Making a living from what you love doing

At Utopia & Utility, we believe that work should be part of a meaningful life—not something separate from it. How we live today shapes not only our personal future but also leaves a small yet lasting imprint on the planet.

For us, craft is a lifestyle. It’s a choice to live with intention, to value materials, and to connect human hands with the beauty of nature.

Utopia & Utility – Pia Wüstenberg and Leonardo working together in Italy, using a spinning wheel to craft a piece, highlighting their collaborative process and craftsmanship.

Pia and Leonardo in Italy, 2022

Sustainability Begins with Purpose

We define sustainability as creating objects that are beautiful in every way: in their materials, their making, and their purpose.

In a world that urgently needs healing, regeneration starts with small, conscious acts by ordinary people. When materials are sourced directly from nature, processed minimally, and shaped through skilled craftsmanship, the result is more than a product—it is an expression of well-being and beauty.

“If something deserves to be made, it deserves to be made well.”
Elsa Sahlsten, grandmother of Pia Wüstenberg

Utopia & Utility – Pia Wüstenberg carefully assembling a paper totem, showcasing her expertise in combining materials and creating sculptural forms.

Pia in the studio in North Germany, spring 2024

Craft as Connection

From North Germany to Italy, we work hand in hand with makers who live by this ethos. In 2022, Pia Wüstenberg and Leonardo collaborated in Italy, using a traditional spinning wheel to shape materials into timeless forms—a moment captured in both memory and material.

“Making a living from what you love doing—this is what we hear from the people we work with. In many ways, it is the true luxury of our time.

Craft connects the human hand to the heart. It’s not only a means of survival, but a path toward purpose and joy.

Utopia & Utility – Radek and Pia working together in the glass hotshop, skillfully shaping molten glass in a collaborative and dynamic environment.

Radek & Pia in the Glass Hotshop, 6am in Czechia ca 2020

The Utopia & Utility Philosophy

Founded in 2012, Utopia & Utility was born from Pia Wüstenberg’s desire to unite her Finnish craft heritage with a contemporary design vision.

We strive to embody our name in everything we do:

  • Utility – grounded in functionality, sustainability, and skill

  • Utopia – inspired by dreams, imagination, and beauty

Together, they shape our collections and our mission: to create objects that matter, made by people who care.

Let’s Walk and Dream Together

When you support handmade objects, you support a way of life—one rooted in care, collaboration, and conscious choices.

Join us in celebrating the beauty of making, and discover how living and working with purpose can shape a better future, one crafted object at a time.

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Material Deceptions / Exploring the Properties of Paper, Concrete, Brass, and Wood

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Home Is Art / A Personal Look Inside the Homes of Utopia & Utility Collectors