Daniel Nikolovski—a Skopje-born designer now based in Milan—spent a decade shaping interiors and furniture before something quieter—and sharper—pulled him in a new direction.
In 2023, he launched TRAGA: a glassware brand built on the radical idea that small objects can carry monumental energy.
Today, TRAGA’s playful, sharp-edged glasses are popping up everywhere—from Milan to Melbourne. And Daniel’s mission is clear: to create objects that don’t just serve a function, but leave a mark.
Breaking the Mold
When Daniel first moved to Milan at 18 to study interior design, he thought his career would be about rooms and spaces. And it was—for a while. But every project, every client meeting, every study assignment seemed to pull him back to one thing: objects. Smaller, personal, intentional.
The first TRAGA product—a dual-purpose martini-and-shot glass—didn’t come from a business plan. It was born from instinct. He produced a small batch with local artisans. The response was immediate. Something had struck a nerve.
“I had tried a lot of things independently,” he says, “but nothing really worked. This worked. And when something works, you don’t ignore it.”
A Language of Contrasts
The name—TRAGA—calls back to Daniel’s roots. In Macedonian, “traga” means a trace or mark. A perfect metaphor for objects designed to leave an imprint long after the drink is finished.
Visually, TRAGA pieces echo the boldness of brutalist architecture, shaped by Daniel’s upbringing in Skopje. But there’s a refined, almost radical lightness too—drawing from Italy’s postmodern and rationalist design traditions.
In every piece, there’s duality: Luxury and informality. Function and irreverence.
“I love polished design,” Daniel says. “But I don’t want to be too serious about it. Life isn’t that serious. Design shouldn’t be either.”
It’s why one TRAGA glass can be used for a cocktail… or flipped upside down for a shot. And why the pieces feel equally at home on a white tablecloth or a crowded apartment party.
“I don’t want to make sommelier glasses,” he says. “I want to make objects you live with.”
Glass Without Borders
A year after launch, TRAGA is already stocked across the world—from boutiques in New York to concept stores in Dubai and London. No agents. No sales teams. Just good design, strong visuals, and the slow, steady magic of word of mouth.
His Milan studio is a laboratory. A space for events, collaborations, and experiments. A showroom, yes—but mostly a launchpad for ideas.
This spring, TRAGA hosted Glasslands—a group show spotlighting independent glass designers pushing the boundaries of the material. It was a reminder that in a city dominated by mega-fairs and monumental furniture launches, there’s still room for insurgent ideas—and smaller, more personal revolutions.
Shaping the Next Chapter
New pieces are already on the way.
This fall, Daniel will release two new designs: a sculptural coffee mug and a minimalist water glass (the latter created through an open-call collaboration with designer Federico Fontanella).
The vision is expanding, but the ethos stays the same: Objects that are functional, but never boring. Design that’s polished, but never pretentious.
The Lesson in All This
Spending time with Daniel was a reminder that creative paths are rarely straight—and almost never fully planned.
TRAGA wasn’t born from a grand roadmap. It came from trial, error, instinct, and risk. From putting something into the world and seeing where it could lead.
And that’s often the hardest step for any creative: to start. To say, “Here’s my idea. Here’s my voice. Here’s my work. What do you think?” Without certainty. Without a guaranteed outcome.
But it’s in that first leap—however small, however rough—that something new can begin to take shape. Something bold enough to leave a mark.
This feature is part of an ongoing series by Relish—spotlighting brands and creatives with Balkan roots who are shaping the future of design, food, fashion, and beyond. Relish is a creative studio bridging Skopje and Chicago.
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Words: Dimitar Popov
