When you think about the artistry behind home goods, the words “handmade” and “factory-built” often evoke two contrasting worlds. But in a cozy corner of Brooklyn, New York, Wooj.design merges these realms, blending human creativity with robotic precision. At its heart, Wooj is a home goods store that defies convention by producing stunning 3D-printed lamps with a focus on sustainability and accessibility. Here’s the story behind this innovative brand.
From Closet Creations to Design Showrooms
Wooj began in the unlikeliest of circumstances: the depths of a global pandemic. Founder Sean Kim, then a graduate student, was experimenting with 3D printing as a personal project. “Wooj was formed in 2020 during the pandemic and was an accidental project that became a business,” Sean explains. The spark for Wooj came when he received a broken lamp shade from an online order. Left with the base of the lamp, Sean 3D printed his own shade for it, and then a base
The humble shop that followed quickly gained traction as people sought to redecorate their homes during lockdowns. In just a few years, Wooj outgrew its origins. From a one-man operation with six printers, the company expanded to a 60-printer studio by 2024, now staffed by 10 employees. As Sean puts it, Wooj’s origins were nothing short of an “accident.”
Sustainable Design at Its Core
Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword at Wooj; it’s the foundation of its operations. The company uses recycled plastics and minimizes waste by repurposing less-than-perfect / blemished , etc products. Recently, Wooj began experimenting with melting excess plastic to create new products, further closing the loop on waste. Packaging is entirely plastic-free, ensuring that every part of the customer experience aligns with Wooj’s commitment to the environment.
This ethos extends to their Brooklyn-based production model. By keeping manufacturing local, Wooj supports its community while reducing the carbon footprint of shipping. Their goal, as Sean articulates, is to provide “accessible and sustainable design to the market without exploitative labor practices or requiring products to be made in the hundreds of thousands in order to be profitable.”