Marcel Wanders a Dutch designer who resides in Amsterdam. Who also owns a large design firm that works with many designers around the world and caries the same name as its owner and founder. Marcel Before his rise to fame and the founding of his company he was kicked out of design school. The path that he has journeyed has not been easy. Thought the path he walked he made uniquely his own. Creating form himself guidelines and principles so he could stand alone in a world of copycat designers who have been following the same principles in the same way for as long as designers have existed. Marcel was driven to do thing differently and still does to this day.
Marcell wanders attended the design academy of Eindhoven, until he was kicked out. He later graduated from institute of the arts Arnhem. One of the first design projects of wanders to grab the attention of the masses was the Knotted chair. The knotted chair was designed to be produced using modern materials and practices but assembled using old fashioned techniques. This process was set in motion with the goal to conflict with how modern designs are produced.
The Knotted chair fits its name perfectly resembling a knotted fishermen’s net creating an exoskeleton of knots in the shape of a somewhat typical chair. Looking as if a net was placed over a chair and the chair was removed and the net held the shape it was in. With the knotted chairs innovative design and production process it became an industry icon in 1996. It is also on permanent display in the museum of Modern Art New York.
Soon after Marcel opened his studio in Amsterdam. This studio he built houses many designers that come from all parts of the world. The design studio is somewhat of an in-city foreigner because it has no connection to the city thought it is said that the city is grateful for the Design firm. The company also prides itself on its drive to always give back to the community around it. The company takes advantage of leisurely aspects of the city they have their own boat that cruises the rivers of Amsterdam. This boat acts as a moving design studio and a space for designers to take a brake to refresh their minds for inspiration. The marcel wanders Design firm makes sure its employees have plenty of time to enjoy life. They also gather every Friday for drinks in the office. One unique way that marcel wanders ensures that its designers work well together and spend time talking is to have company lunches every day that are often prepared by the designers themselves. All designers are encouraging to get involved and enjoy lunch with their coworkers. This is all done to ensure that the company is functioning at peak performance.
In 2001 he established Mooi. Mooi is a Dutch furniture and Interior Design company, it was built upon the principles that the knotted chair was. Breaking out of the shell of standard design. To purposely go against the grain of modern Design. Moooi also focuses on bring up a new generation of designers by pushing for new and innovative ideas. By working with up and coming designers around the world. To be able to combine theories and principles that give birth to objects that are redefining what design can be. According to marcel, the goal of Mooi’s efforts is to create an environment that is both beautiful and exciting as to inspire the mind of those who gaze upon their designs. From studying the designs that have come from moooi it can clearly be seen how they are exciting and inspirational. The natural elements combined with the use of modern Design techniques establishes the look that moooi strives to achieve. They have since worked with many businesses and excel at creating welcoming environments that clientele are drawn to.
Marcel wanders is considered a design anomaly. According to marcel he works hard to “create an environment of love, live with passion and make our most exciting dreams come true.” this drive and passion to make dreams come true, is a channel for creating out of this world designs. Creating spaces that look if they could be alien landscapes though he only uses traditional objects to do so. Brining the comfort of the outdoors into large urban skyscrapers is a sorce of comfort for those who are lucky. To be able to spend time within a space that was designed by marcel is a true Luxury.