Designer: Ela Shimon
Country: Romania
Selected Awards: Golden Key Award, 2017 Young Balkan Designers, 2015
A national competition. An unexpected opportunity. A new creative direction. For Mihaela Shimon, known as Ela, the journey into design took shape almost by accident. Born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in 1991, she was studying at an arts and design school when her participation in the competition earned her direct admission to the University of Art and Design in her hometown.
Her career began in graphic design, followed by interior design, before she found her true passion in furniture, bringing together artistic expression, technical knowledge, and a love for materials.
In 2019, she co-founded Mozea, a Romanian furniture brand based in Sibiu, where she developed a distinctive design language defined by organic shapes, sculptural forms, and natural materials.
Working primarily with solid wood, Ela embraces its imperfections and hidden beauty. Her designs come to life alongside local craftsmen from Cisnădioara, a village with woodworking traditions dating back to the 14th century. Mozea’s creations have also been presented at Salone del Mobile in Milan.
For Ela, creative freedom is essential, allowing her to experiment while respecting the possibilities of each material. She believes a successful design should do more than serve a purpose. It should spark curiosity, surprise people, and leave a lasting impression.
If you want to read more about Ela, you can find her in Creative Balkans: Contemporary Furniture Design.
“Good design is when nothing feels unnecessary, yet nothing feels missing.”
Name: Pi Collection – Stool, Bar Stool
Producer: Mozea
Year of production: 2025
Dimensions: 40 X 30 X 65 cm, 40 X 30 X 47 cm
Provided for the exhibition by: Mozea
Pi by Mozea is a quiet expression in solid wood, its backless silhouette subtly echoing the symbol that inspired its name. Available in two heights, it pairs clean geometry with the warmth of wood, bringing an understated presence to the bar or table.
