About
PANAITERA is a design studio founded by Toma and Ruxandra Popescu, combining product design expertise, upholstery craftsmanship, and deep experience in furniture development and prototyping for international manufacturers.
With over ten years of proven work across the international furniture and design landscape, our work has been presented at leading design exhibitions in Europe, such as IMM Cologne and Salone del Mobile Milano, where we showcased projects developed and built together.
Our background combines design vision with hands-on execution:
Toma specializes in Product Design, prototyping, and technical development, with a focus on ergonomics, function, and production-ready solutions.
Ruxandra brings expertise in Designing, stitching, upholstery, quality assessment, and final product finishing, ensuring that every design translates into a precise, durable, and premium product.
At PANAITERA we actively oversee and refine the production of each piece, ensuring the highest standards of craftsmanship, precision, durability, and efficiency.
We collaborate with manufacturers, brands, and partners worldwide to create furniture and design pieces that inspire, connect, and endure.
Over the years, Ruxandra and Toma collaborated with internationally recognized designers such as Franz Schrofer and Hugo de Ruiter. These collaborations have strengthened our ability to integrate creative design with advanced technical solutions.
Before establishing PANAITERA, Toma and Ruxandra contributed to product development while working for Future, the Romanian factory producing exclusively for Gealux (NL). During that period they also worked directly with suppliers such as Studio Schrofer (NL) and Schultz Seating (PL).
As PANAITERA, we have since collaborated directly with partners including Hartmann Möbelwerke (DE), Așkia (RO), Sobha (UAE), and Eurobig (TR) on various design and development projects.
Past collaborations include projects developed for these companies by Toma or Ruxandra (through previous roles and partnerships) or by PANAITERA trough direct contracting.
What services does Panaitera offer?
Strategic Design & Consulting:
Creative Consulting: Offering expertise in market trends, design strategy, and product positioning within the high-end furniture sector.
Brand & Graphic Design: Providing visual development and support to complement your product offerings.
Product Design & Development:
Concept-to-Prototype (Full-Service Product Design): Leading the entire process from moodboards to initial sketches to finalized, engineered components (including 3D modeling, technical surfacing, and material specification).
Integrated Design Engineering (DFM/DFA): Seamlessly combining aesthetic vision with technical requirements (mechanisms, structure, foam components, upholstery detailing, component joinery) for optimal manufacturing efficiency , and on-site validation for comfort and structure.
Prototyping & Production Acceleration:
Rapid Prototyping: Utilizing advanced techniques for fast, accurate physical validation of form and comfort.
On-Site Production Deployment: Leading the hands-on transition and workflow execution directly on the factory floor, dramatically accelerating time-to-market.
Cost Optimization & Material Efficiency
Design and engineering solutions focused on minimizing production costs and improving material utilization without compromising design integrity.
Industrialization & Documentation:
Implementation of complete production documentation for medium- to large-scale manufacturing, including BOMs, cutting templates, and upholstery layouts.
IP Licensing & R&D:
Concept Licensing: Offering exclusive access to fully engineered, proprietary concepts for immediate catalogue expansion.
How can I request a project?
What is the delivery time?
How is payment made?
Payment can be made via bank transfer or other methods agreed upon in the contract.
To request a project, visit the Contact page and fill out the form or contact us via email or phone, detailing your needs.
The delivery time will vary depending on the complexity of the project, and we will clearly communicate the deadlines before starting the work.