Stories

A collaboration that celebrates the art of Italian leatherworking
”Dakota is a testament to the beauty of simplicity and minimalism, folding cushion-shaped elements into a comfortable and inviting form. For me, the sofa taps into a universal design language, creating shape through gentle curves and a clean silhouette. But what truly sets Dakota apart are its subtle details: when you take a closer look, the stitches and finishes tell a story of craftsmanship and the unmistakable touch of Italy’s artisans.

Divided into three elemental parts—seating, backrest, and armrest—that seamlessly merge into each other, the sofa gains its unique signature. With its thin metal legs gently pushed into the leather upholstery, an illusion of lightness is created, lifting the sofa from the floor. In my opinion, it is a timeless piece, distinguished by graceful lines and refined proportions.“ - Roderick Vos

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I always wondered how there’s no wired connection between the base unit and a toothbrush itself once you reload it. Instead they form two halves of a transformer, with electromagnetic induction transferring power from the coil in the base unit to that in the toothbrush. This concept is quite interesting to use for a light concept so I tried to experiment with this idea, creating a multi-functional lamp. By making it possible to change the top part, one can put the shade in all kind of directions. The fun part is that this project did put me out of my comfort zone. To create a light like this made me more an electronics engineer than a designer. But it was worth it! We created STICKY, our magnetic table lamp.

The Belly Cabinet for ITEM_Amsterdam at Milan Design Week brings the liquor cabinet back in fashion. The design of the naturally flowing exterior, that fuses angles with curves, houses practical shelving for bottles as well as a spinning display platform in the center of its belly.

Glamorous on the outside, simple on the inside. With its unique form and seamless mounting, The Belly Cabinet is a true eye-catcher for any home.

Roderick Vos: "I have always been fascinated by the process of vacuum forming and making molds. My design approach to the Liquor Cabinet may seem improvised, but it certainly wasn't easy to achieve a perfect balance between technology, material, and aesthetics. When heating this sheet material, you can shape it into almost any organic form. That was exactly my starting point; exploring the plasticity of this material."

Roderick Vos: "But let's not take our profession too seriously. Humor is important too. The Belly Liquor Cabinet can display a variety of liquors and glasses, enabling a wide array of choices to be made by its user. However, the shape of the cabinet suggests something else..."

"Who has been drinking all the liquor?”

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I have always been fascinated by the leather Club chairs like the well known famous Chesterfield.  The iconic club chair originated in the UK in the early 20th century, particularly during the Art Deco and Belle Époque periods. These chairs were initially designed for the exclusive gentlemen's clubs and lounges of London. They were created to provide a comfortable and stylish seating option for the members of these clubs, who would gather to socialize, smoke cigars, and enjoy various forms of entertainment. I never understood why a modern interpretation of this design was never created in the 21st century. So I created LARGO, a piece that we will produce this year in a limited Studio Edition.

The Twisty chair designed for HC28 Cosmo by Roderick Vos wins the ELLE DECO international design awards. EDIDA CHINA 2023 / 2024 in the category best furniture.

Our latest design for Dutch brand QLIV, a wooden table full of curvy lines. The legs are placed in an asymmetrical way, and the shape of the table top is reminiscent to the wing of a spitfire. Structural strength and simplicity was the basis for this table design. With its signature corner detail the oak table MITCHELL represents a clear example of a minimalist table. These designs consist of a serie of dining and low tables in different lengths.

Lighthouse is an experiment by our studio.  A standing light that carries beauty in both its technical structure and purpose. This industrial looking lamp is a piece that I had in my mind for quite some years and always wanted to realize. Finally it’s been done! This ‘periscope' lamp can extend to a height of 190 centimeters. The steel lampshade on the top can be tilted sideways so you can use this lamp in a variety of ways. A great industrial looking lamp that is adjustable in height and has a 360° rotation lampshade. We make it in a limited edition.

During the 52nd edition CIFF Shanghai furniture fair from 5th until 8th September in Shanghai we presented an armchair for design brand HC28 Cosmo.

The chair was designed by our Studio, working with A.I generated images. We re-interpreted these images into new tubular shapes as a starting point for this project.
'Artificial Intelligence meets Artistic Intelligence’. I certainly would say that our project is an investigation in what AI can do for our industry, but at the same time I feel that
'a human touch’ is needed to create a product that is appealing to a human.

Photography: Marthe Bodil Vos

At the HC28 Cosmo booth during CIFF Shanghai furniture fair 2023. For this project we created an armchair and made a concept for the presentation of this design. The Twisty chair embodies futuristic minimalism, a sleek armchair with fluid lines sculpted from foam and finished with a stretch fabric upholstery. It epitomizes the essence of simplicity. This armchair is a glimpse into a world reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's 'A Space Odyssey.' Kudos to the exceptional craftsmanship of HC28 and the wonderfull animation by CGI artist @vito.boox @kilian.vos and sound design by @wiebe.vos.

Photography: Marthe Bodil Vos

The barrel chair based on straight lines and ergonomic curves, with a wink to the archetypical design of a wooden barrel. It’s more or less garden furniture, a piece made from 100 procent recycled plastic. Rotomolded furniture is structurally robust. Additionally, furniture that is manufactured as one piece is much less likely to break than furniture that is produced using multiple parts connected with mechanical fasteners. In a nutshell, The Barrel chair is an indestructible object. The moulds have been developed now and we expect to launch this piece this year.

A new design for MOOOI: carpet 'Flint' owes its inspiration and strong character to the material flint stone. The brown, gray and white tones of this primordial stone are determined by the minerals present in the rock, as well as the conditions in which it was formed. White color patches usually contain little or no impurities, while brown and gray patches contain iron. The density of the stone creates a characteristic drawing in the pattern, and this was the inspiration for this new collection for Moooi Carpets. In contrast, flint is a brittle rock that easily splits at the edges. So therefor it was decided to give this rug designs these typical colored lines and shapes.

The Frozen Fountain, ambassador of Dutch Design for many years, existed 30 years now and of course that had to be celebrated.

