An award-winning innovative solar design practice that brings solar energy into daily life.
The studio is creating lasting change through solar design, integrating solar power seamlessly into our environments such as in buildings and objects.
Most notable works are the Solar Roof of Netherlands Pavilion at the World Expo 2020 in Dubai, Sunne, Current Table and Power Plant.
Sunne
Solar Futures
Solar Pavillion
The Circle
Ra
The Netherlands Pavilion
Ministry of Finance
Power Plant
Cyanometer Collection
Cyanometer
Current Table 2.0
Current Window
Current Table
Well Proven Chair
Table 1/7
The Energy Collection
Moon Light
© 2023
14 - 17 September
Solar Salon at A Flag
During Glue Amsterdam you can experience Sunne in a home setting at A Flag Gallery
13-9 2023 until 07-07-2024
Life Cycles at MoMA
Well Proven Chairs are part of the Life Cycles – The Materials of Contemporary Design exhibition at MoMA
July 2023
Welll Proven Stools at V&A
The Well Proven Stools are part of the new V&A Museum of Childhood permanent display
August 2023
Acquired by Vitra Design Museum
Sunne is acquired by The Vitra Design museum for their collection!
Current Table at The Energy Show
As part of the exhibition in Het Nieuwe Instituut about – Sun, Solar and Human Power
9 September 2022
Opening Solar Biennale
Openings seminar of The Solar Biennale at Het Nieuwe Instituut
September 2022
Ambassador Dutch Design Week
Marjan van Aubel and Formafantasma are the ambassadors of Dutch Design Week 2022
9 September - 30 October 2022
Follow The Circle!
This five-meter high reflective sculpture is on view on different locations, traveling through Rotterdam and Eindhoven alongside the activities of The Solar Biennale.
8 September 2022 1.30 PM
Book Launch: Solar Futures
Marjan’s first book Solar Futures: How to design a Post-Fossil World with the Sun illustrates what we need to know to transition from solar technology to solar design using everyday integrated aesthetic solutions.
Het Nieuwe Instituut
Rotterdam
9 September 2022
Solar Seminar
The Solar Seminar officially kicks off The Solar Biennale with a program that explores solar futures built on the power of design.
9 September 2022
The Solar Biennale
A seven weeks program for a new and inclusive perspective on the energy of the sun.
9 September 2022
Sunne Experience
This installation brings you closer to the sun @ Het Nieuwe Instituut Rotterdam.
26 August 2022 18.00
Stedelijk Museum
Marjan will be part of Dwars door het Stedelijk – After Six, part of the exhibition It’s Our F***ing Backyard,
10 JUNE 2022
Milan Design Week 2022
Marjan will talk at Salone del Mobile Talk curated by Beatrice Leanza.
7 JUNE 2022
Milan Design Week 2022
Marjan will talk at The Solar Energy Kiosk about solar energy and solar design.
30 JUNE 2022
Solar Cities – Pakhuis de Zwijger
During the fourth and last Solar Lecture by The Solar Biennale we will explore solar through the lens of the built environment.
26 May 2022
It’s Our F***ing Backyard
Sunne is part of the new exhibition at Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
06 January 2022
Life-enhancer of the year ‘Sunne’ solar light, by Marjan van Aubel
Sunne has won an award in the category Life Enhancer of the Year from Wallpaper Design Awards 2022. Read more here
24 November 2021
Lighting Design of the Year
Sunne won the Lighting of the Year in the Dezeen Awards!
18 November 2021
Winner ARC21 Innovation Award
The Solar Roof in Dubai won the ARC21 Innovation award
21 October 2021
Public vote winner for lighting design of the year
We are happy to announce that Sunne has won the public vote for lighting design 2021. Thank you for voting for us! Read more here
1 October 2021
Expo 2020 Dubai is Open!
Until the end of March 2022, come by in Dubai for the solar experience created by Marjan van Aubel Studio.
13 September 2021
Shortlisted dezeen awards 2021
We are shortlisted for ‘Emerging Design Studio of the Year’ & Sunne in the ‘Lighting Design’ category! Please vote for us now here! Open until 11th of October 2021.
13 September 2021
The Netherlands Pavilion wins!
The Dutch biotope featuring our colourful solar-panelled roof made in partnership with ASCA has won the “Sustainable Construction Project of the Year” award! Thanks to many including Dutch Dubai, V8 Architects and Expomobilia.
17 AUGUST 2021
Longlisted dezeen awards 2021
We are excited to announce that we have been longlisted for ‘Emerging Design Studio of the Year’ & Sunne in the ‘Lighting Design’ category!
