Even as a little girl, Josipa Maras knew she wanted to create. Her love of art shaped her path – from her first painting exhibitions, her academic education at the Faculty of Graphic Arts, design and illustration, to her bold step into entrepreneurship ten years ago when she founded Studijo. It is a wallpaper brand whose design has become synonymous with innovation, creativity and uncompromising quality.

The excellence of Josipa Maras’ work has been confirmed by the dominance of the Studijo brand on the podium of the most prestigious design competitions. Today, Josipa successfully promotes Croatia as a global leader in design, proving every day that Croatian talent can compete and surpass global standards.

“Although this is the first time I have received such a significant and prestigious recognition from the business sector, I feel as if I have already experienced this moment. Back in high school, a family friend of ours received the Manager of the Year award and that scene is etched in my memory. “Since that day, I have seen myself in a similar situation countless times in my mind, but I have never told anyone. When you dream of being an artist, even the thought of being able to live off your work sounded almost unrealistic. But here, two decades later, under the auspices of CROMA, we are witnessing the realization of a dream,” said Josipa Maras upon receiving the award.

The Manager of the Year Award recognizes those who not only successfully lead their companies, but also inspire others, set new standards and leave a positive mark on society. The company’s achievements are assessed on the basis of financial results, such as domestic market share, export growth, new and retained jobs, business expansion and innovation in products and services. Also important are qualitative indicators such as career achievements, education, social engagement and strategic response to climate change. An expert jury, consisting of distinguished business leaders, academic experts and media representatives, annually recognizes entrepreneurs who shape the future of the market with their passion, commitment and innovation.

“Entrepreneurship, just like life, is not something you can do alone, because you can’t fly with just one wing. This is a team sport and this award is not just mine – it belongs to my husband, our team, family and friends. But above all, I am grateful to the One Above, who guided us through all the challenges and rewarded every effort a hundredfold. I sincerely thank all the people who have been part of my journey, the expert jury and the CROMA association for this exceptional recognition. I already have design awards on my walls, but this one has a special place because it comes from the profession – it is a confirmation of business excellence based on real numbers and results. This gives us new impetus to continue building, creating and growing, not only as leaders and employers, but also as better people,” concluded Josipa Maras.

In addition to the awarded business success, the Studijo continues to win awards for excellence in design – last year they concluded by winning the Archiproducts Design Award 2024, while they opened the new year with two prestigious awards – German Design Award Winner 2025. The Ethereal and Fable wallpapers won awards for their strong visual stories and artistic value.