Key Espresso Cup
by narratology · Hamburg, Germany

narratology is an independent design studio founded by Myeongin Shin and based in Hamburg. With a background in Product and Industrial Design shaped by an art school environment deeply connected to contemporary and fine art, Shin approaches design not only as a process of making, but as a way of asking questions—questions rooted in human narratives, memory, and emotion.Her work is rooted in a deep interest in humanity’s narrative, exploring how we remember, feel, and connect across time, culture, and material, and seeks to translate these stories into contemporary forms through structure, gesture, and tactility. This approach is reflected in her aesthetic, which values soft geometry, structured rhythms, and the quiet tension between restraint and play, creating a sense of balance and flow that invites moments of sensory reflection in daily life. narratology embraces the boundary between industry and craftsmanship, not as a fixed divide but as a space of experimentation. The studio is particularly drawn to sustainable production, often working with recycled materials and traditional techniques such as slip casting, while reconsidering their potential within modern contexts. This sensitivity to both system and emotion, repetition and imperfection, results in objects that aim not only to function but also to resonate. In an age where not everything can be explained by reason alone, Narratology embraces a more emotional and intuitive approach to design. Each object is not just made to function, but to resonate—carrying with it a subtle narrative, a memory, or a question worth holding onto.