IN CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW RAW
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE NEW RAW
About The New Raw
Rotterdam-based design studio designing sustainable furniture for indoor and outdoor spaces using robotic 3D printing and recycled plastic waste. Founded in 2016 by Panos Sakkas and Foteini Setaki, the studio merges digital precision with traditional craftsmanship to create tactile, heavy-duty pieces defined by layered textures, organic forms, and natural irregularities.
Committed to 100% circular design, each object is conceived for longevity and full recyclability, reframing plastic waste as a valuable raw material. Through both product collections and commissioned projects, The New Raw pushes material innovation and redefines contemporary craftsmanship with sustainability at its core.
How did you break into the furniture industry or design field?
Foteini & Panos
We both studied architecture, but quickly realised we were drawn to the hands-on nature and relatable scale of design. Still, we
carry architectural values with us like designing for longevity, clarity, and a strong connection to context and environment.
Describe your practice.
What inspired your concept and studio identity?
Foteini & Panos
We treat recycled materials as stories and explore how they respond to different techniques and forms of craftsmanship. Our
studio identity is process-driven and material-led. Our designs derive from understanding both the tool and the substance.
Who are your icons and muses?
Foteini & Panos
We draw inspiration from designers who work sensitively with material and shapes. The work of Isamu Noguchi, is clearly a
source of inspiration for us, admiring the balance between craft, form, and experimentation.
How does blending robotic precision with raw waste redefine craftsmanship—and any memorable “happy accident”?
Foteini & Panos
Robotics gives control; recycled plastic adds unpredictability. Their blend of those two ingredient creates a new form of
craftsmanship. Our favorite “happy accident” that later became one of our products is magma.
Designers or artists you would love to collaborate with?
Foteini & Panos
We enjoy cross-disciplinary collaborations with artists, architects, scientists and sustainable brands. We’re drawn to
practitioners exploring material culture and environmental thinking, or forward-thinking architecture studios working with
circular systems.
How do you balance designing something new with keeping it 100% circular?
Foteini & Panos
Circularity is built into the project from the first idea. We work with mono-material pieces that are durable, desirable, and easy
to recycle back into the system.
When designing furniture, what matters most?
Foteini & Panos
Longevity. A piece must endure use and weather, but also create a connection that makes people want to keep it.
What is your long-term strategy for changing public perception of “plastic waste”?
Foteini & Panos
We show its potential through design. By creating high-quality objects and inviting public participation, we shift plastic from
something disposable to something with real value.
Advice to young designers torn between digital production and traditional craft?
Foteini & Panos
Learn both. Digital tools expand your possibilities, while craft provides context and reference. We believe in the dialogue
between the two.