The things we make shape us back. So we start before form. With what something is for. What it changes. What it carries. Why it deserves to take up space.
We are obsessed with justification.
Does this carry signal or noise?
Is this the thing or the language around it?
Is it alive or dead? Is it necessary?
Shape is the last question we ask.
SIGNAL
Benussi&theFish is a research and design studio led by Dorja and Ivan Benussi, based between Barcelona, Zagreb and Belgrade, active since 2016.
THINKING
THINKING
02
OUR THINKING
(the question stays open)
We measure all we make against the same question: should this exist at all? It is a habit rather than a threshold, and it doesn't switch off when the work is finished.
We made furniture that allows children to move in environments designed to keep them still. Chairs function. The work lands. We keep asking if a better chair was the right answer to a broken system, or if we solved the symptom because the source was harder to reach. We don't know. But the question and the work can still coexist.
This applies to everything we do. We're not sure whether work made under this kind of pressure holds differently. It's less a paralysis than an itch. So we swim.
HABIT
PRACTICE
PRACTICE
03
OUR METHOD
(how the work moves)
Our practice moves from research, strategy and methodology through to brands, products, publications, exhibitions and spatial environments.
We question before, during and after the process. We test what the work means, what it needs, what it can hold and where it still refuses closure.
We draw from the Balkan, Yugoslav and Mediterranean worlds we come from. Their collision of warmth, chaos, beauty and grit shapes our design logic and refuses to let the process stay too clean.
We work with people and organisations building things that need clarity, distinction and internal logic: UN agencies, public bodies, cultural institutions, museums, founders, publishers, artists, brands and independent ventures. Clients have included UNICEF, UN Women, Sanitation and Water for All, the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb, European Capitals of Culture, the Museum of Yugoslavia and the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.
Alongside client work, we originate and develop our own project worlds; Tink Things, Sublimated and med+mlekko.
THE THING
OUR OWN
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Tink Things is an internationally awarded sensory furniture brand for children, built from research into movement, regulation and development. Self-funded from development through production and launch, it has sold across ten countries with organic reach and has been covered by WIRED, Vogue, Milk Magazine and others.
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Sublimated is a long-term research and practice project exploring nervous system intelligence, designed emotion and spiritual cognition. It develops through ASTH research, embodied methods, transmissions and The Guide, a future AI-powered system for training emotional capacity.
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med+mlekko is a space in development in Barcelona, built as a playground for our practice and a public expression of our curatorial worldview. It moves between gallery, store, open studio and gathering place. It brings together design, art, drinks and music through a lens shaped by our long fascination with ritual, symbol and pattern. We gather objects with charge, work with makers who sense beneath the surface and make parts of the creative process visible. Opening in 2026/27.
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![Logo of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, featuring a checkered shield and three crests.]()
Benussi&theFish possesses an exceptional talent for precision in visual identity, branding and layout design work. They are a reliable partner who consistently delivers top-notch results, making them an invaluable asset to any project.
Sanja Jerkovic
Republic of Croatia - Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets -
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Partnering with Benussi&theFish has been transformative. Their expertise captures our company's values perfectly. What sets them apart is their strategic approac. They listen to our needs, understand our goals and elevate our brand. Their creativity, professionalism and attention to detail are evident in every interaction. We are grateful for their impact on our brand and their exceptional design consultancy.
Boris Bibic
Above Academy, London -
![Black silhouette of a speaker on a stand with musical notes around it]()
Seriously, I want these guys to design my whole life!
Nikola Krstovic
International Council of Museums, Belgrade -
![Black background with thin, light-colored, abstract lines forming a geometric shape.]()
Working with Benussi&theFish has been an exceedingly pleasant experience. They consistently managed to encapsulate my thoughts and emotions through both conceptual and visual means. Our success stemmed from excellent communication and their remarkable ability to listen. They genuinely take the time to scan and understand you deeply before creating anything. I am happy to continue my collaboration with Dorja, Ivan and the rest of the team.
Sara Pukanic
Fashion photographer, Zagreb -
![Black and white abstract illustration of a tactical soldier's silhouette holding a rifle, wearing a tactical helmet and body armor.]()
I have no hesitation in recommending Benussi&theFish for their results-driven approach, adaptability and expertise. They are a partner who delivers well, making a measurable impact on our products.
Anna Theresia Thylin
UN Women, Geneva -
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Benussi&theFish transformed the presentation of city statistics, from monotonous and hard-to-read into something lively, informative and appealing.
Darko Sisko
City of Zagreb - City Office for Economy, Environmental Sustainability and Strategic Planning -
![Black and white drawing of a woman with her hands on her head, surrounded by stars.]()
The team at Benussi&theFish just get it. When they did our full branding overhaul, they absolutely nailed it—from the big picture strategy to the tiniest packaging details. They have that magic touch; everything they create for us is pure gold.
T. Poretti & O. Bernardoni
La Suppa, Lausanne -
![The Amazon logo in black.]()
Benussi&theFish exceeded our expectations with their strategic insight and creative brilliance. Working with them has helped transforming our Europe's Futures projects.
Dino Pasalic
IWM – The Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna -
![Stack of four donuts on a white plate, with sprinkles, on a black background.]()
Our experience collaborating with Benussi&theFish has been nothing short of exceptional. The whole team demonstrated an unparalleled ability to transform our vision into a brand identity that perfectly encapsulates our values and principles.
Anja Buckovic Harapin
Djecja Igra kindergarten, Zagreb
We are obsessed with justification: why something should exist at all, and whether it holds once it does.
We care about the tension between utility and beauty, and the role each plays. That is where our work begins and where it stays alive.
We are interested in what actually contributes. To growth. To change. To how we think, live and relate. Work that carries enough weight to shift something in the world around it.