Roderick Vos:
'At the end of October, Cok de Rooy of furniture store The Frozen Fountain asked me and many other Dutch designers to design a vase for this 30 years celebration.
Of course I wanted to make something for him, but there was some time pressure to make this happen in such an absurdly short time. In short: I had to create a diversion. It became a joke: with an adjustment in an already existing mold of the Mama vase. Why not? : 'just tie a knot in 1 of the spouts of our iconic MaMa vase for Cor Unum'. Sometimes you shouldn't always take our profession too seriously, right..? The presentation '50 vases' in Amsterdam has become beautiful and really worth a visit. '

The vase is made in a limited edition of 50 pieces, each vase is signed by Roderick himself and they are only for sale at Cor Unum and The Frozen Fountain and our online shop

The Pode magazine 2023, which recently rolled off the presses, is groundbreaking in many ways. Product photos have been (almost) completely banned from the book so that the new collection comes into its own. Most striking are the manipulated images. Art directors Claire and Roderick Vos challenged the photograph duo (Benning-Gladkova / Arjan Benning & Polina Gladkova ) to combine photography with computer animations. It creates a magical effect that is surreal and at the same time believable and incredibly atmospheric.

Chair Kaboom makes a statement. Round, friendly, and full of character. Completely different from the slender chairs you’re used to – and yet instantly familiar. It’s as if it’s appeared right out of your favorite comic book! Thanks to its rounded shape, Kaboom is comfortable, but also very sturdy. And that strong posture has a function. This clever design is rotationally molded in one piece. The thicker the hollow forms, the firmer the chair. Kaboom is indestructible! Roderick: “When I’m designing, I want to have fun. I’m always looking to push boundaries. And that’s also how Fatboy works. We both make unusual products for everyday use that make you happy. In that respect, working with Fatboy feels like coming home.”

A striking example of Roderick’s design philosophy is his new ‘Broadway’ sofa, the transition from the front to the sides is not square or rounded, but chamfered at a 45 degree angle. So simple and also so brilliant that it makes you wonder ‘why did nobody else think of this?’ The unique silhouette this gives the ‘Broadway’, is underlined by a thick ‘cord’—covered in the same material as the sofa—, which traces the outline of each element. The silhouette also derives its strength from the fact that each element has been reduced to its essence: a seat and a back, without loose cushions interrupting its visual calm.

Always in search of new design directions and techniques, CLAIRE VOS asked herself the following question; what happens when you decontextualize the versatile shapes and colors of nature, morphing and liquifying it into new patterns? Imagine a carpet collection inspired by the ‘objects of nature, in which each individual design highlights a different mineral, organism or animal, such as the ‘marl stone’, the ‘tulip flower’ or an ‘Ara bird’. In this series, nature becomes fluid, and the shape of each carpet is dictated by the pattern of its original inspiration. With the ‘Liquid Layers’ series, Claire Vos created a design technique where the possibilities are infinite, resulting in a unique approach towards pattern design that surprises layer by layer.

Our fireplace design called Fennek, created for Dutch brand RB73 is a compact outdoor fireplace available in two width, 50 and 80 centimeters. In order to see the flames as much as possible, I created an object with four sides of glass, and a concealed doorhandle between the door and right leg. Fennek has great details and is made of CorTen steel. This material is weather resistant, which means that the life of the product is considerably longer. In other words: place the stove outside and nature takes care of the rusting process. This makes Fennek unique. In addition, the outdoor fireplaces are closed so that you are not bothered by smoke, flying ash or fire sparks on your terrace. The sides with glass are equipped with the SGI system. This 'clean glass system' ensures that an airflow is created close to the window. This promotes the combustion process. This means that the window remains exceptionally clean and you can continue to enjoy the atmospheric play of flames.

The tulip vase is a vase specially designed for tulips and mainly serves as a showpiece and status symbol. The first ceramic tulip vases were developed in Delft in the 17th century and are decorated with a Delft blue or Chinese decor. I have always found them fascinating objects and now I wanted to create a modern 21 century interpretation. Large examples from the 17th century consisted of stackable elements, the total of which was sometimes more than one and a half meters high. This concept also has a practical consideration; smaller shapes are easier to produce and to handle in the kiln. On each object that you stack, a few flowers can be placed in the vase all around, always in a separate spout. The shape of some tulip vases is pagoda-like and seems to be inspired by the Porcelain Tower of Nangking. My concept will be developed this year on a 3d clay printer, using the modern techniques of today. But with a wink to the old pyramid tulip vase.

Claire Vos; 'The urge to form a contemporary carpet series by visually folding new shapes, as it were, was my starting point for this COLLAGE collection for the Chinese brand HC28. Different pile heights are playfully framed in a balanced composition. Natural tones are combined with contrasting signature black and accent colors such as turquoise and soft yellow.

‘IWA’ is Japanese for ‘stone’ and designer Roderick Vos thought of cartoonist Ed Benedict, the creator of Fred Flintstone, when he drew his ‘IWA’ coffee table, imagining Barney Rubble sitting at his ‘IWA’ dining table. These oak tables share a certain vernacular, but each with their own signature. The coffee table is a miracle of innovative use of materials, with humble plywood stacked and milled in waves, creating an exciting flame-like pattern. The dining table is how a child would draw a table – simple and pure. But the two bases can be placed in different positions and can even be turned upside down: you actually are designing your own table!

It is always a fantastic inspiring job for our studio to create a new pod catalog every year. It's always something to look forward to. All the newly launched models, in combination with the new product and atmosphere photography, are then added to the existing images from the previous magazine. Everything then comes together in one visual language, and in our opinion this is a nice end to a creative season with the entire Pode team, and we can think about new product typologies again. With this magazine we try to inspire again, we give a look behind the scenes and we put the new designs in the spotlight. On to the new season!

With his coffee table series ‘IWA’—Japanese for ‘stone’—, Roderick Vos celebrates the hidden aesthetics of humble plywood. The stratification of this undervalued material, commonly used in construction, creates the most amazing effect when a stack of sheets is milled into an undulating silhouette. Exposing the variations in colour, suddenly large flames appear to be licking their way up the sides, meeting their counterparts in the oak-veneered top. Appearing to be sculpted by nature, like a rock that has eroded over time, ‘IWA’ is in fact a feat of human ingenuity and technology.

