THE STUDIO
Design FOR THE UNROOTED
JŪNMIL is a design studio and independent publisher created by German designer Mābu Nauendorff. We create products and books designed for people in transit—those who, like ourselves, move between cultures, languages, and places. Our work reflects a state of being unbound, neither fully here nor there, yet finding beauty in that fluidity. Our products are functional yet carry a quiet intentionality, encouraging users to slow down, observe, and appreciate the mundane.
We work with clean geometries, precise typographic forms, and a muted palette with intentional accents. natural tones are punctuated by vibrant accents, and materials are chosen for their tactile qualities and sustainability. Our 100% recycled acrylic is a signature. Its transparency mirrors the studio’s ethos of presence and impermanence, while Paulownia wood, lightweight and fast-growing, underscores a commitment to sustainable design. Books are often crafted from repurposed paper, ironed and cut by hand, with unconventional bindings that challenge expectations. The physicality of each object is as important as its function; a book is not just text but an interaction between content, material, and form.
Language shapes everything we make. As a studio rooted in linguistics and intercultural dialogue, we transform writing systems into functional objects—like the ZHE Incense Burner, modeled after the Cyrillic letter Ж, or the Four Seasons Coasters, shaped like Chinese characters. These elements celebrate intercultural communication, rejecting homogeneity in favor of a world where diverse languages coexist visibly and elegantly.
Every piece is handmade in Germany, emphasizing longevity over disposability. There is no use of generative AI; each product is the result of a deliberate, slow design process. The studio operates with ecological awareness, prioritizing recycled and sustainable materials where possible, though never compromising on durability.
At its core, STUDIO JŪNMIL is for those who find home in movement. The designs are meant to ground without anchoring, to provoke thought without demanding answers, and to remind users that belonging can be fluid—a quiet, polished rebellion against the idea that identity must be fixed.