Marcel Wanders
12 CAREER-SHAPING
ENCOUNTERS1981 I met ANNETTE BAKX. When
she became gravely ill, we investigated
alternative medicine and philosophies.
This journey led to my design philosophy,
which appears in Wanders Wonders.
Published by Museum den Bosch in 1993, it
marked the start of my international career1988 I designed Set Up Shades, which
was discovered by RENNY RAMAKERS,
cofounder of Droog, the design company
for which I made Lace Table (1994), Knotted
Chair (1996-1997) and Egg Vase (1997)1995 GIULIO CAPPELLINI called me.
He became a vital figure in my professional
life and a true friend. Among the pieces
I produced with Giulio were Big Shadow
(1988), the New Antiques collection
(1995) and Knotted Chair1997 When I asked CASPER VISSERS
to sell my lighting collection, he surprised
me with his ambition and guts. In
2001 we established Moooi, a platform
for presenting the work of other
designers as well1999 I met ROBIN BEVERS, who became
the CEO of my studio in 2005 and of Moooi
in 2015. He’s my most trusted adviser and
dearest friend2002 I had just started doing interior
design when I met choreographer NANINE
LINNING. Talking endlessly about our
work helped me create a unique theatrical
language for my projects. Our love inspired
my interiors2006 I was invited to speak with
INGEBORG DE ROODE, design curator
at Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum. She
proposed an exhibition, which materialized
as Pinned Up in January 2014. Connecting
to the show’s 240,000 visitors is a
cherished career highlight2007 I was introduced to GABRIELE
CHIAVE in my studio while sanding objects
for my Personal Editions exhibition in Milan.
Over the years he has grown out of my
shadow and become my right-hand man2007 Together with PAUL GEERTMAN,
I developed Westerhuis, my studio’s home
for ten years. Our friendship and love of
Amsterdam led to projects such as my
most beloved hotel: Andaz Amsterdam
Prinsengracht (2012)2008 Through another friend, MICHELE
CANIATO, I became involved in several
challenging and exhilarating projects.
Mondrian South Beach in Miami (2008)
and Mondrian Doha (2017) are among my
proudest interior-design moments2012 I fell for LINSEN ABDON. Our love
of change and sense of responsibility
resulted in our applications for MBAs
at Insead in France. Our time together
strengthened my business prowess and
inspired me to take on risky ventures, such
as Rijks: Masters of the Golden Age2018 All these magical people, events
and manifestations culminated in my
induction into the Interior Design Hall of
Fame (US), a prestigious recognition from
both industry and peers spearheaded
by Interior Design and its legendary
editor in chief, CINDY ALLENprolong her life and improve her health. My
view towards her was very different from the
reality of the rational design industry. I was
working with my head and living with my
heart. It became my challenge to unite the
two worlds.’‘At that point I wrote Wanders Wonders, a
book in which I outlined ten design insights
that challenged the status quo. The first
product I made after publishing it was the
Knotted Chair. The chair wasn’t based on
the book’s content per se, but it reflected my
thinking at the time. It was different on so
many levels, and people recognized that. I
saw it as a kind of coming out: this is me. I
reread the book while working on my retro-
spective at the Stedelijk Museum [in 2014].
It’s primitive – and sweet in its naivety here
and there – but the basis hasn’t changed. It’s
still the fundament of my work.’
‘The Knotted Chair got me noticed in the
press, but companies were now certain I
would never make a “proper” design. Eventu-
ally I grew tired of developing prototypes; I
wanted to make usable pieces, too. I’d been
out of school for eight years, but my results
in the real world were limited. I found a guy
in Amsterdam who made lampshades, which
had gone out of fashion thanks to halogen
lighting. I decided to go against the market
and make oversize shades with him – bigger
than ever. The problem was, I had no idea
how to sell them. I visited Cok de Rooy at
Frozen Fountain [design gallery and store
in Amsterdam]. “Next year these will be
in your store,” I said, “so who will you be
buying them from?” Casper Vissers, he told
me. Casper became my partner in crime, and
about three years later we started Moooi
together. For almost two decades Casper was
the best partner I could dream of, and all it
took to find him was one talk with one guy.
Done! I’m good at solving problems.’
‘It’s important to distinguish between Marcel
Wanders of Moooi and Marcel Wanders
the designer. Moooi is not me; it’s a group
of people who work together. I’m the boss,
but I decide nothing alone. Marcel Wanders
Studio is a bit more complicated. The name
suggests it’s me, but it’s also a group of peo-
ple. Some of my staff can do things I have no
idea how to do. And I share equal authority
on the studio’s designs with [creative direc-
tor] Gabriele Chiave.’‘Four years ago I received my MBA from
INSEAD in France. I work with design and
venture-capital firms in San Francisco. I’m
not very good at leaving things behind; I’m
better at taking them on board. Even though
I like having so many responsibilities, it’s
getting a bit crazy now.’‘If anything has changed in design, it’s that
the scope has broadened immensely. When
I started it was products. Design thinking –
the concept of design in its greater capacity- has grown in every conceivable direction.
Many people who are educated at design
schools don’t end up as designers. Perhaps
they take on a role in government and bring
creativity into our culture in their own way. I
think it’s beautiful that today’s design think-
ing is creating value everywhere.’
‘The one thing I tell young designers is to be
honest to themselves. It’s not easy, but if we
don’t believe our own convictions, we’ll all
end up doing the same things. Diversity is
the key to real innovation and change.’‘I’ve always doubted the certainty of others- and my own to begin with. I research every-
thing until I find answers. I hit my biases with
a cricket bat until they topple over or stand
fiercely strong. I’m allowed to lie to the world
but never to myself. I’ve not spoken about it
in this way before, but that’s how I’ve built my
thinking over the years. I’m only happy when
I’m 100 per cent sure of the way to go. And
I don’t take shit from anyone else – or from
myself. While scrutinizing or accepting my
individual thinking, I’ve built my own model
of the world and have ultimately ended up
alone. A unique yet lonely place.’
‘I’d love to create an opera before I die. Yes,
with design I have a meaningful connec-
tion with my audience. But imagine putting
that audience in a chair and telling them to
shut up and look at my stage for two hours.
There’s light, decor, music, poetry, costumes.
I’d love to feel the energy and the power
of controlling all of it and to reach an even
deeper level of connection, just once. But I’ll
have to become a better designer for that.’ ●
marcelwanders.com‘I realized
design
could be
more than
a strategy;
it could
be culture’
50 PORTRAITS