Claire Vos: ‘ Musett Design is slow design. In this slow movement Musett Design seeks to break with the take-make-waste and exploit attitude as is seen everywhere. Musett Design contributes to a Good, Clean & Fair world in which sustainability and social responsibility are pivotal values. A Musett Design Abaca rug upgrades & enriches an interior in its own unique way. My carpet serie GLOW for Musett is a tasteful combination of natural colour, texture and shape and provides warmth and character to any interior.'

It’s difficult to categorise Dutch Studio Benning & Gladkova. Their work breathes with a sense of movement and wonder. As art directors, we came in contact with Arjan a few years ago, and from then on we have worked together creating all brand images for dutch manufacturer Pode. In deed, his surrealistic photo’s cross the boundaries between photography and fine art. And now, these images are inseparably connected to Pode. Thank you Arjan & Polina for this inspiring cooperation.

Thermal modification begins by heating the wood to 450º Fahrenheit in a vacuum with all oxygen removed from the space. While Ash will combust at 300º Fahrenheit, the removal of the oxygen prevents combustion and allows the sugars in the wood to caramelize. The caramelizing of the sugars gives the Ash the dark brown colors and essentially begins a petrification process which makes the wood water resistant. So our side table design Bijou is perfect for in and outdoor use. The caramelized sugars create the wonderful dark brown color, making it an absolutely gorgeous wood.

Marv is a tuxedo sofa. Elegant and timeless, in which linear and wavy lines converge to form an ‘organic cubist’, according to designer Roderick Vos. He started with the ‘monoblock’ and cut away all excess materials. The result is powerful and compact seating with pure lines. Marv is the perfect family sofa that you can place in the centre of the room or against the wall. A sofa of great simplicity that, due to its narrow sledge-style legs, appears to float above the ground.

Six years ago we were asked to become art directors for Dutch furniture brand Pode. It was an exciting task for us, as we were more or less a product design office. However, an art director is a bridge between design talent and the executive team or the client, and we thought this could be a challenge we definitely could learn from. Art Direction is a diverse, fast-paced and exciting role that combines deadline management, design know-how, creative strategy, people and resource management while acting as a liaison between designers and executives in order to manage expectations and provide clearness. Now, six years down the road, we are proud how the Pode brand has grown and developed. https://www.pode.eu

Always in search of new design directions and techniques, Claire Vos asked herself the following question; what happens when you decontextualize the versatile shapes and colors of nature, morphing and liquifying it into new patterns? Imagine a carpet collection inspired by the ‘objects of nature', in which each individual design highlights a different mineral, organism, or animal, such as the ‘marl stone’, the ‘tulip flower’ or an ‘Ara bird’. In this series, nature becomes fluid, and the shape of each carpet is dictated by the pattern of its original inspiration. With the ‘Liquid Layers’ series, Claire Vos created a design technique where the possibilities are infinite, resulting in a unique approach towards pattern design that surprises layer by layer. Liquid Layers is a design by our studio for Moooi Carpets.

Most times the better designs are the ones that define simplicity. In this case the use of Waterjet cutting for a marble table design. This is a process by which materials are cut with a high-pressure water jet and is used to process marble and stone. A high pressure pump that increases the water pressure to about 4,000 bar, and this allows it to cut almost any material. By seeing this 2 dimensional process, I came up with the idea to make a flat packed side table design. Simple to install after opening the box. We created 3 marble tables in different heights, only existing of three 2 dimensional components each, avoiding complexity. The waterjet ridges on the side of the material gave the table its expressive look! Welcome to our family of products, Ridge Table.

Step into a unique colored pattern world. Inspired by minerals, birds, flowers, and the whole spectrum of beauty created by nature. The Liquid Layers carpets by Claire Vos are inspired by objects of nature morphed and liquified into new patterns. The carpets are available in four colorways and two shapes: Agate, a powerful luck stone that comprises bygone crystals; Pebble, smooth-out pebbles in timeless greys and earth-tones; Tulip, an array of colors found in the typical Dutch landscapes in spring; and Marl, different natural-colored layers of stone.

Claire Vos’ Jewels of Glass velvet pillows will embellish your sofa with its very own jewellery. Inspired by the striking colours found in gemstones, Claire Vos created a pattern of glass bubbles held together by a tangle of loosely woven yarn. The design is worked down to the smallest detail, making it difficult to stop staring. The Jewels of Glass Pillows are made from soft velvet and come in two sizes and two colours, quartz and emerald.

If there is one thing that defines Japanese aesthetics, it is that unique combination of seemingly simple lines and intricate craftsmanship. Dutch designer Roderick Vos took this centuries-old adage on board for his ‘San’ coffee tables. The oak veneer shows the saw marks- a typically Japanese design feature, celebrating the material and the artisans transforming it. ‘San’ is Japanese for ‘three’ and the three-dimensionality of these two-tier tables is underlined by the angle at which the top is set over the lower shelf. Inspired by the art of origami (paper folding), these angles allow you to create a wide range of interesting shapes, using two—or more—‘San’ tables. San is a product for Dutch brand linteloo.

For our cushion designs for client HC28 we did choose for an interesting technology, ink jet printing on textile. One of the biggest advantages of digital printing is the reduction in waste compared to some other methods of printing. With traditional printing, manufacturers would have to print hundreds or thousands of metres at a time to be economical.  This is because screen printing requires a unique screen to be produced for every colour in the design.Whatever they could not use or sell would end up as waste. With digital printing, HC28 can print fabric on demand one metre at a time.  This means a lot less fabric and ink waste. Produce what you sell, not sell what you produce. Our cushion designs Mirror Miracles is a search into unique pattern designs printed on fabric with comfortable texture.

Separated threads in multi shades and colors are sorted and re-arranged in the 'RAVEL' collection of digitally designed carpets by Claire Vos for Moooi Carpets. The printed carpet UN-ROLL feels as if a loosely woven textile cloth is unrolled and cut. Filaments are curled up and the colored lines are carefully arranged into an organically shaped carpet. RE-MINGLE reveals the beauty of raveled & folded yarns coming together in a textile island shape.  The 'RAVEL' collection is the result of research where printed illusion and the realistic texture of textile intersect. The color mingling and gradients gives this contemporary collection the typical Claire Vos signature.

