Teun Zwets

Teun Zwets (1992) graduated in 2020 from the Design Academy Eindhoven with his graduation exhibition Teunland. Since then, he has rapidly established himself as a distinctive voice within the Dutch design scene. His work is characterised by expressive colours, playful forms and an unmistakable sense of energy, resulting in unique interior objects that exist at the intersection of design and art.

Zwets employs a decidedly hands-on approach to design. He works intuitively, thinks practically and believes that design does not need to be more complicated than necessary. By actively making, he explores what materials and constructions allow—and where their limits lie. This direct, experimental way of working forms the core of his design philosophy.

Sustainability plays a natural role in this process. Teun Zwets primarily works with discarded and leftover materials that would otherwise be thrown away. By giving these materials a second life, he creates unique, handmade objects, each one different from the next. Rather than being a limitation, the unpredictable nature of the material becomes a key source of inspiration.

Design by doing, thinking by making

The creations of Teun Zwets are made on site, using the materials available at that moment. Speed is essential to his process, helping him maintain focus and make instinctive decisions. Both the concept and the final design of many of his works are often realised within a single day.

Instead of extended conceptual design processes, Zwets embraces the practical and immediate. His functional art objects—ranging from furniture to autonomous interior pieces—celebrate the act of making itself. By combining a wide variety of (leftover) materials, he creates objects that are both robust and playful, visibly bearing the traces of their creation.

Teun Zwets is widely regarded as one of the most promising emerging Dutch designers of his generation. In 2021, he won the Kazerne Design Award. His work has been shown at, among others, The Frozen Fountain in Amsterdam, Rossana Orlandi, Dutch Design Week, and the Salone del Mobile in Milan.

www.teunzwets.nl