yunīku
Japanese transliteration of “unique”
Uniqueness emerges where small imperfections tell the story of the vitality of handmade craftsmanship and the care and dedication that go into every piece.
Our Philosophy
Our studio offers an inspiring environment where the focus is not only on learning, but also on experiencing the creative process together. Our goal is not to achieve perfection, but to rediscover the joy of craftsmanship and, in a world where almost everything can be industrially produced, to create objects that still bear the unmistakable touch of their maker.
Behind atelier yuniku are Francesca, Tereza and Pablo – three friends with backgrounds in architecture and design, for whom working with their hands has always played a central role. Each of us brings our own interests, experience and focus, ranging from ceramics and textiles to natural cosmetics and floristry. What connects us is a shared enthusiasm for exploring different creative disciplines and occasionally bringing them into dialogue with one another. This diversity now also strongly shapes the character of the studio. We are not experts in everything – and that is precisely where our strength lies. For many of our offerings, we collaborate with a network of guest teachers and friends who contribute their knowledge and perspectives to the studio and help expand what we offer.
Francesca Garcia
Co-Founder of atelier yuniku, Administration and Communication, Course Instructor
In her work as an architect, Francesca has dedicated herself in particular to the creation of humane and environmentally friendly accommodation for refugees and has worked on socially participatory projects. Now Francesca wants to give more space to her passion for creative crafts and plants and their effectiveness and is looking forward to sharing her creative spirit, teaching and hopefully inspiring others. Francesca impresses with her sensitive and supportive approach, which both colleagues and course participants appreciate equally.
Pablo Grossmann
Co-founder of atelier yuniku, Community Manager, course instructor
Pablo is an unconventional architect with training in art and experiential education. He has several years of experience working with communities, participatory planning and designing learning experiences. He is particularly interested in design with an architectural-anthropological approach. With his bubbling creativity and infectious curiosity to always try new things, he finds a solution to every problem and inspires and motivates with his passion.
Tereza Vyhlídalová
Co-Founder of atelier yuniku, Social Media, Responsable for Members, Course Instructor
Tereza is a designer and ceramic artist with a background in interior design and architectural visualization, five years of experience in pottery, and ten years working as a florist. She leads the atelier’s ceramics practice, bringing creativity and attention to detail to every piece.
Sandra Smolcic
Atelier Assistant
Sandra is an art historian and primary school teacher. Her work spans communications for museums and festivals, writing projects, teaching, tending her allotment garden by the river, and spending time at atelier yuniku.
When it comes to ceramics, she enjoys working freehand, whether she's hand-building a cereal bowl or creating lettering and signage for the atelier.
She also loves experimenting with paper, creating illustrations that have an almost painterly quality.
Chiara von Fix & Stitch
Teacher
Chiara is the founder of Fix & Stitch, a Zurich-based slow craft studio that explores making by hand as a form of intuition, self-expression, and connection. Through techniques such as crochet, knotting, and working with tactile materials, she transforms traditional craft into creative experiences that invite people to slow down and create with intention. Her work goes beyond everyday objects, becoming small personal symbols made to be worn, used, and kept close.
Website
Christine von SCHNITT.a.r.t
Teacher
Christine Zeltner is a trained clothing designer with a degree in Fashion Design. She teaches at secondary school and, under her label SCHNITT.a.r.t, develops creative, sustainable sewing courses and custom fashion projects. Her classes focus on wearable garments with a good fit, resource‑conscious making and an open, solution‑oriented way of working with people and materials.
Website
Cristian
Teacher
Cristian is a visual artist with a background in psychology and environmental studies. He has been working with collage for over 11 years and loves it as a meditative and playful art form that offers immediate creative rewards and is accessible to people of all skill levels. With extensive experience hosting creative workshops and a supportive approach, he helps participants unlock their creative potential through exercises, practical tips and tricks. His workshops create space both for focused exploration and socialising, whether participants have a clear vision or prefer to embrace a more open and intuitive process.