29 JUNE 2021
Creative Holland Live #2
Talk about the World Expo 2020 Dubai at Het Nieuwe Instituut. Join live online!
4 MARCH 2021
Solar Design at The New Institute
During TNL Design Dialogues solar designers Marjan van Aubel and Pauline van Dongen talk about realising the energy transition.
25 February 2021
Impact Studio
Design talkshow at Pakhuis de Zwijger. How can design contribute towards the society of tomorrow?
19 OCTOBER 2020
DDW TV
Live on DDW TV at the World Design Embassies a conversation with others about the energy transition.
17 JUNE 2020
World Expo in Dubai
Today the Ministry of Foreign affairs has announced that Marjan van Aubel Studio will design the solar roof of the Dutch pavilion.
24 MAY 2020
Marjan wins ECO Coin Award
Award for an outstanding contribution to make this planet a more sustainable place by Next Nature Network.
1 April 2020
Studio move
The studio has a new home!
4 February 2020
Final presentation Young Innovators
A proposal for the Dutch Ministry of Finance in the Hague together with Rijksvastgoed bedrijf
Fall 2019
Timberland ambassador
Marjan is eco ambassador for Timberland’s global Nature needs Heroes campaign
13 NOVEMBER 2019
visit St Petersburg
Marjan and Pauline van Dongen were invited by creative Industry fund and Dutch Consulate to St Petersburg to talk about Radiant Cities
27 October 2019
Winner Dutch Design Award
Power Plant won the public Dutch Design Award in the category Design Research!
Visitors of Dutch Design Week (DDW) 2019 have chosen Power Plant as their favourite project!
20 SEPTEMBER 2019
KDY19 in Goa
Marjan will be presenting at the Designyatra conference in Goa
13 April 2019
SEE Conference
Marjan will be talking at the SEE Conference
Bilder der Zukunft e.V.
Rüdesheimer Str. 21
65197 Wiesbaden, Germany
8 - 14 April 2019 - 8.30 am - 7.00 pm
Cyanometer launch
New Lights in the Cyanometer collection together with Swarovksi will be presented during Euroluce
22 March 2019
TED.com
The TEDx talk that Marjan gave is featured in the main TED.com website.
See the talk here
6 December 2018
TEDx Woman Amsterdam
Marjan is one of the keynote speakers of TEDx Woman Amsterdam with this year’s theme bridging the gap
KIT – Royal Tropical Institute
63 Mauritskade
Amsterdam, 1092AD Netherlands
20-28 October 2018
Power Plant at DDW
Come and experience Power Plant during the Dutch Design Week!
Embassy of Mobility, Vrijstraat 11, Former V&D Department store, Eindhoven
26 September 2018
Voorbij de groene horizon
A VPRO Tegenlicht conversation about what will happen after the energy transition.
Pakhuis de Zwijger
4 - 23 September 2018
Power Plant at London Design Biennale
Marjan will be re-presenting the Netherlands during the London Design Biennale
Invited by the New Institute and Dutch Embassy
Somerset House, The Strand, London WC2R 1 LA
July 2018
Future Solar
Marjan got awarded a fresh perspective grant by the Creative Industry Fund to develop new applications and do more fundamental solar research
together with ECN
21 June 2018
Dissident Gardens
Power Plant will be exhibited at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam
Het Nieuwe Instituut
Museumpark 25
3015 CB Rotterdam
Het Nieuwe Instituut
Museumpark 25
3015 CB Rotterdam
24 May 2018
Conference
Marjan will be one of the keynote speakers at the What Design Can Do Conference
Stadsschouwburg Leidseplein 26 Amsterdam
17 - 22 April 2018
Salone del mobile Milan
Experience the Cyanometer with Hololenses at Swarovski Palazzo
The Courtyard at Palazzo Serbelloni
Corso Venezia 16, 20122 Milan
27 March – 1 April 2018
Art Hong Kong
A new constellation of new Cyanometers at Art Hong Kong
A collaboration with Swarovksi
15 March 2018
Design March
A Solar Design talk by Marjan at DesignMarch in Reykjavik
Silfurberg, Harpa
01 December 2017 19.30
Future Series #9: Start-ups in design
Marjan will be one the speakers together with during the Future Series from the Dutch Design Foundation.
Moderator: Jeroen Junte – de Volkskrant at Pakhuis de Zwijger.
