Softform started a little impulsively, with muddy hands, a lot of excitement, and not nearly enough space!
Before we even had a proper studio, I had already ordered a kiln, a wheel, and all the pottery supplies. At the time, the only place to work was our kitchen table, so that’s where the first pieces were made. Clay everywhere, learning as I went, figuring things out one piece at a time. Pottery wasn’t completely new to me, I had explored it before, along with making custom candles and other crafts, but this time it felt like something I wanted to commit to.
I’m Marta, and I’m the one with my hands in the clay. Softform is my way of slowing down, experimenting, and creating objects meant to be used and lived with.
André has been part of this from the very beginning. While I was shaping clay, he was building everything around it, quite literally! When it became clear that the kitchen table wasn’t going to survive much longer, he built a lean-to shed in our garden that slowly became our pottery studio. He also takes care of the website, the structure, and the practical side of turning this idea into something real.
We come from very different backgrounds. I’m Polish, a Microbiologist, working in the pharmaceutical industry. André is Portuguese, Electrical Engineer, working in robotics and automation. We met in Ireland, where we both live and work, and where Softform was born. Outside of our day jobs, we’ve always been makers, me through clay and wax, André through woodworking and other DIY projects.
Softform is where all of this comes together.
I’m drawn to simple forms, soft textures, and objects that feel good to hold. André brings ideas where function and design meet, often inspired by his technical background. One of our favourite results of this collaboration are our ceiling pendant lamps, where handmade ceramic shades meet thoughtful construction. For us, beauty should always have a purpose.
We love vintage-inspired pieces and familiar forms, like candle holders, and we enjoy rethinking them for modern life. A wall piece might hold a candle, but also your keys. Objects can be nostalgic and practical at the same time.
Everything I make is handmade, in small batches, and no two pieces are exactly the same. That’s intentional. From the beginning, we agreed that we don’t want mass production or the anxiety that comes with it. We want to keep things slow, personal, and offer a more custom experience to everyone who connects with our work.
Softform is about function and beauty, warmth and imperfection, and creating objects that quietly become part of everyday life.
Thank you for being here and for supporting handmade work; it truly means more than I can say.