Turning Inner Worlds into Objects: Designs from Sigma Gustin

This recognition validates my belief in intuitive design. It's incredibly meaningful because it shows me that design rooted in personal emotions and conceptual thinking can resonate universally. It also motivates me to keep exploring the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

This award has significantly boosted my confidence and opened new dialogues with brands and collaborators. Although it's early days, I’ve already noticed greater interest in exploring deeper, conceptual design collaborations, especially in merging fashion, 3d print, and digital art.

Experimentation is fundamental to my process. "Botanical & Nature" itself is a perfect example—I intuitively combined traditional hand-sketching with modern 3D modelling, without clear references, allowing the piece to evolve organically from a personal emotional core into an internationally recognised design.

A recent project was deeply inspired by the emotional ambiguity of human relationships—the subtle interplay of attraction and detachment I experienced personally. Transforming these intangible feelings into a tangible design was both challenging and rewarding.

I wish more people understood the invisible emotional labour behind design. Every piece carries emotional weight, intuition, and deep introspection—it's not merely about aesthetics or functionality, but about genuine human connection.

I approach this balance by first deeply understanding the client's core needs and emotions, then finding points of intersection where my creative authenticity can naturally align with their vision. Dialogue, mutual respect, and openness to iteration are essential.

My biggest challenge was conveying deeply personal, abstract feelings into a physical object. I overcame this by trusting my intuition entirely, resisting external references, and allowing the concept to develop from my raw emotional state and hand sketches to a complete digital form.

When facing a creative block, I often detach completely from design. I explore unrelated fields like philosophy, music, or even fitness to regain mental clarity. Often, stepping away helps me rediscover inspiration in unexpected places.

I infuse authenticity, vulnerability, and introspection into my work. Personal experiences, especially emotional ones, drive my creative concepts. My designs frequently reflect my journey of self-discovery, resilience, and growth.

Be unafraid of expressing vulnerability through your designs. Authenticity and emotional honesty create powerful connections and are often the foundation of truly impactful, memorable work.

I'd love to collaborate with Rei Kawakubo. Her fearless exploration of form, emotion, and conceptual ambiguity deeply inspires me. A collaboration with her would challenge me to think even more radically about the intersection of fashion, identity, and art.

"What's the emotional story behind your design?"

My answer would be: Each piece I create holds fragments of my emotional landscape—moments of joy, pain, uncertainty, and revelation. Sharing these hidden layers allows people to form deeper connections beyond the visible aesthetics.