THE FEMININE IS STRUCTURAL FOR DESIGNER KIKI GOTI

Born in Thessaloniki, Greece, Kiki Goti studied architecture before she started learning more about computational design, digital fabrication, and robotic manufacturing, all of which influence the technical side of her playful and futuristic furniture, lighting, and accessories. Goti’s work is inspired by femininity and her cultural heritage. Thessaloniki is close to the Balkans, Goti says, where matriarchs rule and the design influence is less classically Greek and more Eastern — more “fun and colorful,” as she describes. “When I start designing, it always has to do with femininity and the female body, and how we express ourselves freely,” she says. This is true of many of her collections, like Buttoned-Up’s highly decorative sconces and mirrors that pay tribute to Victorian-era androgynous style, or the polished designs of her Neo-Vanity collection, which are adorned with hand-painted Balkan motifs sourced from traditional womenswear. Her Celestial Table Lamp is a standout piece; while its form looks masculine with its aluminum, stainless steel, and polished nickel, the bolts look more like pieces of jewelry or gems. “I wanted to add these elements that almost look like earrings, but they’re very functional — they’re the bolts, so it’s what keeps it all together. So, there’s this masculine way of thinking about bolts and screws, but at the same time, it’s very decorative,” she says. “There’s always this contrast.”