From the beginning, collaboration has been a cornerstone of the studio’s practice. Whether partnering with fellow designers, clients or fabricators, the studio thrives on the dynamic exchange of ideas. Each piece is a product of team effort, incorporating technical, visual and conceptual input from the studio’s multidisciplinary team.

“Together we can achieve more,” says Volker.

The studio's ethos centres on customisation, site-specific design and limited-edition works. Every project begins with a conversation – understanding the client's needs, the architectural context, and the emotional tone desired. From there, the journey unfolds through sketching, prototyping and testing. Rather than following rigid blueprints, the studio lets the materials and space direct the process, often arriving at unexpected and deeply expressive outcomes.

“We don’t come in with all the answers,” says Volker. “We let the space and materials guide us. Some of our best work has come from letting go of the plan and following what feels right in the making. We can get our collaborators to trust in that too. The outcome is unrestricted.”

Volker Haug Studio has consistently prioritised longevity in their craftsmanship and use of materials, creating pieces with structural integrity and emotional resonance that people can cherish for a lifetime.

20 Years of Volker Haug Studio: a celebration and a statement

Over the past two decades, Volker Haug Studio has developed a rich portfolio of standout projects. Each one is highly experimental, challenging perceptions of what lighting can be.

Their After Hours exhibition, for example – presented at Melbourne Design Week 2021 – invited audiences to engage with lighting as a sensory, immersive experience. A few years later at Milan Design Week 2024, they presented the Me and You collection – created in a collaboration with multidisciplinary, Melbourne-based design practice Flack Studio – which merged architecture and emotion in an unforgettable lighting series that captured both designers' creative synergy.

For Melbourne Design Week 2025, Volker Haug Studio has curated a powerful exhibition titled 20 Years of Volker Haug Studio. More than just a retrospective, the showcase offers a deeply personal and forward-looking exploration of the studio’s identity. It features a selection of their most beloved pieces, including original designs lent from long-time clients. 

“I am honoured that people still have the original designs after all these years, and that they were willing to loan them,” says Volker. “We wanted to show a broad selection of [our] classics, showcasing the original materials, their playfulness and restraint.”