even after decades of use and retains a pleasantly smooth surface. It is also easy to clean and particularly hygienic. While developing a uniquely attractive patina due to oxidation over time, brass is also very durable and stable in quality. Both materials have their fine quality in common. BAU was created as part of the ENTER_PORCELAIN project launched by KOBER Porzellan and Olivari: 10 renowned design studios worked intensively with porcelain in combination with brass. The focus was on an innovative use of these materials in the design process for a door handle – for unconventional design concepts and manufacturing possibilities. All prototypes were presented in a special exhibition during Milan Design Week at Palazzo Litta in 2019. Of all the submitted designs, the BAU range by DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK was selected and will be produced by Olivari. BAU will be exhibited and presented to the public at Supersalone 2021 in Milan. 05.-10. September, Pav. 02, Corsia L18, Quart. Fiera Milano, Rho

FUNNIES Collection Elephant, hippo, owl. For porcelain specialist KOBER, Nina Ruthe and David Antonin revived the legendary FUNNIES. A redesign based on the 1970s originals, these little animals are made of pure white porcelain with black or platinum contrasts and are created from a strand of porcelain. Similar to a certain type of biscuit dough, the porcelain is pressed through a tool and then cut into pieces. A specially made metal tool is available for the production of each little animal – all the tools are originals from the initial production phase and are now in use again. With their interpretation, DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK has given the FUNNIES a contemporary appearance, while retaining their characteristic shapes. KOBER was inspired to produce the animal family again in a new look during the first lockdown in 2020 when much production had ground to a halt. In the 1970s, the FUNNIES marked a milestone – the introduction of in-house produced decorative articles made KOBER economically viable again and allowed the company to grow. In keeping with this history, five decades later, the traditional company is once again focusing on the popular collection as a re-edition featuring NIRUK’s signature style.

„The Funnies were a challenge for us. We had to work with existing shapes and therefore had no possibility of changing the forms. Our mission was to revive the Funnies by designing new, contemporary characters. We think it‘s great that old tools can be used again and we will work on further re-editions for KOBER.“

Der Beitrag „CLAY, QUARTZ, FELDSPAR. FINE. SMOOTH. PURE. PORCELAIN.“ erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„We go through life with open eyes and linger on something we find interesting: whether it‘s a material, a manufacturing process, or a texture that’s pleasant to the touch. It‘s about a perception of aesthetics as we understand it – anything can be relevant.“ 

CORK. Nina Ruthe & David Antonin of Design Studio Niruk focus on a new material, examine its visual and tactile qualities, and create unique forms and products. The result: natural, soft and warm; velvety, exquisite and emotional; graphic, architectural and clear. NIRUK has designed four products for the Portuguese brand Cork Units. A pared-down, yet evocative, design idiom. Characterised by the natural material of cork, the special manufacturing process and a uniquely warm texture. A cork oak must grow for 25 years before its bark can be harvested for the first time: this first cut is called virgin cork. Its rugged surface is different from all subsequent cuts in the life of a cork oak. Cork needs time to regenerate: it can only be harvested every nine years. Afterwards, the bark cuts are stored, dried and sawn into boards, which are then glued and processed into blocks. A material that can tell a story – quietly, but emphatically.

NIRUK also tells a story: about texture, forms and colours, about  the creation of materials and manufacturing processes. After glass and porcelain, the current focus is on  cork. Which shapes and applications suit this material?  The result: four durable and well thought-out designs – sustainability paired with contemporary aesthetics. NIRUK creates products that exude authenticity. Following material studies and intensive research in NIRUK’s own ‘material lab’, the design process set in. The results are the PORTOBELLO wall hooks, the CORKBOARD wall shelf, the BALANÇO swing and the PLAY side table. Made of cork, characterised by clear, graphic design. The products are defined by geometrical shapes, they are pleasing to the touch and the material’s changing natural shades feel familiar.

The PORTOBELLO coat hooks are inspired by nature; the smaller versions can also be used as knobs for closets and chests of drawers. The cork’s tactile qualities are reminiscent of the velvety surface of mushrooms, while the shape of the knobs picks up the rounded form, which, through the graphic cut transforms into a circle on the front surface.

Pared-down architectural forms: The PLAY side table is defined by two differently sized cork blocks; the lightweight material and the staggered arrangement break up the solidity of the composition. A powder-coated shelf made of edged steel provides storage space for magazines and books.

The CORKBOARD SHELF is inspired by driftwood that acquires its soft, rounded form and its texture by contact with water and sand. The irregularities of nature are transformed into a simple and pared-down shape that is repeated in the simplicity of the wall fastening. Lightweight but solid, at the same time, round, geometrical and floating.

For indoors and outdoors: With the BALANÇO swing, the focus is on movement – and on the child that we are at heart. Both the geometrical shape and the size of the hemi-sphere with rounded edges provide safety and comfort.The rope is made of sustainable, recycled PET.

Der Beitrag „YOU BEGIN WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MATERIAL.“ (Reuschenberg)  erschien zuerst auf niruk.