23 November 2017
Winning Climate Action Challenge
Power Plant is one of the winners of the Climate Action Challenge from What Design Can Do!
21-29 October 2017
In No Particulair Order
Group exhibition during Dutch Design Week that received a Talent Fund from Stimuleringsfonds.
Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven
14 October 2017 - 14 January 2018
Change the System
Current Table is part of ‘Change the System‘ – a design exhibition exploring how creative minds can drive necessary change in the face of global issues and threats.
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam
12 October 2017
WIRED – Energy
Marjan will be speaking at the WIRED Energy event in London
London, Kings Place
13-18 June 2017
Cyanometer at Basel / Design Miami
Cyanometer is showcased at the Art Basel / Design Miami in Switzerland as part of Swarovski‘s prestigious Designer of the Future Award.
10 June - 26 November 2017
Well Proven Chair exhibited at Earth Matters
Well Proven Chair is included in the Earth Matters collection, curated by Lidewij Edelkoort and Philip Fimmano, at the TextielMuseum in the Netherlands.
April 2017
Designer of the Future 2017
Marjan van Aubel is presented with the prestigious Designer of the Future 2017 award by Swarovski and Design Miami.
View promo here.
4 - 9 April 2017
TALISMAN for auction in Milan
Marjan van Aubel is one of 46 international designers to create a unique piece for exhibition and auction at TALISMAN: Contemporary Symbolic Objects in Milan, Italy.
Saturday April 8th, 3pm
Palazzo Clerici’s Salone degli Arazzi
Milan, Italy
March 2017
Well Proven Chair moves to Australia
Well Proven Chair is acquired by the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
January 2017
Van Aubel speaks at Santiago Design Biennial
The British Council invites Marjan van Aubel to give a talk on Aesthetic Sustainable Future at the Design Biennial in Santiago, Chile.
December 2016
Well Proven Chair cameo for COS
COS invites six furniture designers to appear in a new film by Lernert & Sander.
Watch the film here
9 November 2016
Winner of the WIRED Product Innovation Award
Marjan van Aubel takes the Innovation in Product Design award for Current Window at the inaugural WIRED Audi Innovation Awards 2016.
September 2016
Caventou makes Hello Tomorrow semi finals
Caventou appears as a semi finalist at the annual Hello Tomorrow conference in Paris.
September 2016
Caventou featured in British Invention in Design film
Caventou is featured in the British Council’s Invention in Design film – proving Marjan van Aubel is as much a British inventor as she is a Dutch design innovator!
Watch the film here.
23 September 1.30-2.30 2016
London Design Festival speaker event
Marjan van Aubel is included in a panel of new designers invited to discuss their work at the V&A as part of London Design Festival.
Victoria and Albert Museum
The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre
Level 4
Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
16 - 27 September 2016
Caventou’s Current Table at the London V&A
Current Table 2.0 goes on show at the Victoria and Albert Museum, as part of the London Design Festival.
16 September – 15 October 2016
Dichroic Light at Electro Craft
Dichroic Light goes on show at Electro Craft as part of London Design Festival.
23 Charlotte Road
Shoreditch
London EC2A 3PB
26 August 2016 - 1 January 2017
DREAM OUT LOUD
Current Table and Current Window are both included in the Stedelijk Museum‘s bi-annual exhibition DREAM OUT LOUD, showcasing the best newcomers in contemporary design.
And here is Marjan pictured speaking with Amsterdam Mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, about her work on opening night!
8-13 August 2016
Workshop at Bauhaus Summer School
Marjan van Aubel gives a week-long workshop in Sustainable Future Aesthetics at the Bauhaus International Summer School in Berlin.
Bauhaus
Hannes-Meyer-Campus
16321 Bernau bei Berlin
Deutschland
25 July 2016
Marjan secures Dutch talent fund
Marjan receives a talent development grant from the Creative Industries Fund NL – a programme that supports exceptional talents in architecture, design and e-culture in the Netherlands.
NPO 2 19.20 - 29 March 201
Marjan appears on GroenLicht
GroenLicht is a Dutch TV program on sustainability – watch Marjan discuss ‘living objects’ on the show here.
09 February 2016
Caventou voted Radical Pioneers!
Caventou are voted Radicale Vernieuwers (Radical Pioneers) of the Netherlands by Neelie Kroes!
Read more on NOS and in Vrij Nederland.
29 February - 5 March 2016
Sustainable Design workshop in Beirut
Marjan gives a material workshop as part of the the Sustainable Design Program in partnership with ALBA’s Design Department in Beirut.
