Combining Innovative Materials With Playful Forms

A fascination with light and colour informs the work of Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis, who is known for combining innovative materials with playful forms

- Cheryl Lai-Lim

What do you see when sunlight is reflected off the glistening waves of the sea? Or when the sun casts mesmerising shadows in a forest? For Rotterdam-based designer Sabine Marcelis, such glimpses of nature’s beauty are a source of inspiration for new projects; she declares that she gets motivation from “absolutely anywhere”— whether during factory visits or even on a stroll through the woods.

Marcelis’ affinity for the natural environment is driven by her curious nature. “I soak up everything I experience; my engineer father cultivated my curiosity for how things are made and how the world works. I’m lucky enough to be able to earn a living exploring that and always creating,” she shares.

Marcelis is known for her playful experiments with the various properties of light and colour, as well as cutting-edge technology; these create an intriguing dialogue throughout her impressive oeuvre, which ranges from product and spatial design to installations that bridge the realms of art and design.