NEWH - Winter 2019 - 40

INTERVIEW

Marcel Wanders:

Creative Director, Marcel Wanders
By Can Faik

arcel Wanders, credited with more than 1,900 designs, is bringing the human touch back to design. Here, we learn a bit more
about how he is ushering in design's new age.
Tell me about your role at Marcel Wanders.
At the studio, I have a leadership role as creative director, supporting and
guiding designers. Together with Gabriele Chiave (since 2014 in the capacity of
creative director), we establish the vision for everything from interiors product
to art direction. I am often involved in an assortment of projects at the same
time and there are some concepting assignments that fall only under my
responsibility. No matter what project I am working on, I am here, together with
my team, to create an environment of love, to live with passion, and make our
most exciting dreams come true.

Can Faik with Marcel Wanders

What do you love about being a designer?
I love that design is who I am and not just what I do. I love that every moment of
every day, I'm finding ways to uplift the human spirit and create connection. I love
that the smallest of items can be part of or create a movement. I love that what I
do brings joy to others and creates meaning for them, inspires them to find more
value and love in their relationship to their surroundings, to their culture, and
their artificial objects. Durable and humanistic qualities are at the core of what
we do. Simply making objects loved is already a great ecological step.

Where do you draw your inspiration?
Most people believe inspiration comes from outside. It could be from traveling, reading, meeting and talking to other
people. I believe that the questions I ask myself, that are inside of me, are my inspirations. You can tie me up and
blindfold me and I will still feel inspired. That inner source never dies or stales. For me, inspiration comes from within.
With so many hospitality designers in the industry, how does Marcel Wanders stand out from the rest?
We stand out because we don't do interior decoration, we create destinations. Our work is not about style, colors, or
materials. Our work is about people, their needs, their fears, their dreams, their expectations, and their memories. It
is our intention to seduce them from far away, to touch, excite, and mesmerize them, and to stay with them forever
once they continue their journey.
What is the biggest thing the company has learned over its years in the industry?
Amongst the vast amount of learnings that have been necessary and instrumental to the growth of our studio,
its philosophy and people have been the most crucial. I found out that one has to reverse some of the key spiritual
learnings. Treat others as you want them to treat you. Do to yourself what you want others to experience. I mean,
"if you want to surprise the world you first have to surprise yourself."

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