Studio Tour: Souda

It’s easy to feel slightly envious of Souda, the Brooklyn-based design collective founded by Parsons alumni Shaun Kasperbauer, Luft Tanaka, and Isaac Friedman-Heiman. When we first covered their work in early 2013, the ink on the trio’s undergraduate degrees was still drying, their collection consisted mostly of thesis work, and they were still laying the groundwork for their business. In the subsequent two years, Souda has already achieved the type of success and accolades typically reserved for old pros. From winning a New York Design Award and the title of ICFF’s Best New Designer to features in Dwell, Vogue Living, The New York Times, andWallpaper, their star only seems to be rising.

It’s not really any surprise why. Since their debut collection, Souda has been consistently pushing aesthetic and formal boundaries, expanding upon their already experimental ethos. With an oeuvre that now includes seating, shelving, lighting, and large-scale ceramics, the trio has branched out while remaining true to their style and message. Beautifully crafted using unusual methods like leather slip casting, each piece is as much a treat for the mind and the hand as it is for the eyes. A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of stopping into Souda’s Bushwick studio, a space that the friends have been renting since their Parsons days. With an impeccably appointed office and a massive workspace overflowing with creative energy, it’s hard to believe that this remains—more or less—a three-man operation.