Website
Ebru
Teacher
Ebru, a trained design educator (IAC Zurich), carries her passion in her name: Ebru is both her first name and the name of a centuries-old art form in which images are created on the surface of water and then transferred onto paper, also known as paper marbling. Traditional Ebru art has its roots in Asia and developed into a significant art form, particularly in Istanbul. Since 2014, Turkish Ebru art has been recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, helping preserve and pass on this centuries-old craft. In her marbling workshops, Ebru combines her design expertise with years of experience, sharing the history, materials, and techniques behind this unique art form.
Francesca
Teacher
Francesca is an architect and co-founder of atelier yuniku*. For more than 20 years she has been exploring medicinal plants, textiles and dyeing techniques, natural cosmetics and a wide range of crafts. She approaches her work with great care and attention, creating a gentle, compassionate atmosphere where people can learn, experiment and feel at ease.
Joanne
Teacher
Joanne is a biologist and illustrator based in Zurich. She holds a diploma in Botanical Illustration from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and combines her background in biology with a love of nature and meticulous, precise drawing and painting. In her workshops she creates a calm, focused environment where beginners learn, step by step, to observe and depict plants realistically while enjoying hand-bound sketchbooks and carefully selected, high-quality materials.
Website
Natalia von MURAWY
Teacher
I'm Natalia — a trained architect and engineer, shaping Zurich's buildings by day, weaving by night. Each rug is a completely unique upcycled item, finished with the utmost care, and made to brighten any space it finds a home in.
Website
Nicole Ochsenbein
Teacher
Her work as a journalist taught Nicole one thing above all: curiosity. It led her to Asia, where she lived for many years and developed a fascination for natural skincare, traditional botanical actives, K-Beauty and the art of and the art of distinctive textures. She followed this fascination into her professional work, earning an Advanced Diploma in Natural Skincare Formulation and further qualifications in Slow-Aging Skincare and Natural Skincare Preservation. In Singapore she gained hands-on experience as a consultant and product developer for independent skincare brands.
Website
Pablo
Teacher
Pablo is an architect with training in art and experiential education, and has several years of experience designing learning processes in group and community settings. He has explored a wide range of artistic and craft techniques over many years, including painting, sewing, weaving, carving, embroidery, and felting. In his teaching, he focuses on a practical and experimental approach to creative processes, with a strong emphasis on helping people overcome hesitation and get past the fear of the blank page, while building confidence in working with materials, simple techniques, and personal expression.
Website
Stephanie Dinkel
Teacher
Stephanie is a photographer and designer based in Zurich. During her training in art and design education at IAC, she discovered paper pulp – a versatile and sustainable material made from recycled paper. She loves experimenting with shapes, textures and surfaces, and the idea of transforming a simple, previously used material into something new. In her workshops, Stephanie shares her enthusiasm for paper pulp, encouraging participants to experiment, develop their own ideas and discover their personal way of working with the material.
Tereza
Teacher
Tereza is a designer and ceramic artist with a background in interior design and architectural visualization, five years of experience in pottery, and ten years working as a florist. She leads the atelier’s ceramics practice, bringing creativity and attention to detail to every piece.
Virginia
Teacher
Virginia is a Montessori teacher and creative educator with a background in theatre, dance, and the arts. Half Swiss and half Indian, she grew up in India and later continued her creative journey in Switzerland, bringing together the artistic traditions and cultural influences of two worlds. Through her experience working with children in theatre, dance, crafts, and creative activities, she has developed a deep passion for nurturing their imagination and self-expression. At the atelier, she creates a warm and inspiring space where children can explore their creativity through hands-on activities and crafts. She encourages them to express themselves freely while developing their fine motor skills, independence, and confidence, and loves seeing the joy and pride they discover in creating something with their own hands.
Website
Ámina
Teacher
Ámina is a ceramic artist and oil painter with a love for slow, tactile processes and creating with intention. With the creation of Braca Studio Events she sends an invitation to step away from the rush of everyday life and reconnect with your hands, your curiosity, and the simple joy of making. Whether we're shaping clay or exploring creative rituals, the idea is to believe that the process is just as meaningful as the finished piece.
Website