Studiomama
Studiomama is an East London-based multidisciplinary design studio founded by the creative couple Nina Tolstrup and Jack Mama in 2000.
Nina draws on a deep grounding in design and an innate connection to nature that is inherent in her Scandinavian roots and was honed during her training at ENSCI-Les Ateliers in Paris. Combining this with her diverse experience in trends, design management, photo journalism and marketing in Paris, London and Copenhagen gives her a 360-degree perspective and a unique approach to design.
Born into a Greek-Cypriot family in the East End of London, Jack enjoyed the rich influences of a multicultural and cosmopolitan upbringing. After graduating from the Royal College of Art, he worked in the Netherlands and Sweden as creative director for several global brands, developing a reputation for visionary work in design futures and design-led strategy, which led to innovative products and new business models. His work with Philips, Electrolux, Nike and BMW has been widely recognised with awards and global exhibitions.
Nina and Jack’s ability to combine their diverse backgrounds and skills has enabled Studiomama to work coherently across multiple disciplines and develop its own distinctive expression. A sustainable ethos combined with an exploratory and playful approach has resulted in a daring, influential and socially-relevant portfolio that encompasses architecture, interior design, jewellery, exhibition design, curation, products and furniture – taking in collaborations with a diverse client base ranging from NGOs to global brands.
Understanding people’s needs and the socio-cultural context within which they live is central to Studiomama’s practice, and whether they are designing objects, interiors or architecture, Jack and Nina’s approach is characterised by the same level of rigour and attention to detail. The result is a body of work that has pioneered open-sourcing, pushed the limits of material recycling, extended product lifespans and explored new forms of up-cycling, all while challenging conventional business models and distribution methods.
Studiomama’s wide-ranging portfolio includes product and architecture projects for companies like E & Y, Lexon, BMW, Skagerak and Habitat as well as commissions for Bloomberg, the Danish Embassy and Wallpaper*Handmade.It also collaborates on art and design commissions for organisations such as Phillips de Pury & Company, The National Trust and the Serpentine Galleries to name a few. The studio’s work has been featured extensively in the world’s media and exhibited globally. Nina and Jack are regularly called upon to speak about their work and participate in panel events. They maintain active links with leading art and design schools such as the Royal College of Art, Design Academy Eindhoven and Konstfack in Stockholm.