Born 1961 | United States
Johanna Grawunder is an American architect and designer whose work spans architecture, interiors, public installations, collectible design, and lighting. Born in 1961 in San Diego, California, she studied architecture at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, graduating in 1984 before continuing her formation in Italy. In 1985, she joined Sottsass Associati in Milan and became a partner in 1989, collaborating on some of the studio's most important architectural and interior projects.
Since founding her own studio in 2001, Grawunder has developed a distinctive body of work based between Milan and San Francisco. She is especially celebrated for lighting that uses concealed sources, vivid color, and architectural precision to create atmosphere rather than mere illumination. Her collaborations with brands such as Flos, Boffi, and Glas Italia have established her as a singular voice in contemporary design, with work that feels rigorous, sensual, and unmistakably personal.