19 January 2016
Winner of the Wallpaper Design Award
Marjan van Aubel is crowned winner of the Wallpaper Design Award 2016!
13 December 2015
Current Table featured in the Guardian
Great review of Current Table in the Guardian!
November 2015
Grant
We received a grant from the DOEN foundation to produce a new version of Current Table!
17 October - 25 Oktober 2015
In No Particular Order
Exhibition of all recipients of Talentfund from stimuleringsfonds creative industrie during Dutch Designweek
Veemgebouw
Torenallee 80
Strijp-S, Eindhoven
23 September 2015
Young Emerging Talent medal
Winning the Swarovski Young Emerging Talent medal!
This medal celebrates the impact on the design scene within five years of graduation.
Other winners include; Sir Ken Adam, Concrete Canvas and Barber & Osgerby
22 September 2015 19.00 - 20.00
Zero Waste Forum
Panel discussion on innovate, sustainable production methods with Protein x Matter
One Good Deed Today
London – E2 8AG
21 September - 31 October 2015
2ºC
Exhibition and Disegno no. 9 launch
The Aram Gallery
110 Drury Lane
WC2B 5SG
17 september 2015 - 18 September 2016
Current Window
Installation of 7 Current Windows at 19 Greek Street where people from the street can charge their phones from the solar powered windows
The art of Progress
19 Greek Street
W1D 4DT – London
April - July 2015
Cognicity
Connected home Accelerator program Cognicity at Canary Wharf Level 39
1 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London E14 5AB
21 - 23 September 2017
Shortlisted Wood Awards
Well Proven Stool got shortlisted for the Wood Awards! The winners will be announced 22 November and the shortlist will be exhibited at 100% Design during London Design Festival
The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier competition for excellence in architecture and product design in the world’s only naturally sustainable material. The Awards aim to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation using wood.
Wood Awards
100% Design
London Olympia
14 - 19 April 2015
Transnatural Label
LIVING MATTER(S) IN MILAN
New Well Proven stools at Transnatural Label & Lab
Undai Gallery
Ventura Lambrate
Via Ventura 6
Milan
25 March - 16 August 2015
Design of the Year Award 2015
Current Table is nominated for the Design of the Year Award 2015
Design Museum
28 Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
14 February - 31 January 2016
MoMA
This Is for Everyone: Design Experiments for the Common Good explores this question
with works from MoMA’s collection that celebrate the promise—and occasional flipside—of contemporary design at
Museum of Modern Art
Organised by Paola Antonelli
MoMA
11 West 53 Street
NEW YORK, NY 10019
February 2015
Ones to Watch
I am a Design Council’s 70 Ones to Watch! Amongst 70 other designers that represent the future of British design.
6 November 2014 - 18.30 -20.30
Talk
Sustainable Design : What’s next? a conversation led by Wallpaper city Guide editor Rachael Moloney about the future of design.
19 Greek Street
London
18 October 2014 - 11.00
Depot Basel
Talk at Interieur Biennale Kortrijk moderated by Laura Pregger and Matylda Krzykowski
Biennale Interieur vzw/npo
Groeningestraat 37
8500 Kortrijk
Belgium
18 september 2014 - 14.30
Design Date
Talk organised by depot Basel at Victoria & Albert Museum for London Design Festival
Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre
Victoria & Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
SW7 2RL, London
12 September 2014
London Design Festival
Opening party at 19 Greek Street where I exhibit Current Table.
19 greek street
W1D 4DT London
11 August - 16 August
Domaine de Boisbuchet
Kortrijk Interieur Biennale workshop at Domaine de Boisbuchet
July 2014
Talentsfund Creatieve Industry
Got awarded a Talentgrand from Stimuleringsfonds!!
26 June 18:30
Material ♥ Tax talk
In addition to the exhibition, Droog will host the interactive public event ‘Material ♥ Tax’ with experts, food and music. Designers and guest speakers will lively discuss the use and taxation of waste, resources and labor.
Hôtel Droog
Staalstraat 7B
1011 JJ Amsterdam
8 June - 20 June 2014
Stromboli
Field research together with Jamie Shaw towards Lava and volcanic rock on Stromboli Island for Fiorucci Art Trust
5 June 20:00 – 21:30
Mash Up Material Night
Lecture and debate moderated by Sophie Krier about the limits of wood.
