Designer working across set design, interiors, and visual production. I build worlds through texture, structure, and light — crafting spaces that support storytelling in image, installation, and moving image.
SET EDITORIAL
INTERIORS
VISUAL PRODUCTION
nsbenitz@gmail.com
@nico.benitz
In the cover‑story for Lampoon Magazine #31 on Mathis Chevalier, I was responsible for the sourcing of objects and overall set design.
Drawing on the feature’s theme of independence and transformation, I curated a minimalist environment where raw textures, industrial materials and selected athletic paraphernalia reframed the fighter’s narrative — from physical combat to cultural introspection.
The result: a space where form meets story, allowing the photograph to articulate strength and vulnerability, legacy and re‑definition. 04/2025
Numéro Netherlands 13: Samuel Elie
For the Fantasy issue of Numéro Netherlands, I collaborated with set designer Sinclair Bryant on the spatial world for Samuel Elie’s editorial. Our goal was to create a minimal, atmospheric environment where sculptural simplicity and soft surrealism could meet.
I contributed to the sourcing of objects and textiles and supported the overall set design, selecting pieces that added quiet symbolism without overwhelming the frame. Clean lines, muted surfaces, and carefully chosen materials shaped a space that feels architectural yet fluid — a world defined by tension between solidity and lightness.
Fabric played an essential role in the structure: draped planes and suspended textiles guided the movement within the set, adding a sense of flow and dreamlike motion. The objects I sourced — from refined vessels to subtle organic elements — introduced small points of emotion and softness, echoing the editorial’s themes of transformation and inner narrative.
Working with controlled, diffused lighting and a gently hazed atmosphere, the set became a soft, immersive backdrop that supports Samuel Elie’s presence without distraction. The final result is a quietly poetic space where fantasy, form, and performance merge.. 06/2025
For Mugler’s FW24 System X One fragrance campaign, I worked as part of the set design team led by Clément Pelisson, contributing to the construction and atmosphere of the two distinct visual worlds developed for the shoot. The project blends Mugler’s futuristic identity with a raw studio sensibility, creating environments that feel both technological and deeply sensual.
In the Slow Reveal universe, our team built a minimal studio setup centered around a 360-degree spinning plate. I supported the sourcing and arrangement of technical elements, cables, and on-set structures that remained visible in the frame, helping shape the intentional “behind-the-scenes” aesthetic. Working with varied lighting moods—spotlight, monocolor washes, and intense backlight—I helped create a space where skin, shadow, and motion become sculptural, with the environment revealing itself slowly as the camera moves.
For the Kaleidoscope world, we constructed an aluminum-paneled corner designed to distort and multiply reflections. I assisted in assembling reflective materials, structuring surfaces, and ensuring the angles interacted cleanly with strobe-influenced lighting. This set needed to feel futuristic and immersive, with metallic textures responding sharply to movement and color.
Across both setups, I contributed to the spatial execution, material choices, and practical construction needed for the dynamic choreography of the cast and the precise bottle close-ups. The final result is a series of elevated, tech-driven visuals that merge Mugler’s iconic sharpness with a tactile, cinematic intimacy.
04/2025
I collaborated with photographer Camille Vivier on the set design for emerging designer Kane William Turner, focusing on creating a clean, sculptural environment that echoed the precision of his garments. I sourced and arranged minimal architectural elements — smooth planes, matte surfaces, and subtle geometric forms — to build a controlled spatial frame around each look. Working with Camille’s lighting approach, I shaped the set to catch shadows, highlight texture, and give the clothing a quiet, gallery-like presence. 11/2024
I assisted Felix Gesnouin in the construction of the promo set at his studio, helping to shape the physical environment that framed the shoot. Drawing on the editorial’s theme of sculptural form and refined elegance, we worked with materials, textures, and structural elements to translate the concept into a tangible space. The result: a minimalist yet dynamic set that amplified movement and expression, allowing the photography to capture both presence and narrative. 02/2025