This chair idea was a result of our technical interest in roto-moulding manufacturing. This is a plastics moulding technology which is ideal for making hollow products. The concept of rotational moulding is very simple. A plastic material, normally in powder form is placed into a hollow mold, usually made from cast aluminium. When the mold is closed it rotates slowly on two axis, where it forms a uniform layer against the heated mould wall. For this chair project I decided to use rounded, strong cylindrical shapes to gain strength. It turned out to become a cartoonish type of product in form and we loved it! Kaboom is made from recycled polyethylene and suitable for in & outdoor use.

Exposé of hereditary talent and infectious enthusiasm: this exhibition is primarily a tribute to Henk Vos: the furniture designer, the interior architect, the man behind Vos Interieur, and the design castle Maupertuus. But both brothers Bart and Roderick Vos who organize the exhibition also zoom out. Using a wonderful selection of their designs, products, and relics, they draw attention to the special fact that their family has already has been fascinated by furniture, fashion, visual art, and architecture for generations.

Exposé of hereditary talent and infectious enthusiasm: this exhibition is primarily a tribute to Henk Vos: the furniture designer, the interior architect, the man behind Vos Interieur, and the design castle Maupertuus. But both brothers Bart and Roderick Vos who organize the exhibition also zoom out. Using a wonderful selection of their designs, products, and relics, they draw attention to the special fact that their family has already has been fascinated by furniture, fashion, visual art, and architecture for generations.

https://www.pode.eu/en/magazine

We are now in the sixth year of our art directorship for dutch furniture brand Pode. Magazine no.6 has just been printed and we are proud of the endresult! This magazine can be requested at www.pode.eu. Thank you Benning & Gladkova for the great pictures!

An inspiring cooperation: HC 28 is a Chinese furniture brand committed to exploring new innovations in furniture design and carpet making. For this company we created three hand tufted carpet designs, called Halo, Cornice and Tumble. The tufting technology is quite interesting: a gunmachine was used for inserting wool material into the textile covered frame according to our design. The combination of a pile and loop in different heights gives these contemporary carpets an interesting modern look and feel. A perfect match in shape, color and technique. We presented all these designs and our sofa NEST at the chinese CIFF furniture fair in Shanghai. Thank you, Jianwei LI for this inspiring cooperation!

Lacquer was a popular form of decoration and protective covering in ancient China. It was used to colour and beautify screens, furniture, bowls, etc. Time-consuming to produce, Chinese lacquerware became highly sought after by those who could afford it and by neighbouring cultures. Our product designs, the STRATA collection, for the chinese design brand HC28 contains a series of hardcore industrial-style cabinets. My inspiration comes from Ming-Dynasty design and minimalism. Simple with power and clearly structured, the collection writes an epic of cabinet in a design language of today. Modern technology is applied to form the exterior which was used to be made by hand. High-end baking varnish adds fluid light on the surfaces. The cabinets speak for themselves with no need of extra decoration. It’s myz personal homage to the old chinese technique of lacquerware.

The colour blue gained special significance in the history of Chinese ceramics. I personally have always loved the dark blue Martaban vases, that originally come from Qishicun in Guangdong Province. The Samarra Blue or Sumatra Blue cobalt was rich in iron, which yielded a glaze with a darker blue appearance. With manufacturer Cor Unum we tried to create a glaze matching to those old wonderful Martaban vases and named it Martaban Blue.

https://www.pode.eu/en/magazine

We are now in the fifth year of our art directorship for dutch furniture brand Pode. Magazine no.6 has just been printed and we are proud of the endresult! This magazine can be requested at www.pode.eu. Thank you Benning & Gladkova for the great pictures!

For several years the collection of Jan Wolleswinkel 'Pols Potten' has caught my attention on International Fairs, and we finally were able to propose an innovative vase-design for them. I personally think they are making wonderful artisan products, enriching our personal living spaces with the greatest attention to detail. They simply love building a brand, and it shows. Their team makes extensive travels around the world searching for unique one of a kind-manufacturers. This is always inspiring from a designers perspective. One could say their collection favors traditional handcrafting techniques and the results are exquisite designs that communicate international living flair.

The new Pode magazine 2020 has been printed and as art directors for this brand I must say that we are very satisfied with the end result. Especially the artistic photography by duo Benning & Gladkova has made the magazine look outstanding. But there are still so many plans for the collection so it is time to move on with new dreams..! The magazine can be requested at www.pode.eu.

I always have liked working with the material clay. Especially the proces, turning liquid clay into a slib casted end product, has fascinated me. Realizing a reproducible design can be tricky once a while. One needs to understand how to create casting production molds and properly divide your object for the best results. Artistic and technical insights are inseparably intertwined. Let's be honest: not every design idea can be produced. And even then it can be a struggle to achieve a wonderful three dimensional end result. This specific project with manufacturer Cor Unum is my personal homage to designer Zweitse Landsheer and to an almost forgotten part of our cultural heritage in industry, Dutch ceramics. Vase Nefertiti is a stylistic addition to all my previous ceramic designs, created in the last 20 years.

During the last 4 years we have been developing quite some different exhibition stands for Dutch furniture brand Pode. To realize such presentations a lot of construction material is always being used, often only for just one week. Enough of that! So this year our office designed a re-usable stand, more or less 'meccano like’ made out of steel components. Now, for the coming years, we can assemble an exhibition stand with our components and each year add a few new ideas to supplement our existing steel modules. So playing isn’t just for children! In cooperation with Mimaki Europe we printed a gradient on re-usable mirror foil and unrolled it in our specially designed screens.

Bibo, our first design introduced in 2020. It’s a foam injection moulded armchair for Dutch brand Pode.eu. The way how you can select the fabric for this armchair is really fun for the consumer. The inside and outside of the cover can be different, leather or fabric, and even the colour of the aluminium casted base is optional. But we did also focus a lot on ergonomics and the curved linear shapes that offer the user exactly the right level of support. Bibo combines aesthetic elegance and embraces you with comfort. A wonderful combination of artisan craftsmanship and state of the art technology.

