Billie van Katwijk
Born: 1994
Hometown: Utrecht
Based in: Amsterdam
Conceptual product designer Billie van Katwijk is fascinated by nature: that endlessly shapeshifting, growing, blooming, dying, sprouting, phenomenon. From these natural cycles all sorts of materials emerge. Some are treasured (gold, oil, diamonds) while other materials remain unseen or unappreciated. Billie van Katwijk unravels the beauty of these materials. Slaughterhouse-waste becomes a luxury-leather, a residue from the sewer shows its hidden colors when turned into a glaze. Cremation ashes are transformed in a delicate porcelain. Van Katwijk believes in showing contradictions and taboos, but she doesn’t judge. Her projects seduce people to think and to engage in a dialogue. “My concepts are completed by the user, with his or her own thoughts.”
Van Katwijk graduated from Design Academy Eindhoven (NL) in 2017 and currency has her Studio based in Amsterdam.
6 works for sale
Billie van Katwijk In The Studio
More About Billie van Katwijk
What inspires you?
Stories: fiction, literature, movies. At the moment I am inspired by the "Piacenza Liver" which I came across via Aby Warburg, who inspires me too.
Describe your creative process.
Shapeshifting is a process that comes back in all my work. Literally on the physical side with the transformations of materials, shifting in functions, meaning and value. I can be a little shapeshifter myself too. I work interdisciplinary and with my work I question from an outsider perspective. Research is part of my creative process and is not bound to a discipline or method. The research and therefore also the physical medium can take many forms, depending on what is needed to tell the story.
What is the most important tool when creating your work?
My pen en notebook, to get the ideas out of my mind, to make connections and reflect.
Where do you go for inspiration?
The museum, preferably one with ancient objects. The library. Talking to people inspires me too.
Credentials
Education
Design Academy Eindhoven
Netherlands, 2017
Exhibitions
Channelling Change: Inside A Designer’s Brain Virtual Design Festival powered by Dezeen
2020
(Re)design Death CUBE design museum
2020
Bags – Icons and investments Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel
2020
Design Laboratory: Materials and Technology Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
2020
Circular>Materialists, Kazerne
2019
Material Connections, The Koppel Project Central, London Design Festival
2019
Design in Public Spaces. Water, Zamek Cieszy
2019
Creative Expo Taiwan, Taipei
2019
BLOOT - het kwetsbare lichaam, Museum Kranenburgh Bergen,
2019
WASTE, Palais de Hollande Istanbul
2019
Why Materials Matter, Brompton Design District, London
2018
Clean Revolution, Dutch Design for a better world, San Francisco
2018
Biotopia-fest BIOTOPIA Naturkundemuseum Bayern, München
2018
Not for Sale, Design Academy Eindhoven, Milan
2018
Design Shanghai, Neuni-Materio, Shanghai
2018
Education
Design Academy Eindhoven
Netherlands, 2017
Exhibitions
Channelling Change: Inside A Designer’s Brain Virtual Design Festival powered by Dezeen
2020
(Re)design Death CUBE design museum
2020
Bags – Icons and investments Spielzeug Welten Museum Basel
2020
Design Laboratory: Materials and Technology Museum für Gestaltung Zürich
2020
Circular>Materialists, Kazerne
2019
Material Connections, The Koppel Project Central, London Design Festival
2019
Design in Public Spaces. Water, Zamek Cieszy
2019
Creative Expo Taiwan, Taipei
2019
BLOOT - het kwetsbare lichaam, Museum Kranenburgh Bergen,
2019
WASTE, Palais de Hollande Istanbul
2019
Why Materials Matter, Brompton Design District, London
2018
Clean Revolution, Dutch Design for a better world, San Francisco
2018
Biotopia-fest BIOTOPIA Naturkundemuseum Bayern, München
2018
Not for Sale, Design Academy Eindhoven, Milan
2018
Design Shanghai, Neuni-Materio, Shanghai
2018