Sabine Marcelis

Sabine Marcelis 1985

Sabine Marcelis is a Dutch designer known for her consistent focus on transparency, reflection, and color. Born in 1985 in the Netherlands, she grew up in New Zealand. She belongs to a generation of designers who combine advanced material knowledge with a coherent visual language. Her work is grounded in a clear idea of how design should be experienced within a space, where each object results from a carefully balanced interplay of function, materiality, and light. 

Marcelis began studying industrial design at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. She later moved to the Netherlands to continue her education at the Design Academy Eindhoven, graduating in 2011. The academy is known for its emphasis on experimental and material-driven design. During her studies, she developed a methodology focused on exploring how materials respond to light, color, and surface. Early collaborations with manufacturers shaped her interdisciplinary approach that bridges design, technology, and production. 

A design language where light and material work together 

After graduating in 2011, Sabine Marcelis established her own studio in Rotterdam and began working independently. Her design process combines technical precision with aesthetic control. She started investigating how light interacts with various materials, particularly transparent and reflective ones like resin, glass, and mirror—materials that remain central in her work. The goal was to make light an active element in the design of each object, rather than a secondary addition. This sets Marcelis apart and is clearly visible in her early works such as Voie Light and Candy Cub. In her pieces, form, color, and transparency interact to produce both distinct and subtle effects. She allows the material to take center stage, often avoiding visible details that could detract from the overall impression. 

Among her most notable works is Seeing Glass, developed with Brit van Nerven, which explores optical effects in laminated glass. The light installation The Dawn Light, which changes color over time, is another example of how Marcelis blends function and atmosphere. The Soap series, consisting of tables and pedestals in colored resin, further showcases her interest in transparency and saturation, giving the objects a nearly luminous presence. 

Collaborations and international recognition 

Sabine Marcelis has collaborated with several leading brands, including Dior, Fendi, IKEA, Hem, and Established & Sons. She has created both commercial products and commissioned installations, as well as works for museums, fashion houses, and public spaces. Her projects are marked by a strong visual identity, with each collaboration integrated into her broader design methodology rather than tailored to a single format. 

Her work is represented by galleries such as Etage Projects, Side Gallery, and Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert. Marcelis' pieces are held in collections around the world and are regularly exhibited at international design fairs and institutions. 

Sabine Marcelis has received several prestigious awards for her work. In 2019, she was named "Young Designer of the Year" by the Elle Deco International Design Awards and "International Artist of the Year" by the GQ Men of the Year Awards. The following year, she was awarded Wallpaper’s "Designer of the Year," further affirming her international influence in contemporary design.