I guess I’ll demystify the life of a young designer but running a studio requires a lot of different types of work. It’s not just designing but also emailing and communication, as well as taking care of production and logistics. A typical day for me right now might start by biking to my studio in the morning, having a coffee and starting with my emails – it’s quite an office-type job at the moment! In regards to the production of my work, I often prototype in my studio and tend to collaborate with other producers to finish some of my pieces, so I have to travel a lot. Regardless, every day is usually something different, it’s exciting!

It started with an interest in mirrors. I worked with them for my graduation piece at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, titled Isometric Mirrors (2011). Mirrors and glass as materials always intrigued me and I felt like I needed to change how people look at them. Glass is a material that is kind of outdated and usually just blueish and found typically in offices and tables. I started working with colours and different finishings to give it a sort of new life. I want people to look at the glass and not through it.

I don’t really have a system for choosing a colour. Certain shapes or objects inspire me. I look at something and follow my gut feeling on what colour it should be. If I find a colour that’s interesting to me, I’ll find other colours that bring it out harmoniously. I do see some references to nature in my work, like the beauty of sunsets, for example. I also like to use etched glass to give a fuzzy soft feeling in some pieces.

I don’t think I have a favourite colour. I’m currently furnishing my new apartment and I realize how little colour I have around me – everything is natural wood, all the colours of the materials in their natural states. So in my daily life, I don't really have much colour, even so in my clothes. I love to work with colour but I don't have much around me, I like to be in a neutral space. Colour is one of the things that really interests me but I don't want my work to be only recognized by that. However, if I’d have to pick one… I like blue.

There are functional objects but that’s not where my focus lies; I’m not producing industrial mass-market products. I take a very conceptual approach with a strong focus on aesthetics. Most of the time, I work on specific projects and create unique pieces.

No, I don’t think it’s perceived as only art. I’ve sold pieces to clients who use my work daily in their homes. However, people perceive glass as something too fragile, being too scared to ever use it – it does put some stigma on my work. But this isn’t my worry, I do think my pieces should be used. I obviously don't think I could compete with the industrial design when it comes to functionality but that’s not my main priority or what people look for when they approach my work.

These are two very different experiences. Rasmus has a graphic design studio, which I did before even studying at the design academy. My background is in graphic design – I thought that’s what my career would be. Rasmus gave me some great advice: to learn to work with materials and craft, which is what the school is most recognized for. I realized that I enjoy working in three-dimensional spaces. I might think like a graphic designer but I need to work with both 2-D and 3-D space.
I worked with Stadler during my last year of university. He has a strong visual concept and he’s the type of designer that has many different types of projects: from working with industrial design to art galleries and curating. This experience gave me an introduction to the design and gallery work, which I previously had no familiarity with.

I follow a lot of art but as for design, I couldn’t single out one specific designer. I think there’s a lot of talent in the younger generations, I’m always appreciative of the work of my classmates and recent graduates in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

I was educated in the Netherlands and already built a network here, so it made sense for me to want to stay. It’s an exciting place to be! Something is always happening – maybe not on the scale of London, Paris or New York, but it's a cosier, more relaxed and healthier environment to be in. I have to travel a lot, so it’s a great base for me.

A few. I'm currently working on my first lighting piece. Next to that, I'm continuously collaborating with architecture and interior design studios on various scales of projects ranging from private commissions to retail spaces. I've just completed a pop-up store in Amsterdam for Bang&Olufsen where I've taken a rather different approach working with metal and stone. Frankly, I'm very fortunate to be challenged with a different type of projects, as this allows me to expand my work and most importantly to grow as a design studio. Work never gets boring.