On our recent trip to Amsterdam, I had the opportunity to go to the Stedelijk Museum, a design museum, where I was introduced to the copious work of distinguished Dutch designer Marcel Wanders.

I had never heard of him by name but was familiar with his knotted chair and his Zeppelin light. His products have even graced my neighborhood Target store.

He uses a lot of interesting approaches -and I made note:

• Creates 3D printed models of installations of his work
• Turns to craft like macrame to re-establish the human element in design
• The interpretation of an object like a chair changes with the color of the background
• Combines surface texture on unexpected material – example, lace printed rubber

He also has some very interesting thinking. And I quote:

• Less is more is a state of pathological delusion.
• If you think surface is superficial, then your eyes have proved that your brain doesn’t work.
• If poetry is about love and art is about love and theatre is about love and if opera is about love, why do we think design is about functionality?

While I don’t have a quote, Wanders emphasis on story telling hit me most and in fact has changed the way I approach photographing.

But first, in my next post, let’s look at evidence of these concepts in Wander’s work.

Other Amsterdam Posts:

• Thinkering at Hôtel Droog
• The Unexpected at Hôtel Droog