„Translucent or opaque, whether it reflects or absorbs light – glass is fascinating. Worked into delicate and thin-walled designs, it appears fragile; when blown into thick-walled shapes, it conveys depth and weight. Glass can be exquisite, fireproof and nowadays even indestructible, possessing many different properties and thus opening up numerous possibilities in design for us.“ 

Crystal glass. Industrial glass. Smoked glass. Coloured glass. Hardly any other material is as versatile in appearance and effect as glass. Multifaceted and playful light effects can be generated just as easily as new surface textures or unexpected shapes and patterns. Glass is alive – and, through changes of its aggregate state, allows countless possibilities. It presents both a design challenge and an opportunity. And thus an ideal sphere of activity for Design Studio Niruk. Nina Ruthe and David Antonin illustrate their approach with various objects made of glass. „Our glass objects and productsare the results of planned tests and processes,“ they explain. Although the traditional art of glassblowing allows a spontaneous modification of the object, it is essential for Design Studio Niruk to develop products that are suitable for industrial production, however, without restricting the designers in any way. Planned experiments have given rise to a variety of objects; collaboration with professional glassblowers has enabled the designers to develop a surprisingly new vocabulary of forms.

‘Out of the box‘ thinking for a new vocabulary of forms The formal language is achieved both through the work in the hotshop and the focused implementation of a wide variety of tools, thus illustrating the design duo’s unique approach. Design Studio Niruk‘s range of glass designs is diverse: ranging from their own portfolio of experimental projects to product series for renowned manufacturers. In interaction with light, glass generates surprising effects. Design Studio Niruk playfully exploits this special quality for their products. What they all have in common is the combination of traditional craftsmanship with creative ‚out of the box‘ thinking. When heated or melted, glass can always be reshaped – a fact that also describes Nina and David‘s design process.

Experimenting with modular forms When creating glass designs, in addition to particular existing tools, such as an antique waffle iron, Nina and David work with modular and self-built moulds. The dimensions and surfaces of elements can be individually adapted. Consisting of plug-in components, the elaborate construction of the moulds enables a kind of rapid prototyping: thereby it is possible to intervene in the production process and react directly to the results. The created objects reflect the character of ‘inflation’, they are both organic and geometric, and thus correspond to the design identity of Design Studio Niruk. A modification of the modular mould has a direct effect on both the material’s viscosity and the blown-in glass itself. New ideas can be realised quickly, which is not necessarily the case with other materials. When working with glass, the implemented techniques become visible.

Playful ways to create a variety of shapes One of Niruk’s most unusual tools used in the design process with glass is an antique waffle iron: misappropriated for this use, the first design created with this tool during the glass blowing process was WAFFLE – characterised by the special waffle pattern on the object‘s surface. The results and knowledge obtained from this project were then used for the modular mould construction for BRAMBLE: consisting of three different designs, the range of vases for the Danish manufacturer Bolia is available in both clear and smoked glass. In the case of the OULA vase, on the other hand, a unique design object was created even without the use of unconventional tools. In order to give the liquid glass its individual shape, the designers developed modular moulds made of wood and iron, which can be slotted together to create individual forms: the result is playful vessels that set no limits to creativity. OULA is the best proof. Creativity and audacity – along with a love of experimentation, nature in particular offers a special source of inspiration for the Niruk designers: the ICICLE vase is instantly reminiscent of a frozen icicle. A playful design, defined by linear structures and a distinct shape.

The importance of colour In addition to self-developed moulds and unconventional tools, the colour of the material plays an important role for the designer duo. Colouring changes the character of glass significantly: lines and material thickness are clearly emphasised, giving the object an expressive character. Reminiscent of textile folds, the FALDA vase delights not only with its special surface structure, shaped by a flexible mould made of fanned-out beech-wood slats, but also with an interplay of light and colour. With its dark blue tinted glass, FALDA evokes associations of water, flowing and deep.

„Glass is subtle, appears light and blends into the environment; unusual shapes or special structures interact with their surroundings and play with light and shadow. If you were to realise the same form in ceramics, the object would have a completely different effect just by the choice of material.“

Der Beitrag GLASS: A NEW VOCABULARY OF FORMS erschien zuerst auf niruk.

For the second time DESIGN STUDIO NIRUK’s exhibition „Diving into processes. Materialising ideas.“ was presented to the public. In a small gallery in the heart of Ehrenfeld, one of Cologne’s vibrant districts, visitors could experience the product designs, material studies and the latest prototypes of the designer duo. From inspirations and experiments to real product ideas, the exhibition was filled with a personal touch and visitors were given the opportunity to get an insight into NIRUK’s way of working.

A warm thanks to all visitors, Büro Sabine Voggenreiter, German Design Council and Stadt Köln for their great support!

It was an eventful PASSAGEN DESIGN WEEK KÖLN 2019!

Der Beitrag PASSAGEN 2019 – INTERIOR DESIGN WEEK KÖLN. erschien zuerst auf niruk.