Lucas Zito: From 3D Printing to Collective Design
Leah Ermann
Lucas Zito: A Paris-Based Designer Shaping Sustainable Design
Lucas Zito is a Paris based designer whose work combines aesthetics and functionality in the most eco responsible way. After graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands, he returned to his hometown of Paris in 2019, where he began his professional practice. From the outset, Zito focused on combining aesthetics with function through eco conscious methods. His approach places 3D printing and process at the centre of design. He shapes objects that respond to both material limits and future needs.
3D Printing and the Buoy Collection
3D printing quickly became central to Lucas Zito’s practice. Therefore, allowing him to control each stage of production while using only the necessary material. This approach led to the creation of the Buoy collection in 2021, now his signature project. This collection was inspired by buoyancy, which is the force that pushes an object upward when it is placed in a liquid or gas. As a result, it allows the object to float or appear lighter by working against gravity. The lamps appear light, vertical, and almost floating, despite their scale. The extreme lightness of the lamps reminds us that it is possible to create large objects while using as little material as possible. Futhermore, the Monumenta series extends this idea to architectural dimensions. It offers modular lighting designed for large interior, exterior, and scenographic spaces. As demonstrated by Zito, Lucas’s talent for designing innovative collections is unmatched in the field.
Materials, Sustainability, and Fabrication
Material plays a central role in Lucas Zito’s work. He uses recycled PETG, sourced from water bottles, for its durability and recyclability. This decision supports a sustainable approach while avoiding unnecessary material mixing. His process moves from digital design to 3D printing and manual assembly, giving full control over production. Zito prints each part individually and assembles it by hand, reducing waste and using only essential material, which is a hallmark of Lucas Zito’s commitment to responsible fabrication.
Patch: When Process Becomes the Design
Patch is a collection that celebrates the process rather than the form, it highlights the stage before a product is fully finished. The objects reveal visible joints, divisions, and construction marks that usually remain hidden. Although the surfaces of Patch are smooth and uniform, they still bear the traces of the manual work that made them that way. These details reflect the balance between algorithmic design and careful hand finishing. Each piece begins as a digital structure and becomes complete through manual assembly and refinement. Designed for private interiors, public spaces, and site specific projects, Patch allows for customisation, ensuring that every object remains unique while retaining a clear identity. Notably, the Patch collection is another example of Lucas Zito bringing process-based design to the forefront.
Lucas Zito and GOOD SELECTION
Lucas Zito launched GOOD SELECTION during Paris Design Week 2024 as a curatorial platform that explores value beyond the object itself. The project brings together designers and artists through a shared vision, encouraging dialogue, cohesion, and collaboration. Rather than acting as a traditional showcase, GOOD SELECTION focuses on building connections between practices and ideas. It reflects Zito’s belief that design gains meaning through collective effort. In summary, the collaborative spirit fostered by Lucas Zito’s platform continues shaping the creative community.
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Leah Ermann is a South African Fashion Business student whose identity and vision are deeply rooted in the landscapes, cultures, and contradictions of her home country. Growing up in South Africa meant being constantly aware of extremes. These realities shaped her sensitivity to the world around her and challenged her understanding of fashion as something far beyond surface-level beauty. In a place where many people are fortunate simply to own a pair of shoes, Leah learned early on that clothing carries meaning, privilege, and responsibility.
Alongside this awareness grew a profound connection to nature and conservation, spending a lot of time in the bush deepened her understanding of the impact humans have on endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Leah sees fashion as a silent but powerful language, a way to express identity, values, and cultural stories without words.
She is driven by a desire to explore the deeper meanings behind collections, to learn from new cultures, and to use fashion as a platform to amplify South African creativity, resilience, and humanity. Ultimately, her goal is to create work that not only reflects where she comes from whilst learning about other cultures, but also contributes to change, honoring both people and the natural world that shaped her.
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