Together with Lex Pott and Chris Kabel at the New Institute
Time: Start guided tour 7.15 pm;
Location: Auditorium, Het Nieuwe Instituut, Museumpark 25, Rotterdam
25 April - 22 May 2014
Moving Materials
The Energy Collection shown at Moving Materials at Forum Da Vinci travelling exhibition of Material Sense
6 bd. Grande-Duchesse Charlotte
L-1330 Luxembourg
18 April - 31 August 2014
L’espace fondation EDF]
Let there be light!
Exposition of Vitra Museum
6, Rue Récamier
75007 Paris
8-13 April 2014
Salone del Mobile
Showing Current Table and new Well Proven Stools at stand by Royal College of Art Graduates in Milan.
Salone Satelite
Foro Buonaparte 65
20121 Milano MI – Italy
14 - 19 April 2015
ENERGIES UNSEEN
During this exhibition Marjan van Aubel and Jólan van der Wiel will disclose hidden potential energies through their objects. Playing with different natural forces and processes such as gravity and photosynthesis, their objects will react to and visualise these laws of nature.
Spazio Rossana Orlandi
Via Matteo Bandello 14/16
20123 Milano
16 May - 10 August 2014
Foaming Wood
Exhibition: Wood
The cyclical nature of materials, sites and ideas at the New Institute
Museumpark 25
Rotterdam
12 February - 20 April 2014
Kalmar Konstmuseum
The Sausage Machine in THE FUTURE IS HANDMADE at Kalmar Konstmuseum
Stadsparken 39233 Kalmar
Sweden
18 Jan - May 201
Boijmans
First exhibit of Current Table at the Design Column in Boijmans van Beuningen Museum
Museumpark 18-20
3015 CX Rotterdam
The Netherlands
18 December 2013
Talk at New Institute
In conversation about The New Material Award at Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam.
Program starts at 15.00
Het Nieuwe Instituut
Museumpark 25 Rotterdam
19 oktober - 27 oktober 2013
CONVOI EXCEPTIONNEL
Well Proven Collection during the Dutch Designweek Eindhoven at Strijp T
March - May 2013
Residency Guldagergård
Material development research on Foam China in Skælskør (Denmark)
27 september - 16 march 2014
Vitra Design Museum
The Energy Collection in the exhibition LIGHTOPIA at Vitra Design Museum a travelling exhibition about the history and future of light
Vitra Design Museum
Charles-Eames-Straße 2
79576 Weil am Rhein, Germany
19 March 2013
Design of the Year 2013 Award
Well Proven Chair has been nominated for the Design of the Year 2013 Award!
It will be exhibited at the Design Museum. Other nominations include Anish Kapoor, Zaha Hadid and Jólan van der Wiel.
February 2013
VSBFonds reportage
Film made my Emiel Elgersma, one year after receiving the VSBFonds Scholarship
25 October 2012 10.0
Koffietijd!
Am having a coffee in Koffietijd with Loretta Schrijver, a Dutch actualities Television program!
20 October 2012
First prize Material Award
The Energy Collection won the first prize of the New Material Award and €15.000
All winners and nominees are exhibiting at Van Abbe Museum, Eindhoven
20 – 28 October 2012
rca collective mmxxi
Exhibition Well Proven Chair during Dutch Design week Eindhoven Sectie C with fellow RCA graduates.
22 – 25 September 2012
The Sausage Machine at Christies
The Last Supper, an exhibition during London Design Festival in South Kensington.
14 – 21 September 2012
Out of the woods – V&A
First exhibition of the Well Proven Chair during the London Design Festival at the Victoria and Albert Museum
A collaboration with James Shaw and The American Hardwood export Council
22 July 2012 19.30
Feature BBC weather
Featured in ‘The Great British Weather’ at BBC1 Live show celebrating and tapping into the UKs obsession with weather, presented by Alexander Armstrong, Chris Hollins and Carol Kirkwood
30 June 2012
Graduation Royal College of Art
Master Design Products in London
1 – 5 June 2011
The Sausage Machine
DMY Berlin
A collaboration with Hilda Hellström and Ola Mirecka, where we looked deep down in the industry of sausage making.
20 November 2010
Victoria and Albert Museum
Friday late installation
Open Source Flying Phone
01 November 2009 – March 2010
Residency
at European Ceramic Work Centre in Den Bosch with Joris Laarman
1 – 5 July 2009
Final Show – Rietveld Academy
Cupboards made out of self-developed foam porcelain, a new material that has the capabilities of producing lightweight objects that can be handled in a similar way as china. Just like bread, the foam literally rises in the kiln, expanding itself about 300% its original volume.
De Porseleinkast
