Some designs demand attention, others invite curiosity. LAWA Design does both. Founded by architects Ewa Bryzek and Allen Shakir, the Danish studio plays in the space between precision and playfulness, creating objects that feel both intuitive and unexpected. Their work—defined by crisp geometry, natural materials, and an architectural sensibility—transforms the everyday into something quietly extraordinary.
At the heart of LAWA’s philosophy is a desire to break from the ordinary. Each piece is an exploration of form and function, where shadows tell time, and curves create order. But beyond aesthetics, there’s a deeper commitment: to longevity, to sustainability, to crafting pieces that stand the test of time—not just physically, but in the way they resonate with the people who live with them.
In this conversation, co-founder Ewa Bryzek reflects on the defining moments that shaped LAWA, the balance between art and utility, and why great design often starts with a bit of creative chaos.
1. Lawa Design was born from your ambition to create an aesthetic that sets itself apart from the ordinary. What was the defining moment or inspiration that made you think, "This is the path I need to take"?
Ewa Bryzek: LAWA started in 2013 as a passion project next to our full-time jobs as architects. In the beginning we simply pursued design ideas and concepts that excite us – our way of working was a natural extension of how we think as architects.
What drives us has always been to create design pieces that escape convention while staying true to function. That is the essence of LAWA and the cornerstone of everything we do.
2. As an architect turned product designer, how has your architectural background influenced the way you approach design at Lawa? Do you ever find yourself thinking of a shelf or a clock as a tiny building?
Ewa Bryzek: In architecture, most design decisions are dictated by a combination of functional requirements, constraints and a compelling story – a touch of artistic flair.
At LAWA we work with a similar approach. Take Delta Clock as an example: The folds in the surface tell time (function) with the help of light and shadow (story), adding a unique feature to an otherwise ordinary item.
3. Your mission is to create timeless, sustainable designs. What does "timelessness" mean to you personally, and how do you ensure your designs transcend trends?
Ewa Bryzek: For us, timelessness is something that doesn’t chase fleeting trends. Something that is robust enough – both physically and visually – to stand the test of time.
This is why we mostly work with natural materials that never go out of fashion, and why we are drawn to simple yet smart geometric forms.
4. Your designs often feel like a dialogue between art and functionality. How do you strike that balance, and do you ever find yourself leaning more toward one side than the other?
Ewa Bryzek: Striking that balance is one of the hardest things to do as a designer - but getting it right is quite magical. It’s usually the kind of thing that makes people go “Why did no one think of this before?”
We find ourselves bored with pieces that are either too pragmatic or just a product of some made up aesthetic style. The sweet spot lies somewhere between art and functionality, and it’s our job as designers to find it.
5. The Delta Clock is inspired by the sundial, a timeless piece of ancient technology. If you could time-travel to any era to draw inspiration for a new design, where would you go and what would you create?
Ewa Bryzek: We’d love to witness the invention and evolution of simple everyday items, such as cutlery, shoes or hairbrushes. We take these things for granted now, and it’s hard to imagine that there was ever a time without them.
6. The Squiggle Organizer feels like a three-dimensional sketch brought to life. How do you translate the spontaneity of a hand-drawn idea into a functional, tangible product?
Ewa Bryzek: It’s usually a long (and non-linear) process of trial and error: It starts with an idea, which then becomes a sketch, followed by countless iterations modelled in 3D, and finally a physical prototype. In this case, we also had a material in mind from the very beginning – flexible plywood – which made the transition from idea to reality more straightforward.
7. Sustainability is at the heart of Lawa Design. What's one misconception about sustainable design that you wish more people understood?
Ewa Bryzek: We believe that sustainability is not just about carbon footprint and reusable materials. For us, sustainability is also about longevity and creating something that resonates with the user. The amount of energy spent to produce, pack and ship an item is tremendous, so we have to make it count. We should aim to create products that can live on for a long time and are not thrown away after a few uses.
8. Wood is your signature material, but if you swere to explore a completely new material for a future collection, what would it be and how would it transform your design language?
Ewa Bryzek: Recently we stepped into uncharted territory with our newest creation, Gradient Watch (available on Kickstarter). The watch itself is made of stainless steel with a replaceable strap of either steel or leather.
But its main feature is the dial, where two overlapping gradients create different patterns throughout the day.
It’s the smallest product we’ve ever designed, but by far the most complex!
9. The Spira Bowl is designed to eliminate clutter, but creativity can often be messy. What's the most chaotic moment in your design process, and how do you bring order to it?
Ewa Bryzek: The initial part of a design process has to be messy! Unrestrained creativity leads to the most interesting and unexpected ideas. So, until we find that one idea worth developing, organization is not a priority!
After that, we shift into a more systematic approach where everything is documented and neatly organized. One way to do this, is to use an online mood boarding tool, such as Miro. It’s great for storing and sharing text, drawings, media & links all in one place!
10. If Lawa Design were to write a manifesto for the future of design, what would the opening line be?
Ewa Bryzek: Be playful, experiment and explore.
11. If you were to swap roles with Allen for a week—taking on his responsibilities and vice versa—what do you think would surprise you the most about his creative process?
Ewa Bryzek: We have very similar backgrounds but slightly different personality traits that complement each other, which makes us a great team.
We naturally lean towards tasks that we are both best at, but sometimes we swap with the responsibilities. Every time we do, we gain a deeper appreciation for each other’s work. It’s a good exercise to occasionally take over something from the other person’s to-do list - it makes you see things from a different perspective.
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Introduction and questions: AW
Answers: Ewa Bryzek
Photos courtesy of LAWA Design.