Sten Studio’s Lunar Eclipse Table contrasts a top tier of chisel-edge polished obsidian and a second tier in brass. Mimicking the effect of a lunar eclipse, the obsidian “eclipses” the brass tier, creating subtle tonalities in the reflective surface of the brass.




Sten Studio Transforms Ancient Geology Into Sophisticated Design 






Jose Schnaider, Founder and Creative Director, Sten Studio.



What do you and Sten Studio specialize in as a design enterprise?

Sten Studio celebrates the beauty and mystery of natural phenomena by using minerals in contemporary furniture and bespoke decorative objects. In the studio, we explore anything formed by natural processes, embracing crystals and stones as both muse and medium.



How did you come to focus on geology and rock crystals in design? 

My sister has a business selling crystals and fossils in Mexico. As a teenager, I started working with her and learning about the materials. When I finished college, I started working in the company, and along with her and my brother-in-law, we developed a gallery focusing on high-end crystals. When I decided to leave to open the studio, using rock crystals as the main element was intuitive because I knew so much that had not been explored in the design industry.



From the Autumn Lights Collection, the Panal Table takes inspiration from the perfect geometry of honeycomb cells (panal is the Spanish word for honeycomb). The modular format of the hexagon allows a wide range of custom shapes and sizes, and placement of the copper accent cells. The materials of obsidian and copper with a brass base reference autumn, when the forests turn to rich shades of orange and brown.


An installation of Sprawling Galaxies II. Spheres of semi-precious minerals represent celestial bodies configured to create a cosmic landscape, their swirling patterns and tonal variations creating a vision of otherworldly beauty.



You are the founder and creative director at Sten Studio. Tell me about your background.

The evolution into my current position as creative director came after opening my studio. My educational background is in hospitality management, which doesn’t overlap with what I am doing now. My first exposure to the home decor industry was with the crystal gallery, and I fell in love with it. When I started my studio, I had some materials but no design skills (or so I thought), and first I collaborated with another design Studio in Mexico City. After that, I took control of production and wondered, why not start exploring my ideas and designing myself? That is when I became a designer, and in the meantime, I studied to get a master’s degree in design.





Sten Studio’s Configurable Geometry series is a formal game that invites the creation of unique tables by producing a personalized, stylized geological match-up. Thanks to its versatility — a wide range of colors and finishes — the resulting figures and textures are adaptable to any space.



What is the process of designing and creating a new piece?

First, we start with the primary goal of deciding what kind of object we want to design. Second, we sketch ideas — there are no wrong or bad ideas at this point, we just want our imagination to flow, and then we research to see what is on the market to sift and select the most innovative of our own many creative ideas. The third step is to evolve the final selected design and revise it with engineering to ensure it is stable and secure. The fourth step, and my favorite, is the selection of the materials. Then we start production, and sometimes it gets tricky and challenging — crystals and rocks behave very differently from each other. Depending on the hardness, some are easier to work with and others become a real challenge. When we use stones for the first time we need to get to know them to see and decide which tools and techniques we must use. Sometimes it takes us months to understand some rocks, but also it is the most satisfying part of the job. Finally, we review the prototype, and sometimes it becomes a final product, and sometimes we need to go back to some of the previous steps and redo things.




Volcanic Shades side tables/stools honor the rich mineral resources and geological wonders of Mexico. Lava stone forms encase and support the onyx stone, presenting the colored stone as if emerging through volcanic craters from the Earth’s core. 



You are Mexican and located in Mexico City — do you think this has an impact on your approach to design?

Of course, there is a strong lapidary heritage here in this country. Mexico City is surrounded by a valley with active and extinct volcanoes. This area is rich in different kinds of stones, and for thousands of years, cultures here have crafted objects. We use a lot of Mexican minerals and have also paid attention to past cultures’ techniques to apply them in some finishes for our designs.




A selection of sculptural side tables/stools/ from the new Volcanic Shades of Marble collection. American Golden Calacatta Marble forms the base cradling the colored stones, which include red travertine, fluorite, pineapple onyx, and blue calcite.



Tell us about what you are working on right now. What is new for Sten Studio?

We just launched our new Volcanic Shades of Marble collection, a version of our previous stools. But instead of lava stone, we used a gorgeous American Golden Calacatta Marble that highlights the center-colored stones. They have a completely different vibe from the lava stone ones, but both are stunning. We are working on our first bench as well, a chaise lounge, and a new collection of stools and side tables.



The Orbit Table, shown here in obsidian, brass and sodalite, can be customized in a multitude of possibilities. 



Are there other materials you have not yet worked with but would like to work with, and why?

There are many! Our planet is very rich in mineral deposits, so the creative possibilities are endless. We are currently working on new pieces with rose quartz and trying to figure out how to use pyrite. In the second half of the year, I will travel to other countries to look for exotic jaspers! 



Hotai, the name of this lamp, means “complement” in the Japanese language — is illustrated in this design, a singular structure in which three elements: wood, quartz, and light coincide to create an incomplete shape that is nonetheless aesthetically pleasing.



Your Hotai lamp and related lighting is much sought after by connoisseurs, what do you consider is the distinctive appeal of this design model?

The design is very sculptural; whether the stone sphere is made of crystal quartz or another mineral. The light it gives off is like light from a candle, so is intimate and somewhat sexy. It is very sophisticated.



 An assortment of Hotai lamps, in various semi-precious minerals, crystal, and brass.



What sets your designs apart from other designers and makers?

The material selection and the constant process of thinking of design in new and creative ways. We have an identity now as an innovative design studio, and many people already love crystals and stones, so these things together are powerful. 



What do you regard as your inspiration?

We like exploring our creativity first to develop as many ideas as possible. In the case of the Hotai lamp, I knew exactly what I wanted right away, but for some other designs we experiment for ages and then we just go with the flow of the final design. We like to be spontaneous in the studio without starting a project with any constraints or limitations.



Is customization possible for your pieces, and do you do commissioned work? 

Yes, we do and we have worked with a very renowned fashion brand. We have made commissioned pieces for its stores in LA, Miami, and NYC and also for other brands in LA. We love challenges, and sometimes the custom projects are the ones that challenge us more as a studio.



Do you design pieces in collections or individually?

First, we did collections, but now that we want to expand our portfolio with seating, the designs will be individual. It depends ultimately on the project we are doing.



If you weren’t a designer what can you imagine yourself doing?

My other main interests are sustainability and music. Since last year I have been working with biomaterials for packaging; I want to keep spending time on that to give back to the planet. And I would love to try producing music; it is a fascinating and complex job. When I hear electronic music, identifying the number of sounds a song can have is mind-blowing.