Furniture trade fairs are a wondrous and wonderful matter, and this time we created our fourth booth design for dutch furniture brand Pode. Imm Cologne has a unique cosmos of give and take, a traditional world of products, be they big or small, colorful or matter-of-fact. One can find obscure and innovative items, desired or yearned for. All of them experts, like those who look critically at things, ask twice, and try to find in the flood of images product designs worth talking about. I think this booth was the most inspiring one we did, and we are very proud it turned out so well!

A vase made from ceramic in which nine cylindrical shapes are connected to a central reservoir. Because of the additional weight of the water the vase is quite stable. The cylindrical tubes are connected with three arms to the central base, enabling the water to fill all the  compartments. This design reminded me of the cylinder of a gun so we decided to call it Colt. The vase looks complex but in reality it can be produced with a two part mold, so there is only one horizontal separation part in the casted model. And that’s really special! Colt will be produced by Dutch manufacturer Cor Unum.

NLXL has been working with a number of designers since the company began introducing heavy duty wallpaper in 2010. Each designer’s expertise in their field has led to some of the most stunning and diverse wallpaper designs during the last years. We were asked to do something with cane webbing, as we have often worked with this material in Indonesia during the 90’s. Webbing is on one hand reminiscent of colonial Asian decor, but on the other hand very modern and in vogue in modern interiors nowadays. We designed and created three decorative wooden frames with webbing, took photo’s of it and turned it, in cooperation with NLXL, into 2 dimensional wallpaper.  One could say that cane webbing is an internationally adopted classic that is once again gaining popularity. But in this case as wallpaper. The introduction of these wallpaper designs will take place during Dutch Design Week.

HC28 prides itself as one of the pioneering high-end modern furniture brands from China, and in my opinion they really are. By introducing a unique blend of the Eastern world meeting its Western counterpart, the collection offers the best of the two cultures: true design innovation and sheer creativity from the West serviced by exceptional craftsmanship and a deep commitment to refinement from the East. We have created 'NEST', a sofa design with a knitwear fabric cover, and are really proud of the organic looking endresult. Thank you, Jianwei LI!

An inspiring cooperation: HC 28 is a Chinese furniture brand committed to exploring new innovations in furniture design and carpet making. For this company we created three hand tufted carpet designs, called Halo, Cornice and Tumble. The tufting technology is quite interesting: a gunmachine was used for inserting wool material into the textile covered frame according to our design. The combination of a pile and loop in different heights gives these contemporary carpets an interesting modern look and feel. A perfect match in shape, color and technique. We presented all these designs and our sofa NEST at the chinese CIFF furniture fair in Shanghai. Thank you, Jianwei LI for this inspiring cooperation!

One typical feature of Japanese lacquerwork is generally black lacquered surface, but nowadays it is much more interesting to use more colors. The word Urushi designates both the lacquer itself and the art of Japanese lacquerwork, which represents a tradition going back thousands of years. The special sheen and visual depth of these lacquer surfaces exert a fascination which has inspired modern designers to apply this technique for themselves. With these low table serie designs we pick up the old craft of lacquering, and therefor manufacture this product in Asia.

In 1593, no Dutchman had ever seen a tulip. In the 400 years since, the Netherlands has become synonymous with this most beloved of spring flowers. The iconic pyramid vase, is a vase designed to put cut flowers in, but it primarily serves as a decorative showpiece. These pyramids were first made in the Netherlands in the 17th century and were decorated with Delfts blauw or Chinese decoration. But in my opinion such a vase can have a strong powerful shape without the need to decorate. Sometimes the pyramid vases, some perhaps inspired by the porcelain tower of Nanjing , were not used as flower vases at all, but just as showpieces. My concept of this new Pyramid vase consists of fewer components held on a five legged base; we designed 3 stackable shapes with two identical ones on the top.  A real showpiece. Flowers can be put in each of the fifteen spouts, but without tulips, this imposing 140 cm high flower pyramid can be a unique showpiece too!

This building is certainly one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of Art Deco in Brussels. In 1930, at the age of 21, Baron Louis Empain had this private mansion of 2500 square meters built, on the prestigious Franklin Roosevelt Avenue. This splendid mansion was designed by the Swiss architect Michel Polak. Dutch interior magazine ‘Eigen huis & Interieur’ created a design special for their summer edition 2019 with products from several dutch designers. Amazing to see how well my Yukiko floor lamp, designed in 2015, fitted so well in the Art Deco environment of Villa Empain. A modern lamp with an old soul.

Photography: Kaatje Verschoren    Styling: Theone van der Eerden

Moooi Carpets reinvents the carpet and opens up new horizons in the design world by introducing a technology that generates extremely high definition prints. All the carpets combine an endless mix of colours thanks to the use of a groundbreaking high definition Chromojet printer and its accurate tones, which generate a playful illusion of depth. For Moooi Carpets Claire Vos designed the Yarn Box Collection, presented at Salone del Mobile 2019.

Cor Unum is a ceramic art centre founded and based in ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. They develop and manufacture our products designs and we love this unique company! Cor Unum takes social and cultural resposibility for the legacy of the ceramic crafts. Their mission is brought to the market through a team consisting of professionals, students, volunteers, people with distance from the labour market and designers. They all share one common passion: everyone deserves a place, everyone has got a talent and anyone can contribute to make the world somewhat nicer.

Most of our design projects are commissioned. But sometimes we feel the urge to create something by ourselves because we simply want to. In our previous project we were creating hexagon shaped tiles. The shade, lines and reflection on these tiles made us realize that we could use this concept for a light object . Primary linear forms do very well especially when the reflected light reveals the beauty of a shape.  In this case an odd but charming looking  ceramic table light. Wally will be introduced bij Cor Unum this coming year in 2019. Welcome, Wally!

Pressed glass is glassware produced by mechanically pressing molten glass into a plain mold by means of a plunger. Pressed glass can generally be distinguished because of its mold seams, but in my opinion this gives all its charm to the product. The use of a plunger enabled glassmakers to spread the thick, molten glass quickly throughout the mold before it solidified and thereby made it possible for them to shape the glass into intricate forms with elaborate designs. The pressing process became the single most important factor in making glassware affordable for everyday use, in this case a first prototype of a tiny table lamp Nemo.

