Behind the Vase
Born and built in the heart of Zurich, our studio focuses on creating objects that bring a sense of grounded, minimalist calm to modern interiors.
Sketch Studio Designs is a member of the Made in Zürich Initiative, celebrating local craftsmanship and urban production right here in the heart of the city.
Recycled, not raw
Our products are crafted from 100% recycled PLA and PETG. By using biopolymers derived from renewable corn starch alongside repurposed technical polymers, we give a second life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. We choose our materials for their sustainability and their ability to become elegant decor for your home.
rPLA
The bio-based favourite
Derived from corn starch, 100% recycled, biodegradable in industrial setups, giving it a massive win for the carbon footprint. Great for that signature matte finish.
rPETG
The industrial tough guy
Sourced from repurposed industrial waste (like leftover scraps that would otherwise go to a landfill). It’s super strong, slightly translucent/glossy, and incredibly long-lasting.
PHA
The future frontier
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (pronounced Poly-hydroxy-alkan-oates, or just PHA if you value your breath), is a material made by bacteria fermentation that is genuinely marine-degradable and home-compostable. Because PHA is a 100% organic biological byproduct, nature knows exactly what to do with it. At the end of its life, microorganisms can completely digest it. It leaves absolutely zero toxic microplastics behind. You might think a material made by bacteria would feel flimsy, but PHA actually yields beautifully tough, heat-resistant prints with a gorgeous, high-end tactile finish.
Recycled, not raw
Our products are crafted from 100% recycled PLA and PETG. By using biopolymers derived from renewable corn starch alongside repurposed technical polymers, we give a second life to materials that would otherwise go to waste. We choose our materials for their sustainability and their ability to become elegant decor for your home.
rPLA
The bio-based favourite
Derived from corn starch, 100% recycled, biodegradable in industrial setups, giving it a massive win for the carbon footprint. Great for that signature matte finish.
rPETG
The industrial tough guy
Sourced from repurposed industrial waste (like leftover scraps that would otherwise go to a landfill). It’s super strong, slightly translucent/glossy, and incredibly long-lasting.
PHA
The future frontier
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (pronounced Poly-hydroxy-alkan-oates, or just PHA if you value your breath), is a material made by bacteria fermentation that is genuinely marine-degradable and home-compostable. Because PHA is a 100% organic biological byproduct, nature knows exactly what to do with it. At the end of its life, microorganisms can completely digest it. It leaves absolutely zero toxic microplastics behind. You might think a material made by bacteria would feel flimsy, but PHA actually yields beautifully tough, heat-resistant prints with a gorgeous, high-end tactile finish.
Where Our Materials Come From
To make sure our products are as kind to the planet as they are beautiful, we source our filaments from some of the most innovative recyclers in Europe.
colorFabb (Netherlands)
We use their incredible recycled filaments to get those flawless, deep matte finishes that make our designs pop.
Nobufil (Austria)
These guys are geniuses at turning industrial plastic waste into high-quality, high-performance filament. They help us ensure our products are tough, beautiful, and durable.
Purefil (Switzerland)
We love keeping things local. We use Purefil, right here in Switzerland, primarily for dialling in our designs and prototyping new shapes.
The Production
The precision layering process
Everything starts with a 3D model. We tweak the geometry, test the curves, and program the design down to the mm. Once the design is locked in, our 3D printers get to work, heating up our recycled filaments and tracing the shape layer by layer, from the ground up. It’s an additive process, meaning the machine only puts material exactly where it needs to go.
The Production
Made to order
Most of our pieces are printed to order, meaning when you hit buy, a 3D printer in our Zurich studio wakes up and starts crafting a vase specifically for you. For our most popular shapes, we might print a handful ahead of time, but we keep our batches tiny. Yes, this means it might take a couple of days extra to get your order out the door. But it also means absolutely zero unsold inventory goes to waste, we never overproduce, and your vase is fresh off the machine. We think that's a trade-off well worth making.
