Joost van Bleiswijk is a prolific Dutch designer who gives great value to the process of making. He grew up in Delft, and studied at the Design Academy of Eindhoven, where he met his future partner, Kiki van Eijk.

His work references iconic designs such as grandfather clocks, high-backed chairs, chess sets, and cupboards; bringing these designs into a contemporary setting has marked Joost’s work throughout his career. A genuine fascination for the construction of the object – often revealed in the final outcome – is the starting point of his process. The workshop is where Joost engages with the experience of designing as an intensely physical act.  The creative process unfolds in a quite instinctive and gestural way. From his early famous No Glue No Screw collection, to the latest Mecchanic and Protopunk series, Joost has always

used bold shapes and strong lines to create new daring designs, defying usefulness and striving for audacious creativity. His collaborations include brands like MOOOI, Bernhardt Design, ICE Carpets, Secondome and Ahrend. In recent years he has designed for collectors, companies and institutions such as The Rijksmuseum, Design Academy Eindhoven, Venice Projects, Zuiderzee Museum, Noord Brabants Museum. He has exhibited in private galleries and museums around the world including Basel, London, Paris, Milan, Venice, New York, Tokyo, Moscow and Holon.

‘Working in a team is like playing in a band. You need the instruments.’

Workshop fun