Ceramics at their most basic is simply a process of mixing water with earthen powders and clay, shaping it and baking it at high temperatures. But it is one of the world’s oldest crafts, which over millennia has been perfected to a high art, particularly by the Chinese.With our design the vertical busk lines create a solid, strengthened structure for this remarkable ceramic side table/stool for Dutch brand 'Pols Potten'. Busk has a unique appearance, especially because of its unique, iridescent glaze. This liquid clay casted product could only be made because of the highly skilled Chinese handcraft. 'Oily Busk' will be introduced at Maison & Objet Paris, September 06-10, 2019.

The Yarn Box collection is an exploration in the relation in stringing beads and bindings ribbons. It was about the essence of creating a basic structure in a pattern. The yarn box stands for ‘playfulness’ skill of the hand, mastery of form and technique. The collection consist of round and rectangle carpets and comes in 3 printed designs, and several sizes. Claire Vos: “In my Tangle carpet design, the imaginary weaving structure holds the carpet visually together. These three designs reflect my personal commitment to the richness of color in to room decoration”. The Yarn Box Collection by MOOOI will be presented  Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2019.

One of the first Doodle vases out of the kiln. Doodle is a small vase, only 30 centimeters high, and produced by Cor Unum. We are now testing several ceramic glazes and four or five new colors will be introduced. A Doodle is a shape, pattern, drawing or scribble – anything you think of in an idle moment while the focus of our attention is elsewhere. And that’s exactly how this vase was born. These colorful cartoonesk looking vases will be presented in Milan during 09-14 April at the Salone/Masterly - Palazzo Francesko Turati.

De eerste belangrijke interieur beurs van 2019 laat alle nieuwe trends en productontwerpen zien uit de interieur sector - en trekt veel detaillisten. Op de IMM KOLN beurs vind je echt een enorme variëteit qua product ontwerpen en interieur ideeën, werkelijk in elke stijl. Voor deze gelegenheid hebben we onze derde stand ontworpen voor het Nederlandse meubelmerk Pode waar wij de art direction over voeren. Nu correspondeert het beeld van het magazine ook met de drie dimensionale vertaling van de stand. Weer een stap verder…

The Tubble table series from Roderick Vos is anything but simple and straightforward. The stunning organic leaf shape has a nice, stylish look. If you have two, they are perfect pushed together. Or beneath each other, if you go for two different heights. And, of course, there are numerous material and colour options. For instance, three beautiful shades of quartz marble that sound like ice creams: Calacatta, Grigio Carnico and Fior Di Pesco. You can also choose solid oak in all Pode wood stain colours or a lacquered version. Whatever material you select, the leaf is always given a beautiful, bevelled edge, for that extra stylish look. The base is made from high-quality aluminium, which can be finished in all Pode epoxy colours, or optionally in lacquer. And while we’re talking about options: Tubble is available in three different sizes: Small, Medium and Large.

For our studio it is truly fun being art directors for Dutch brand Pode.

We started this job in 2015. Now the brand is surprising, fresh and colourful while remaining affordable. We find that very important. A complete lifestyle collection that you can use to furnish your entire living room. To achieve this, we work with experienced, reputable designers who supply refreshing, innovative creations, time after time. Our Art Directorship plays a special role. We keep trying to give the Pode collection its entirely special identity, in colour, style and design. Now the new magazine No 5 is out, and we are very proud of the end-result!

https://http://www.pode.eu/nl/magazine

A new design from our studio. The eye catching side table, Bayan. An Eastern looking drum of surprising material: pottery, with a glazed surface in multiple colour schemes. "Roderick Vos: Eastern influences often play a role in my work. Claire and I lived in Indonesia for several years and my roots are there. It’s a familiar looking archetypical product, while being exotic. Bayan is a handmade product and a design that is truly unique in the the market of mass produced interior goods. My personal homage to handmade products". Price 195,- Euro per piece.

Our iconic MaMa vase design created in 1999, is quite a large ceramic object. So why not create a smaller vase for the existing collection? I made a quick sketch and the 3d printed figure-like endresult almost looked like a Disney cartoon drawing coming to ‘life’. That’s why I called this design ‘Doodle’, meaning a simple scribble. The charming shape looks promising and quite simple; but the consumer has no idea how many different skills a Cor Unum artisan needs to control the processes involved from working the liquid clay to a wonderful finished piece. And there is more good news: the public now are keen to buy ceramics again. After the 20 th century of ‘plastics & mass production’, the hand made product in the 21 st century is valued again! Cor Unum products feel real and authentic.The Doodle vase will be introduced at the beginning of 2019. Thank you, Marlies Crooijmans from Fabrique Ceramique & Lotte Landsheer from Cor Unum!

Coming soon: http://www.corunum-ceramics.nl/nl

Claire Vos: ‘Let’s take some wonderful cotton chenille, a beautiful tuft of wool and a huge dose of 70s retro. For me personally, these were just the right components for Punto; an enchanting timeless rug. Punto pampers you with an abundance of circles that together form a beautiful composition. For me the ideal foundation for a living room full of stylish ambience. With three jacquard woven colour variations, this design became a wonderful addition for the Pode collection.’

So great to find a design made in 1981 by my father Henk Vos for Dutch Company Holborn published by DESIGNBOOM. It’s still a beauty!

https://www.designboom.com/art/docubyte-i-am-a-computer-animated-gifs-05-24-2018/

DOCUBITE designed a series of animated gifs as a sort of rebuttal to the question by apple. ‘I am a computer: icons of beige’ sees 16 classics from the golden age of personal computing turned into dynamic compositions. maybe they don’t have the highest speeds or graphic capabilities, but who cares? they’re awesome. ‘I am a computer’ celebrates the visual character of desktop computing machines from a colourless period in industrial design,’ docubyte explains.

Claire Vos; ' for this new collection introduced by Dutch brand Textiles & More, our studio was able to work with a different technology. Transfer sublimation (printing on fabrics) has much more advantages because it is much easier to create a clear gradient on the textile. The weaving technology has much more restrictions. With this printing technique we were more or less inspired by airbrush images. We created depth and dimension to the curtain using an optical effect. This was more or less the theme for this collection. These four prints called Rain, Knit, Clan & Paperclip are realized in several qualities in fabric, and are available from voile to satin. Suitable for projects such as hotels, offices and healthcare, as well as residential homes.'

