How software developer Cristina Poputa built mockup studio Just Form

Based in Timișoara, Romania, Cristina Poputa runs Just Form alongside a full-time software development career. Her mockup studio creates high-end scenes for designers, with collections ranging from Fabric & Labels to Plain Objects – the latter celebrating what she describes as “the useful, the overlooked, the beautifully ordinary.” Working with her partner Daniel, Poputa has built a practice rooted in intentional choices: quality over quantity, cohesive visual systems, and a philosophy that keeps things simple and practical whilst leaving room for experimentation. Her journey traces back to childhood, selling hand-drawn animals to classmates, through computer science studies, where she discovered design software. In this chat, she shares how she navigates the tension between two professional worlds, maintains creative focus amid competing demands, and ensures each collection feels cohesive from initial concept through final photography. TBI: Hi Cristina! How are things in Timișoara? CP: Hi! Everything’s great here – I’ve been enjoying the small community events happening around the city and discovering new coffee places on weekends. Timișoara is especially beautiful at this time of year, when the lights are on and the Christmas market is almost ready. As we get closer to the end of the year, I feel more motivated than ever to get ready for what’s coming next.