POLISH DESIGN AT MATERIAL MATTERS LONDON 2026
Zieta Studio & Pani Jurek Studio - 15–17 September 2026 | UNLOCKED Shoreditch | London Design Festival
Contemporary Polish design took centre stage at Material Matters London 2026, with Zieta Studio and Pani Jurek Studio presenting two distinctive approaches to material innovation, craftsmanship and experimentation. Held at UNLOCKED Shoreditch as part of London Design Festival and Shoreditch Design Week, the fifth edition of Material Matters brought together international designers, makers and material innovators exploring new relationships between materials, technology and the built environment.
Presented with the support of the Creative Industries Institute and the Polish Cultural Institute London, in collaboration with On&On Designs, the Polish showcase highlighted the creativity and technical expertise shaping contemporary Polish design.
ZIETA STUDIO | WHISPERS BENCH & INOX LAMPIN
Led by internationally acclaimed architect and designer Oskar Zięta, Zieta Studio presented the sculptural Whispers Bench, accompanied by a constellation of Inox Lampin lighting pieces. Positioned at the entrance to the fair, the installation invited visitors to pause and experience the expressive potential of steel. The bench was created using Zieta Studio's pioneering FiDU technology, a process of free internal pressure deformation that transforms flat steel sheets into complex three-dimensional structures.
Originally developed as part of Whispers, a public sculpture unveiled at Ludgate Hill in London's Fleet Street Quarter during the London Festival of Architecture 2025, the bench demonstrates how innovative engineering can create objects that combine structural precision with an almost organic sculptural language. The reflective steel surfaces and surrounding Lampin lighting created an interplay of material, light and architecture, transforming an industrial process into a distinctive visual experience.
PANI JUREK STUDIO | OP CERAMIC MODULAR SYSTEM
Warsaw-based Pani Jurek Studio, founded by Magda Jurek and Michał Borecki, presented the interactive OP Ceramic Modular System, an installation exploring colour, light, movement and human interaction. Composed of rotating ceramic elements, the modular system allows colours and compositions to shift as the objects are manipulated, inviting visitors to become active participants in the creative process. Drawing on ceramic craftsmanship, experimentation and an intuitive understanding of colour, the installation challenges the perception of ceramics as static objects.
The OP system demonstrates how traditional materials can become dynamic, playful and adaptable elements within contemporary interiors and architectural spaces.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, GLOBAL DESIGN: POLAND'S CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Panel Discussion | 15 September 2026. Alongside the installations, a dedicated panel discussion explored the growing international influence of Polish design and the importance of local knowledge, craftsmanship and material intelligence in contemporary creative practice.
Part of the Material Matters Café Conversations programme, the discussion brought together:
Agata Zięta, Zieta Studio
Michał Borecki, Co-founder, Pani Jurek Studio
Samta Nadeem, Curatorial Director, STIR
Chaired by Grant Gibson, founder of Material Matters. The conversation examined how Polish designers are transforming traditional skills, hands-on experimentation and local expertise into internationally relevant design practices. From the technological innovation of Zieta Studio to the ceramic experimentation of Pani Jurek, the discussion offered different perspectives on how material knowledge can drive creativity and contribute to Poland's growing international design presence.
CONNECTING POLISH CREATIVITY WITH INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCES
The presentations at Material Matters formed part of On&On Designs' ongoing work to build connections between Polish designers and the international creative community. Bringing together two studios with contrasting yet complementary approaches, the project demonstrated the diversity of contemporary Polish design, from advanced steel-forming technologies to interactive ceramic systems.
The showcase also continued On&On Designs' collaboration with Zieta Studio and Pani Jurek Studio, building on previous projects including Whispers at Ludgate Hill and Common Ground: Curated Connections at Fletcher Priest Architects. Through exhibitions, public conversations and international partnerships, On&On Designs continues to create opportunities for Polish creativity to reach new audiences and engage in wider conversations about materials, craftsmanship and innovation.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Material Matters London 2026
15–17 September 2026
UNLOCKED Shoreditch
118 Curtain Road, London
Part of London Design Festival and Shoreditch Design Week. Participating studios: Zieta Studio and Pani Jurek Studio Project collaboration: On&On Designs. Supported by: Creative Industries Institute and Polish Cultural Institute London. Event organiser: Material Matters
Photography: Alka Murat