Maria Struk transforms molten glass into objects that toe the line between design and delight. Since launching Maria Ida Designs in 2015, the Vancouver-based glass artist has been creating functional, unpretentious hand-blown objects that bring warmth and personality into everyday spaces. 

We visited Maria in her showroom above Terminal City Glass Co-op, where she brings glass to life in the hot shop. Perfect copies of candy-bright pieces share shelf space with delightfully wobbly experiments. Here, it’s easy to see how curiosity, patience, and a love of colour shape every object she makes.

Q: What 3 words would your family/friends use to describe you? 

A: Curious, thoughtful, and independent.

Q: Do you remember the very first piece you made?

A:  It was a very small paperweight. I thought it was the most amazing thing ever, even though it was just a blob [laughs]. My mom still has the first paperweight I ever made, it’s pretty cute.

Q: What advice would you give to your younger self just starting out in the hot shop?

A: I would remind myself that nothing needs to be perfect right away. It’s a learning process, and it takes time to get good at glassblowing. I would be easier on myself, and be kind to myself.

Q: Your pieces have a candy-like, joyful quality. Are there any edible inspirations that influence your palette or shapes?

A: I love candy! Everything I make is very candy-inspired. Some of my favourites are Nerds and M&M’s. Most of the pieces I create are based on different candies.  

Q: How much does spontaneity play a role in your process, versus careful planning?

A: When I’m making production items, everything is planned out and not spontaneous. If I’m working on something new, I kind of have a general idea of how I would like it to look. Learning something new and working with something new can be challenging at times, so I kind of just go with the flow. 

Q: Your pieces are as functional as they are beautiful. What do you hope people feel when they live with your objects day to day?

When people interact with my objects, I really hope they feel joy and happiness, and it reminds them of their childhood. I hope they feel nostalgic and happy. 

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