Paola Sabourin and Zoé Costes, courtesy Edouard Auffray
Resin, with its ability to capture and reshape light, is increasingly making its mark in the modern design world. Experimenting with transparency, intense colors, and unexpected forms, Sabourin Costes pushes the boundaries of resin, merging craftsmanship with innovation. Founded in Paris in 2019 by Paola Sabourin and Zoé Costes, the studio has carved out a unique language in the design world through its curiosity for materials and experimental approach.
Each piece breaks away from conventional production molds, reflecting a process of discovering the material’s unique character. The vibration of colors, the fluidity of forms, and the interaction of surfaces with light come together in Sabourin Costes’ works, transforming into a sensory experience. We spoke with the design duo about their production practice, the boundaries of the material, and the future of resin.
Interview: Onur Çoban
Who are Paola & Zoé? Can you briefly tell us about yourself?
We were both born and raised in France where we studied applied art and industrial design for a couple of years in different cities. We then met in the Netherlands where we finished our studies at the Design Academy Eindhoven. After promising ourselves that we will one day found our own Studio, we carried on our individual careers. Paola worked in Rotterdam and designed pieces for editors such as Petit H or Ligne Roset, while Zoé went to work for Neri & Hu architecture firm in Shanghai where she designed furniture for hospitality. We founded Sabourin Costes when we met again in Paris in 2019.
Boudins Table, courtesy Mathijs Labadie & Boudins Vase, courtesy Sabourin Costes
We design with an acute sensitivity to materials and context, ensuring that each piece feels both timeless and innovative. We seek to create objects and environments that provoke curiosity, encourage interaction, and stand the test of time.
What factors do you consider when researching materials or choosing materials for your new projects? Can you tell us a bit about the material choices in your work?
Materiality is at the core of our practice. Actually, our projects often start with an isolated observation of the material : fascinating reflectiveness, captivating textures or vibrant color is definitely our favorite playground. For example, our Tribune shelves are made out of wood but with a very high-gloss lacquer, which reflects and highlights the objects you lay on them, while their lively colors and radically simple shapes allow them to live by themselves on a wall like small architectures. We found the same particularity with the polished stainless steel of our LT-01 table that creates intriguing reflections of its environment with its curved facets.
Ziggy Rug, courtesy of Sabourin Costes
"As a duo, our collaboration is based on constant dialogue. We challenge each other’s perspectives, ensuring that every design is pushed to its full potential and reflects both of our personalities. We each bring different sensibilities, but our shared vision creates a strong synergy."
Can you tell us a little about your design process? Are you closer to analogue techniques or digital? Also, how does your co-creation process work as Paola & Zoé?
Our process is fluid and intuitive, oscillating between analogue and digital methods. We start with hand sketches and material samples to capture the tactile essence of a project. Digital tools allow us to refine our ideas, test structures, and visualize concepts.
Which of your works has excited you the most in terms of the design process and the final product?
Each project has its own unique journey, but some stand out for the way they challenged our creative process. Our Boudins collection, for example, was an exploration of the tension of resin. After sketching a few pieces on paper, we spent many days (and nights..) in the atelier experimenting with the material, testing its limits, finding new ways to achieve the shapes and volumes we were looking for. The hands on part made it particularly exciting to develop. Seeing it come to life and resonate with people was incredibly rewarding.
Process of Boudins, courtesy Sabourin Costes
Can you tell us a little about the sources of inspiration behind your work? Who are the names you follow with curiosity in this field or in different disciplines?
Inspiration comes from a multitude of sources from architecture to everyday objects. We are fascinated by the works of designers like Jean Prouvé and Eileen Gray for their radical yet refined approaches. Historically, we are also drawn to the Bauhaus movement and the work of figures such as Charlotte Perriand and Carlo Scarpa for their material sensitivity and structural ingenuity.
In contemporary design, we follow studios and creatives that challenge conventions and embrace material experimentation, such as Formafantasma and Muller Van Severen. The sculptural works of Isamu Noguchi also inspires our approach to form and space.
Sea Sea Table, courtesy Sabourin Costes
Boudins Stool, courtesy Jean Baptiste Thiriet & Virage Benches, courtesy Raphael Dautigny
Are you excited for the future? What are your plans?
The future excites us as we continue to refine our practice and continue exploring our favorite materials as well as new ones. We are working on expanding our studio’s reach, collaborating with artisans and brands that share our ethos. Whether through furniture, interiors, or experimental projects, our goal remains the same: to create meaningful, thoughtful design that resonates across time and space.
