nostalgia for caramel candy inspires a ceramic collection of interior objects

modular ceramic collection is shaped like caramel sweet

Industrial designer Maxim Tatarintsev, in collaboration with the brand Svoy Design, introduces ‘Caramel,’ a collection of ceramic interior objects that combines lighting and furniture into a modular system. The series includes pendant, ceiling, and wall-mounted light fixtures, along with a side table or ottoman available for both indoor and covered outdoor use. Rather than presenting a fixed set of products, the collection allows users to configure elements into personalized compositions.

The concept draws from the designer’s personal reflection on identity and everyday experience. ‘We all come from childhood,’ says Tatarintsev. ‘That is where our true ‘self’ lies: sincere, curious, capable of finding joy in small things.’ He uses the image of a caramel candy as a generational symbol, referencing a shared memory from the 1990s and early 2000s. ‘I looked back at that era and found a point of support there,’ he explains, framing the collection as a response to the visual and informational overload of contemporary life.

the series includes light fixtures along with a side table or ottoman

maxim tatarintsev designs customizable semi porcelain elements

Modularity defines Tatarintsev’s system. Individual lighting components function like pieces in a set, allowing users to assemble them into different arrangements and lighting scenarios. This approach shifts the focus from predefined design solutions to user-driven customization, encouraging variation across interiors and reinforcing the idea of personal expression.

The lighting elements are made from semi-porcelain using traditional casting techniques. After drying, each component is fired at approximately 1100 degrees Celsius, then finished and assembled into larger units. The table uses a different process, produced through an experimental composite method developed by the manufacturer. This approach increases durability and enables use in covered outdoor environments. Through this combination of modular design and varied fabrication methods, the ‘Caramel’ collection balances craft, customization, and material performance, offering adaptable objects that respond to both functional needs and individual expression.

Tatarintsev uses the image of a caramel candy as a generational symbol

the lighting elements are made from semi porcelain using traditional casting techniques

individual lighting components function like pieces in a set

the collection offers adaptable objects that respond to both functional needs and individual expression

‘We all come from childhood,’ says Tatarintsev

project info

name: The Caramel collection of furniture and decorative lighting
designer: Maxim Tatarintsev | @maximtatarintsev

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edited by: claire brodka | designboom