Design studio In Common With, founded by Nick Ozemba and Felicia Hung in 2018, is moving beyond its well-known lighting offerings by launching a new homewares collection named Lido. The duo aims to blend industrial manufacturing with traditional craftsmanship, emphasizing a collaborative approach with specialized artisans globally.
Ozemba and Hung initially met on the first day of art school studying furniture design and recognized their shared vision early on. After gaining experience in various studios, they decided to create a business focused on lighting, which offered scalability due to a unique manufacturing system. Their products target hospitality clients like restaurants and hotels, filling a gap in the market for well-made, affordable fixtures.
The duo's concept store, Quarters, located in a 19th-century Tribeca loft, serves as a showcase for their collections along with vintage furniture and pieces from fellow artists. The store allows them to explore how different object types interact within space. Most vintage items are sourced from countries such as France, Italy, and Belgium, and restored before being displayed.
For their Lido collection, the co-founders collaborated with the Venice-based glassware company Laguna~B, known for its Murano glass expertise. Hung mentions that they’ve always been captivated by glassmaking. The collection draws upon classic Murano techniques, including the goto design and murrine, which allow for creative patterns in glass.
Each piece in the Lido series is handcrafted by master glassmakers in Murano and then completed at In Common With’s Brooklyn studio. Besides lighting, the series includes a selection of drinking glasses meant to be more accessible while highlighting Laguna~B’s traditional craftsmanship.
While In Common With is evolving into a broader lifestyle brand, Ozemba emphasizes that the company won't instantaneously transition from its roots in lighting. Instead, they plan to maintain their principles of material exploration and craftsmanship as they branch out into furniture and additional product categories. "This has always been part of our vision," Hung states, envisioning a comprehensive collection that immerses customers in a cohesive design experience.
