Marcel Wanders is one of the most influential designers of our time, known for his poetic and extravagant touches on the design world. Over a career spanning over 35 years, he has created iconic designs, founded an influential design brand such as Moooi and continues to inspire future generations of designers.
The Birth of Iconic Designs and Wanders’ Fundamental Philosophy
Wanders, who was born in Boxtel, Netherlands in 1963, graduated from Arnhem Art School with high honors in 1988. He began to shape his approach to design by focusing on people rather than objects. Wanders, who said, “You design for individuals, not for the sector,” adopted an approach that put people at the center of his designs.
This approach brought with it the aim that his designs should not only be functional, but also make people feel special and valuable, and evoke different emotions in them. According to Wanders, a good design should appeal to more than one emotion, arouse curiosity in people and inspire them.
The Knotted Chair, which he designed for Droog Design in 1996, was a turning point in Wanders’ career. Made of cord hardened with epoxy resin, this chair was included in MoMA‘s permanent collection and gained an iconic place in design history. This design can be seen as a concrete example of Wanders’ philosophy. Beyond being just a seating area, it is an object that surprises people with its material use and production technique, evoking different emotions in them.
Design is the Art of Making People Feel
The Airborne Snotty Vase, which he designed in 2001, was one of the first examples of digital scanning technology that captures mucus particles emitted during sneezing and transforms them into vases. This design reflects Wanders’ belief that his designs should not only be beautiful and high-quality, but also work well and have a story. With the idea that each design is connected to the previous one and is part of a whole, this vase is also an important link in Wanders’ design chain.
Moooi and the Importance of Collaborations
Wanders, who founded the Moooi design company with Casper Vissers in 2001, also assumes the art direction of the brand. Derived from the Dutch word “Mooi” meaning “beauty”, Moooi offers collections that reflect Wanders’ unique and poetic understanding of design. Moooi is an important platform that allows Wanders’ designs to reach a wider audience.
Wanders has also collaborated with many important brands such as Alessi, B&B Italia, Baccarat, Cappellini, Flos, Magis, MAC Cosmetics and Christofle. These collaborations have allowed Wanders to gain design experience in different areas and at different scales.