Our wallpaper design in the New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/style/where-is-design-going.html

Thanks NLXL  https://www.nlxl.com

Tiles have more or less been liberated for their limited  role, and have become more the centre of the interior in the 21 st century.  So why not make wallpaper out of it? A three dimensional approach by our design office and an extended period of experimentation, resulted in three proposals for dutch wallpaper brand NLXL. It quickly became apparent that exploring three dimensional tile shapes, making moulds, biscque firing the unglazed stoneware, and photograph them for the use of creating wallpaper was going to be a true labour of love. But what a great result. Thank you, Mr & Mrs Vintage!

Black isn’t actually a color, it is just the absence of light. With this vase, the glaze is black. It simply means you don’t get to see any reflection of the -light- part of the electromagnetic spectrum; the object hence appears black. True black is the absence of colour. Black is what happens when no light at all reaches your eye. Our Mama vase has only been glazed white for more than seventeen years. But we missed something. Now it seems that this black version is even more magnificent. Therefor we decided to put this version also in the existing Cor Unum collection.

My design Montigny is back from a show at St.Moritz, -NOMAD- this is a travelling event for collectable design that will bring together a selection of the world’s leading galleries in incredible architectural locations. Now Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design hosts a group exhibition at the gallery in Heusden. Bright colours, rich materials and ingenious structures catch your eye during a visit at the Gallery. Various works by Carolina Wilcke, Christiane Richter, Eefiene Bolhuis, Reinier Bosch and Roderick Vos grant a fine interpretation of what Priveekollektie is all about: the combination of contemporary art and limited-edition design and the crossing of the fine line between both disciplines.

My Ishi chairs and table for dutch brand linteloo have an interesting combination of merged organic and geometric forms, a typical signature of my work as a designer. Design in its most effective form is a process of trial and error. With these abstract and yet playful shapes of table and chair, I try to unite simplicity in shape and construction. Needless to say that  I am very proud of this chair. Especially because of the newest version with pressed leather on the seating shell.

Tiles have more or less been liberated for their limited  role, and have become more the centre of the interior in the 21 st century.  So why not make wallpaper out of it? A three dimensional approach by our design office and an extended period of experimentation, resulted in three proposals for NLXL. It quickly became apparent that exploring three dimensional tile shapes, making moulds, biscque firing the unglazed stoneware, and photograph them for the use of creating wallpaper was going to be a true labour of love.

Joshh& is about glass, a new designlabel that deserves attention. They are specialized in colored glass. My design Loop is Uv-glued one to each other and has a toughened glass top. A great coffee table as a display surface or for treasured books and interesting items. From whichever angle you look at it, this is a design that can be appreciated because of its playful form. The Loop table can be joined 2 ways. With an O or S shape. With this design I tried to maximise the minimum. A lot of the process of designing is simply taking out what is not necessary.

A sculptural approach to design without sacrifying comfort.This prototype of a new chair called Torro refers in a way to the classic nordic easthetics. Details seen in the wooden steam bend legs and backrest make this an interesting study. Torro is about solid craftmanship, and the appearance is unmistakably modern. And yes, such a complex chair can be produced in Holland.

This round carpet is based on wicker patterns and is almost a spiritual symbol. This carpet has a visual balance, and this two dimensional eclectic mix of style and culture came out surprising. This design called Bow, is a concept for a hand made knotted carpet. The lines, patterns, vibrant colors and number of knots per square inch make this design an artisan piece. Work in progress.

The first interiors show of the year 2018 present the trends that will be shaping the furniture and interiors sector – and the products that are good for business. At the Imm Cologne, you will find a unique variety of interior design ideas for every room, every style and every requirement – for this occasion we designed the new Pode booth and it turned out looking magnificent. Both very proud being art directors for this brand.

Claire Vos; ' for this new collection introduced by Dutch brand Textiles & More, our studio was able to work with a different technology. Transfer sublimation (printing on fabrics) has much more advantages because it is much easier to create a clear gradient on the textile. The weaving technology has much more restrictions. With this printing technique we were more or less inspired by airbrush images. We created depth and dimension to the curtain using an optical effect. This was more or less the theme for this collection. These four prints called Rain, Knit, Clan & Paperclip are realized in several qualities in fabric, and are available from voile to satin. Suitable for projects such as hotels, offices and healthcare, as well as residential homes.'

Goods initiates the development of new products, From an idea or design. When the product and design fit into the Goods collection, the design is made production ready in collaboration with the designer. Products from Goods are widely available in international museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Iceland Design Centre. That’s why I am so grateful that my single candle holder -blaker- has been included in the Goods collection. Goods has its office at the iconic “Garage Notweg” in Amsterdam.

'Welcome to the world of Pode. You might know us from the Leolux brand of furniture, but here we want to introduce you to the new Pode. This design brand has been transformed from a brand of furniture into a lifestyle brand. This is in part thanks to Claire and Roderick Vos who, as Pode’s designers and art directors, have assumed the responsibility.'

-Sebastiaan Sanders, Director of Leolux and Pode-

The world of Melloo is all about you. This range of elements challenges you to give your creativity free reign. Melloo is unique thanks to the round corner elements that you can use to build your own comfortable Melloo landscape. The range of elements challenges you to give your creativity free reign. The spatial concept is innovative. Melloo units can be used to create new compositions, even with different angles. Melloo is unique thanks to the round corner elements that you can use to build your own comfortable landscape.

Our Fynch dining room table, designed in 2017, is unmistakably Pode. What is immediately noticeable are the two floating laminated wooden tops. The top rests on a steel frame, carefully crafted from laser-cut tubes, which are welded together in a surprising way. And the subtle notch with which the top embraces the round tube frame completes this design. Fynch is simply special because of its simplicity.

Roderick Vos: 'The ISHI chairs and table have an interesting combination of merged organic and geometric forms, a typical signature of Roderick Vos’ work as a designer. Design in its most effective form is a process of trial and error. With these abstract and yet playful shapes of this specific chair,  I unite simplicity in shape and construction. Ishi is one of my most favourite chair designs.'

