THIS IS ME...      

Hello, I’m Micol Zardi, a young designer from the sunny canton of Ticino, Switzerland. I am passionate about crafts and how they can enrich the world of design. My interests, combined with my design training, have shaped a hands-on, practice-based approach.

I currently work as a freelance designer with a main focus on pottery, creating both functional and decorative pieces. I produce ceramic collections independently and as a member of the Brunngasse Keramik collective in Zürich. I also collaborate with restaurants to create bespoke plates tailored to each chef’s needs. Food is a great source of inspiration for me, and I love exploring how objects can elevate the dining experience.

In my practice, I work with a variety of clay bodies, surface treatments, and textures, studying how form and tactility can influence the customer’s perception and create a multisensory dining experience. I’m fascinated by how the design of a plate, its weight, texture, colour, or edge, can subtly change the way someone experiences food.

For more decorative or sculptural pieces, I enjoy experimenting with geometric shapes and positive/negative space, exploring them from a three-dimensional perspective. It feels almost like translating graphic design into physical form, playing with volume, balance, and spatial rhythm.