About
Utopia & Utility is the design studio of Pia Wüstenberg. Since 2012, she has made sculptural stacking vessels in mouth-blown glass, hand-turned wood, and raku ceramic.
Each vessel is made by hand, in partnership with specialist craftspeople across Europe. Pia travels to their workshops to work alongside them, learn the materials, and shape each collection together.
The studio is based between Northern Germany and Eastern Finland.
The result is a collection of objects that carry the story of their making; objects designed to be used every day and passed on.
How We Make
Every vessel is made from individually crafted parts. A blown glass bowl. A hand-turned wood lid. A woven makenge base. Each part is made by a different craftsperson, in a different workshop, using skills passed down over generations.
Pia designs the forms, chooses the materials, and works directly with each maker to get the proportions right. Nothing is produced at scale. Each piece is made in small batches and will vary slightly, because it is made by hand..
Made to Last
Utopia & Utility works with small workshops and individual makers. The glass comes from a family-run glassworks in Bohemia. The wood is turned in Finland, often from trees grown on the craftsman's own land. The raku is fired using a technique practiced in the same location for decades.
These are long-term relationships, not supplier contracts. The aim is to make things that are worth keeping and worth repairing, not replacing.
Recognition
The original Stacking Vessels were shown at the Royal College of Art degree show in 2011 and selected as a graduate highlight by Dezeen. The studio has been covered in international design press and exhibited at design events across the world.
The collection is available through Finnish Design Shop, Galeria Philia, Luminaire, Firma Casa ...
ABOUT THE CONCEPT
Stacking Vessels, where sculpture meets function
Stacking Vessels are more than objects—they are functional sculptures that seamlessly blend artistry with utility. Handcrafted from natural materials such as glass, wood, and metal, each vessel is thoughtfully designed to stack into a sculptural composition, celebrating both form and function.
Every piece is a reflection of traditional craftsmanship and modern design. The modular construction invites interaction and offers versatility—each element can be used independently or arranged together to create a striking visual statement. These vessels are both beautiful decor pieces and tactile, practical containers that bring purpose and personality into the home.
Pia Wüstenberg
Pia graduated from the Design Products programme at the Royal College of Art in 2011 and started Utopia & Utility the same year.
She works between studios in Northern Germany and Eastern Finland, and spends time in the workshops of the people she makes things with. She joins the glassblowers at the furnace, watches the woodturners at the lathe, and understands each material by working with it directly.
Pia’s work explores the connection between material, process, and place, blending cultural storytelling with contemporary, functional design.
Across Europe, I travel to seek out and connect with master craftsmen—the finest in their respective fields. These are not fleeting encounters but relationships built to last a lifetime: reciprocal partnerships where we learn from one another, inspire each other, and push the boundaries of our craft.
Together, we bring to life objects that honor traditional artistry and meticulous skill. From semi-precious metal spinning to mouthblown glass, hand-thrown ceramics to turned wood sourced directly from the woodworker’s own forest, each piece carries the story, care, and expertise of its maker.
This is more than collaboration; it’s a shared journey of creativity and passion, resulting in heirlooms designed to be treasured for generations.

