Petra Hilpert has been immersed in ceramic materials since childhood. She's always been drawn to the vast creative possibilities that ceramics and glazes offer. Born in Oberhausen, she pursued product design at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences, completing her diploma in 2006 with a specialization in ceramics, porcelain, and glass. In 2007, she established her own label, soprana design, in Ratingen. Since then, her manufactory has been producing refined porcelain pieces designed for everyday use alongside distinctive one-of-a-kind creations. Petra Hilpert frequently pairs her bowls, vases, cups, and plates with complementary materials—stainless steel, felt, wood, aluminium, and silicone among them.

The designer has a particular affinity for delicate, matte biscuit surfaces in her ceramic work. Every piece is handcrafted according to her own designs. She achieves her signature soft pastel tones by hand-colouring the porcelain, then finishing it with a clear glaze—allowing each complete tableware set to be entirely individual. Her tea bowls, for instance, have become signature pieces: they transform tea drinking into a sensory experience, sitting comfortably in the hand while radiating warmth, and doubling as snack bowls when needed. The label's graceful flower vases come in various sizes, shapes, and colours, their design seamlessly coordinating with the tableware collection. Petra Hilpert's ceramics have garnered multiple awards and German Design Award nominations. Since 2022, she has also taught ceramic design at Ruhr University Bochum.

www.soprana-design.de

Photography Credits:

Petra Hilpert

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 01|23)