In a little more than 10 years, Estudio Persona has built an enviable reputation with retail brands and consumers from Los Angeles to New Zealand. The principals, Jessie Young and Emiliana Gonzalez, moved to the United States from Uruguay and in less than six months had secured a commission to do the interiors of a high-profile actress. The two never looked back.

Eventually, they launched Estudio Persona, a design studio that primarily designs furniture and lighting but is open to interior design projects–if they are a good fit. Based in L.A., the studio is known for bold silhouettes, neutral tones, organic forms and raw materials free of embellishments.

The firm is especially proud of its celebration of the skilled community of makers and manufacturers in and around L.A. as material and production constraints become opportunities that inform the design process. “From initial sketches to the final details, every piece is made locally, allowing us to oversee quality and maintain a close connection with the whole process from start to finish,” the ladies say.

Recently, Design Vibes caught up with the design duo to get a sense of the firm’s work, its heritage and what’s in store for the future.

Design Vibes: What is the origin story of Estudio Persona? 

Estudio Persona: Estudio Persona was born out of relocation and reinterpretation as a response to encountering a new culture and redefining a sense of place. For us, design became a way to translate that experience, using form and material as a language to understand and connect with their new environment.

DV: How has the firm evolved since the time of inception? 

EP: Since our inception, the studio has evolved gently through refinement rather than reinvention. Each project deepened our understanding of materials, context and emotion, allowing our practice to grow organically at its own pace, with quiet continuity and purpose.

DV: Based on your site, you focus more on product design. Is that correct or do you also do interiors? 

EP: Our focus is primarily on furniture and lighting design, which remain at the core of our practice. However, we’re always open to expanding our language through interior projects when the right opportunity aligns with our approach and values.

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DV: Is most of your work collaborations for bigger brands, or items you sell on your site? 

EP: We primarily design and produce our own collection, available both directly and through select retail partners. In recent years, we’ve also focused on developing collaborations with other brands, which has been an enriching and inspiring extension of our practice. 

DV: You are both from Uruguay. How does your nationality influence your work? 

EP: Being from Uruguay definitely shapes how we see and make things. There’s a certain humility and calmness in the culture that influences our design language. It’s about simplicity, honesty in materials, and creating pieces that feel quietly powerful.

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DV: Are all of your designs handmade in L.A.? 

EP: Yes, all of our designs are conceived, crafted, and finished in Los Angeles. From initial sketches to the final details, every piece is made locally, allowing us to oversee quality and maintain a close connection with the whole process from start to finish. As well as the close relationships we have with our manufacturers which we truly value.

DV: What are the primary materials of your pieces? 

EP: Our pieces are crafted primarily from solid, natural materials such as wood, leather, and glass. We’re drawn to materials with weight and presence that age gracefully and reveal the hand of the maker over time.

DV: Do you have any plans to expand the practice in the future? 

EP: We interpret expansion in a thoughtful way. While our focus remains on designing carefully considered pieces, we are always open to new opportunities that align with our approach whether through select collaborations, new projects, or evolving our collections rather than rapid growth for its own sake. 

DV: What would be your dream collaboration?

EP: Our dream collaboration is one that challenges us creatively and sparks meaningful dialogue whatever the scale, medium, or partner.

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