Born to Swedish and Chinese parents and growing up between Honolulu and Rome, Maia Ming Fong’s influences are global. She now lives in Barcelona, where her multicultural background inspires a streamlined collection of ceramics. I love the whimsy of her designs, best seen in the tableware, like the whale chopstick rests. Obsessed with salt and paper shakers, Fong says she amassed a large collection of shakers she bought and made, then decided to make multiples of the ones she designed and liked most. Whether it’s the vials (€26), dinos(aurs), kisses, dimples or rings, her shakers are lighthearted and elegant. The Olivia cruets (€45), showcase her product designer’s intention for cross-functionality, too. She says, “[they] started out as a project at my ceramics studio for an oil and vinegar set, but then in my kitchen, I prefer to use them for soy sauce and rice vinegar, because I cook a lot of Asian food.” As a fellow Hawaiian, I am excited to see how multiculturalism from our background can lend itself to useful and unique product design.