SMUGA is a compact everyday folding knife created with one simple idea in mind: to make a highly versatile, approachable tool while still giving it a distinctive visual character.
As a Bestechman project, SMUGA was designed to be a knife for everyday use — practical, comfortable and accessible, without sacrificing the character of the design. I wanted the ergonomics, blade shape and overall feeling to be intuitive and familiar, while still clearly reflecting my own design language.
The name SMUGA comes from the Polish word for a trail or streak — like the trail of light left behind by a shooting star. This idea of movement became one of the key inspirations behind the visual design.
Although SMUGA is a solid, medium size knife measuring around 20 cm overall, I wanted it to look light and dynamic. The flowing lines of the handle, the elongated silhouette and the way the different surfaces transition into one another create a strong sense of movement. The goal was to make the knife appear as if its form is constantly moving forward.
For me, SMUGA is about combining a straightforward, functional everyday knife with a sense of lightness and motion. It is a simple and accessible design, but one that still speaks my own visual language.
— GRZEGORZ GRABARSKI, Designer of SMUGA
