Maria Joanna Juchnowska

Specialized in Fine Art Design.

Maria Joanna Juchnowska

About Maria Joanna Juchnowska

Maria Joanna Juchnowska Artist, designer, curator, founder of Mari JJ Design brand based in Oslo Norway- launched in 2010, in Stockholm Sweden. Participated in many international exhibitions and fairs in New York, Tokyo, London, Dubai, South Korea, China, and across Europe. Laureate and finalist of international competitions: Honorable Mention at Cheongju Biennale Craft Competition 2021, Martinsons Award 2021, Make Me! Łódź Design Festival 2019, Talente 2018 Munich, Future Lights 2016/17, Chouftouhonna Feminist ArtFestival 2016, Nachtmann Design Competition 2011. Cooperated with high-end companies including brands of luxury goods such as Meissen GMbH, Franz Collection in Taiwan/China. Since 2007 implemented Mari JJ Design limited-edition collections at porcelain and stoneware factories: Ćmielów, Kristoff, Bolesławiec in Poland. Maria Joanna Juchnowska is a member of the following organizations: IAC International Academy of Ceramics, Norske Kunsthåndverkere, Norske Billedkunstnere, Artaxis International Ceramic Artist Association. Maria Juchnowska is one of the founders of the recently established Norwegian Polish Culture Organisation NPoK ​

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Fine Art Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Fine Art
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Extended Interview with Maria Joanna Juchnowska

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
My design background is deeply intertwined with my artistic pursuits. As the founder of Mari JJ Design, which was launched in Stockholm and is now based in Oslo, I've had the privilege of participating in international exhibitions and fairs from New York to Tokyo. My education has been a global affair, culminating in recognition like the Honorable Mention at the Cheongju Biennale Craft Competition 2021.
How did you become a designer?
The motivation to design stems from a passion for storytelling through ceramics and jewelry. My designs are not just objects but narratives crafted in porcelain, inspired by my experiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The motivation to design stems from a passion for storytelling through ceramics and jewelry. My designs are not just objects but narratives crafted in porcelain, inspired by my experiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
The decision to become a designer was a deliberate one, fuelled by a lifelong fascination with material art and a desire to express my multicultural experiences through the tactile medium of ceramics.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
My current design work spans ceramic art, jewelry, and installations, with a special focus on pieces that reflect a deep engagement with material and form. I aspire to expand my work into traditional ceramic techniques, creating pieces that resonate with a contemporary audience while honoring traditional craftsmanship.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
For young designers aiming for "legendary status", my advice is to seek collaboration and embrace a multidisciplinary approach. Engage with different cultures, materials, and techniques, as I have done with high-end companies and luxury brands like Meissen GmbH and Franz Collection in Taiwan/China.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A good designer meets expectations; a great designer exceeds them. My work is recognized by awards like the Martinsons Award 2021 and Make Me! Łódź Design Festival 2019, exemplifies a commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and creating pieces with a lasting impact. Don´t be afraid of failure.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
A really good design stands as a testament to both beauty and utility. It's evaluated by its ability to tell a story, as seen in my 'Still Life' compositions, which transform porcelain objects into a narrative of perception and value.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Good design has the power to transform spaces and experiences. It's an investment in culture and identity, as evidenced by my work with porcelain and stoneware factories like Ćmielów, Kristoff, and Bolesławiec in Poland.
What is your day to day look like?
If I had the time, I would focus on expanding the Egg Vessels Collection, working more with larger-scale objects and combining them with jewelry-like elements. This collection represents a significant part of my artistic expression, where the smooth, organic forms of the vessels meet the intricate details reminiscent of jewelry, creating a harmonious blend of form and function.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
The dream project still awaiting realization is a large-scale installation that weaves together the threads of my Norwegian and Polish heritage, reflecting my role as a founder of the Norwegian Polish Culture Organisation NPoK.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Building on the success of my 'Egg Vessels' series from 2018-2022, if I had more time, I would explore further the transformative process of wood firing. The 'Alabaster Egg Vessels' collection, born from a symposium at the Arctic Ceramic Centre in Posio, Finland, was a profound experience. The local wood of the North and the week-long firing process, led by artists from Singapore and Korea, gave the porcelain an alabaster look that I find deeply inspiring. I would love to delve deeper into this technique, perhaps creating a series that not only captures the essence of the Nordic environment but also tells the story of its cultural heritage through the unique ash glazes and forms that emerge from the flames.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Louise Bourgeois, a master and legend in the art world, has been an inspiration to many, including myself. Her ability to convey deep emotional truths through her large-scale sculptures and installations resonates with my desire to evoke emotions through handcrafted porcelain.
What is your biggest design work?
My appreciation for design is reflected in the admiration I have for the works of other designers who, like me, blend functionality with a compelling narrative. Their ability to create pieces that resonate on a personal level, much like my own 'Still Life' compositions, is what I find most inspiring.
Who is your favourite designer?
The pinnacle of my design journey is the 'Egg Vessels' collection, a series that encapsulates my philosophy of design as an intersection of art and utility. The collection's success at international exhibitions is a testament to its greatness.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Improving as a designer is a continuous process of exploration and learning. My journey has been enriched by embracing hard work and discovering new ways to work with the same materials a path I encourage others to follow.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
Had I not ventured into design, I would have pursued a career that still allowed me to express my creativity, perhaps in the realm of art curation or cultural management.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Design, for me, is the language through which I communicate my vision of the world. It is an expression that transcends the creation of objects and becomes a dialogue with the observer.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My journey has been supported by a constellation of mentors, colleagues, and institutions, all of whom have contributed to my growth as a designer. At different stages of my path, different people were my biggest supporters it would not be fair to choose just one. I can honestly say I am the biggest supporter of my career.

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