Cover photo: portrait of Studio Natural (from left: Alessandro Paoletti, Marco De Santi)
Since 2012, Studio Natural has been dedicated to product design, graphic communication, and art direction. Led by Alessandro Paoletti and Marco De Santi, the studio has a close relationship with lighting design; in particular, they maintain a strong collaboration with the Tuscan company Martinelli Luce, for whom they have designed several pieces like Avro, Cabriolette, Delux, LED+O, and Fluida. We spoke with them about how innovation in designing lamps can be achieved. Their pieces are simple in appearance yet always grounded in deep reflection and disruptive ideas.
Versatility is evident in all of your projects, paired with a desire for exploration. How has Studio Natural’s approach evolved over the years?
“Every project is a new challenge, a fresh stimulus to interpret and deepen. We love to observe, explore, capture, then digest, rework, and start anew—pushing boundaries, limits, and constraints to their extremes, and deciding where to stop. This has always been our approach, but over the years, we’ve gained a clearer understanding of what we want and what we are capable of.”
Lighting design seems to be a recurring, beloved, and well-explored theme for you. Not surprisingly, you’ve explored the use of LEDs in various products. What excites you about designing light?
“Light is undoubtedly the most fascinating design realm for us. On one hand, there’s the continuous innovation of light sources that drives us to delve deeper into the technology. On the other, there’s the more ‘romantic’ side of lighting—light makes spaces visible and, through its use, allows us to decide where to direct real attention.”
With the table lamp Fluida, you experimented with the attraction between magnets in a decorative context. This visionary idea even earned an Honorable Mention at the 2016 Compasso d’Oro ADI…
“The idea was to create a nomadic desk lamp that could be easily moved and adapted to one’s needs. We wanted a product with which the user could establish a near-daily relationship, moving or adjusting it throughout the day. The use of magnets came as an insight from the prototype we made. Starting with rectangular bases, we thought of inserting magnets to hold them in specific positions. From there, everything fell into place naturally. In production, the two bases were made in ABS, a good thermoplastic material, but we kept the idea of magnets to allow for customizable light direction.”
Your latest lighting project, Avro for Martinelli Luce, aimed to satisfy a need beyond lighting—having a power outlet within easy reach. It seems like this idea might have originated during the pandemic when many of us shared the same table at home…
“Exactly, the driving force behind this project was the pandemic period. Together with Martinelli Luce, we tried to envision a possible future scenario and questioned how we could improve or streamline our daily reality.”
How does Studio Natural approach sustainability in product design?
“We strongly believe that sustainability is a must, not a bonus, and this applies to everything, not just our projects. It’s an issue that must be tackled with extreme responsibility, carefully weighing all the factors involved. In our view, changing material isn’t enough to make a product sustainable; each project has its own story, and the designer has the intellectual duty to choose the best path for the planet and future generations.”
In 2016, you also opened a creative office in the Canary Islands…
“Yes, specifically in El Cotillo on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura. For us, it’s an ideal place to regain serenity and detach from the influences of modern life. The desert and ocean offer a sense of freedom, inviting us to reflect and imagine the life we want to lead.”
