Growing up surrounded by art and antiques, I hold a deep respect for art and design and the stories behind each artwork. Inspired by my childhood with an antique dealer for a father, we dedicate significant time to refining our designs before they go into production. It’s all about thoughtful design. My father, an antique dealer, would always bring me gifts from his business trips. This sparked my fascination with glassware, which I perceived as being as precious as diamonds or gemstones. Over the years, this interest deepened, leading me to approach my business partner Josefine in 2021, marking the official inception of Akua Objects.

I love the idea of glasses as objects or small sculptures. Growing up surrounded by art and antiques, I have a deep respect for craftsmanship and the stories behind each piece. I go to the library to research using actual books. I then sketch ideas, work with local glassblowers to create prototypes, and refine the designs until I'm satisfied with the final result. Josefine did a phenomenal job in sourcing the right glass studios, and we have an amazing team of artisans that we work with to develop our pieces.

First of all, I would have liked to have been a glassblower myself. I started collecting glass at a very early age, and that's when the fascination started. There's something absolutely incredible about watching glassblowers transform a liquid, lava-like mass into a vase, a mirror, or a chandelier. For centuries, glass has been thought of as an artistic luxury material on par with gemstones and porcelain, and I have to say I agree. Even today, making a glass from a grain of sand seems like a form of magic. There's something magical about transforming nature into something more than itself.That being said, we are also working with new materials. Soon we will unveil new categories within our universe, and right now I'm working on drawings of objects that will launch this year. Josefine has been in dialogue with production since we launched Akua—so we are both very excited about this coming collection.

Over the past year, I have refined existing collections, and this has developed my understanding of form, texture, and the feeling when you either hold or drink from the object. The feeling is very important when designing objects with a purpose.

– Annika Zobel Agerled, Co-Founder of Akua Objects

I go with my gut feeling, and our designs are made out of passion. I really think it’s fun, and I love to design things that make me happy. Sometimes it seems like an obsession. I try to create objects that I like myself, and I hope others do too. Also, I’m lucky to have my business partner Josefine to spar with.

Most of our collections come out of passion, and they all have a special place in my heart. I really like our latest two projects, as the drawings unfold while making them. One of the latest projects is vases and glasses shaped like a growing flower. The cup is an unfolding flower with a dramatic thorn on the stem and a base shaped like roots that go into the ground. I like working around our phrase ‘Poetic Tableware,’ and it’s fun developing objects that tell a story.

I get inspired when I'm in nature. Our color references and shapes are often found there. Alongside this, the Art Deco period captivates me, particularly in its exploration of bold silhouettes and the interplay of geometric shapes. In many ways, I feel like an old soul in a young body. I've always been passionate about going to auctions with my dad, looking through catalogs, and diving into the history of art. I want to combine old design techniques and craftsmanship with a more modern touch.

I often look through books and dive into a specific period or art form, and that's where I find my inspiration. It could be, for example, the Renaissance, Baroque, Cubism, or the Art Deco period. I like to give old traditions new life and, in that way, create new stories and honor specific design periods or art movements. I think there's something beautiful about honoring these old techniques.

Soon we will unveil a very exciting collaboration with one of my favorite artists, who painted his hand-drawn motifs on our designs. The collaboration shows the great synergy of fine art and design, as we not only share our love for glass but also a growing curiosity about colors, history, and emotions. Furthermore, Josefine and I have a plan to add new categories to our universe, as we intend to decorate the entire table.