Hella Jongerius on craft, industry and the power of imperfection

Can imperfection reshape modern industry? Hella Jongerius — one of the most influential designers of her generation, and one of the field's sharpest critical voices — joins Grant Gibson to discuss craft, colour, and her enduring fascination with the messy edges of mass production.

In this episode, we dive into the politics of materials and the discipline of long-term collaboration. We discuss:

• From Droog to Vitra: Emerging in 1993 alongside Jurgen Bey and Marcel Wanders, and what those early years taught her.
• Tough and Sweet: Developing her critical voice and taking aim at the design industry's obsession with newness and marketing.
• Materials Are Political: Why every choice of clay, textile or yarn carries weight.
• Avoiding the Path of Nostalgia: How to honour craft without retreating into it.
• Changing Industry from Within: Three decades of collaboration with Vitra, KLM, IKEA, Camper and Maharam.
• Colour as Communication: Why colour is a tool, not a decoration.

Hella also reflects on her major retrospective at the Vitra Design Museum, running studios across the Netherlands and Germany, her fascination with animals, and exploring her spiritual side.

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