'The Ishi table has oval sculptured legs combined with a wing shaped wooden table top. The shape of the wooden table top has a smoothly flowing form and both supporting crossed legs do not need to be joined by a horizontal beam for stability. As a result this minimalistic dining table becomes ‘a sculpture for use’. The Ishi table has an interesting combination of merged organic and geometric forms, a typical signature of my work as a designer. With these abstract and yet playful shape of this parrticular table, I have tried to unite simplicity in shape and construction.’

Roderick Vos: ‘ The shape of the wooden stool for Dutch brand Linteloo almost looks like a tractor seat, which has something old fashioned and genuine at the same time. I wanted to create something that sat between a saddle and stool. Its elementary form consist of just three legs and a circular round wooden seat shaped like a men’s bottom. The shape and color of the oak ‘saddle’ reminded me of a sand dune, so that’s where the name came from. The stool and complementary wooden standing tables are completely made from oak wood.’ The Dune bar stool reminds me of something that could have been designed in the 70’s; yet at the same time, it looks fresh, modern and timeless'.

Mackay is never out of style thanks to the timeless pattern based on the classic Scottish Argyle tartan. Bring the Highlands a little closer with this roughly woven carpet. Mackay is available in different colours. Or should we say clans? Moa has green diamond pattern, trimmed with a light-blue edge, while the diamond pattern of Liath is grey. In Dorcha, two shades of blue are interwoven with each other and, lastly, in Pinc, there is an interaction between several shades of red.

COLOGNE – Studio Roderick Vos stepped up as the new art director of Pode just in time to give the Dutch furniture brand a makeover for its inaugural lifestyle collection. The latest incarnation of the Leolux sub-label debuted at IMM 2017, with the Claire and Roderick Vos’s compact but vibrant booth design showcasing the brand’s capability of creating a truly comprehensive and unique identity for an interior. The main challenge for the stand was the need to formulate a cohesive display for a diverse and sizable product line on just a 9 × 9 m footprint. To optimise the lack of space without creatingvisual chaos, the floor plan was partitioned into four distinct stages, alternating between living and dining areas. The explosion of colour and texture in each room, combined with simple, geometric voids for doors and windows, presented a fresh take on the Memphis renaissance in contemporary interior design.

Traditional production processes are a source of inspiration for Roderick Vos. After he discovered how to fold steel, it just wouldn’t let him go. He uses the technique on the Golden Nugget, a compact side-table (gold-coloured, of course) with raised edges shaped like flower petals. Roderick Vos: ‘In the base of Golden Nugget, we’ve added a special recess for your favourite lifestyle magazines. So that you always have them close at hand. There is a Golden Nugget for everybody: in gold, or in one of the powder colours in the Batch series (Azurite, Amethyst, Raven, Papyrus and Oxide).

Cultured marble is a blend of stone particles and resins that is combined with pigments to produce a wide range of colors and realistic, -natural looking patterns – cultured marble, cultured granite, and cultured onyx among them. Unlike quarried stone, cultured marble is cast in molds to create big sized slabs. These 6mm thick slabs were glued on a steel frame, in order to keep the 'marble' looking surface as thin as possible. We were able to create a very stable, and thin looking dining table in combination with very elegant looking steel folded metal legs. The Hux table is a mingle of beauty, elegance and stability.

The Basel art and design show brings the international artworld together, with 291 of the world's leading galleries showing the works of over 4,000 artists. A full program of artworld talks takes place each day. Exhibitions and events are also offered by cultural institutions in Basel and the surrounding area, creating an exciting, region-wide art week.The unrivalled barometer of the art market.” Exhibitors Leading galleries from around the globe participate in Art Basel's shows in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong showcasing the highest quality of Modern and contemporary works. Wow, thank you Priveekollektie for showing my design, a wooden dresser Montigny no.3 over there!

A tompoes or tompouce is a pastry in the Netherlands. It is the local variety of the mille-feuille or Napoleon, introduced by an Amsterdam pastry baker. In the Netherlands, the tompoes is iconic, and the market allows little variation in form, size and colour. The filling is an invariably sweet, yellow pastry cream. For the Linda foundation, I was asked to make a design that could be auctioned for a charity. I decided to use my iconic white MaMa vase for this project and turn it into a 'yummy' design.

My 'One flower vase', celebrates the beauty of a single flower. This tiny porcelain vase features a water container for stability, and where the oval shaped body curves inwards we added to this form a twisted high neck. “sometimes just one modest flower vase says more than a big bouquet”. So no sad attempt anymore to stuff twelve long-stem roses into an empty two-liter waterbottle from the recycling bin…! Here’s the right vase for your unique flower.

Photography: Studio Boot.

These Art Deco-inspired plaids magically transforms any sofa into a colorful area. These jacquard woven plaids stand out for their dynamic linear patterning, consisting of geometric shapes such as circles and vertical lines. Whether you choose a mix of pale colours or of warm, deep tones like mustard, turquoise and different reds, the combinations are real eye-catchers. The plaids called Swell give a uniquely versatile touch thanks to the different patterns on both sides.

Production techniques from the past and the present are an ongoing inspiration to me. Product innovations often arise out of an understanding of materials and techniques. I believe this is where the strength of Dutch Design in general lies. Here in the Netherlands we are not just innovators when it comes to invention and creation, we also have a strong manufacturing industry. My six armed candelabra is a perfect example: made from aluminium, liquid casted in a pre-heated steel mould. Indestructible & timeless!

I love beautiful shapes, but ergonomics are always a determining factor in my designs. With the Transit model we consciously tried to get ’The best of both worlds’. So, in collaboration with the team from Pode, we took great care to create a comfortable seat. We made an armchair for the living room that simply makes you want to sit in it forever.”TRANSIT: hopefully a new classic thanks to its authentic, timeless appeal. Time will tell.

Usually the collaboration between a manufacturer and a designer means the latter coming up with a design and the former getting to work with this design according to his own judgement. Not so with the young manufacturers at the new PODE brand. We are currently developing a complete brand, which has been a dream for years. Our work has become much more conceptual because of it. We are part of every decision regarding photography, the magazine, the website and we add designs of our own and from other talented product designers.