Materia Studio
Romanian, 1976
Cristian Branea was born in 1976 in Brașov, a city in Transylvania, Romania. He studied contemporary philosophy, cultural studies, and has a PhD in political ecology.
A self-taught designer, Cristian created Materia Studio in 2014 as a design studio and manufacture company. His interest in materiality – be it the expressive power of natural raw materials, or the conceptual aspects of man-made, innovative engineered materials – is the main drive behind the brand and the products. In the manufacture process, Cristian works with a number of craftsmen and artisans from Transylvania, a region with a strong heritage in woodworking and craftsmanship.
Cristian's designs have attracted international attention and have been distinguished with numerous international design awards in Italy, United Stated of America, Singapore, Slovenia, and Romania.
