Unfold

What is the role of the designer and how is it changing in a time when design and manufacturing become increasingly more digitized? This question is key to understanding the work of design studio Unfold. The studio, founded in 2002 by Claire Warnier and Dries Verbruggen, develops projects that investigate new ways of creating, manufacturing, financing and distributing in a changing context. A context in which we see a merging of aspects of the pre-industrial craft economy with high tech industrial production methods and digital communication networks. A context that has the potential to shift power, from industrial producers and those regulating infrastructure to the individual designer and the consumer.

Unfold's work has been presented and collected by museums such as the New Museum, New York (US); Centre Pompidou, Paris (FR), Yingge Ceramics Museum, Taipei (TW); Design Museum London (UK); Museum of Arts and Design, New York (US); Abu Dhabi Art (AE)
; Istanbul Design Biennial (TR); Design Museum Ghent (BE), Z33 House for Contemporary Art (BE)
; Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco (US) and Jerusalem Museum (IL)
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The studio has developed projects ranging from ideation to strategy, concept development, design, exhibition scenography and production for clients such as Ecover, Hermès, Aesop, l’Oreal, Barnabé Fillion Parfums, Artek, MAS Museum, Middelheim Museum, Droog Design, Joris Laarman Lab and Anya Gallacio.

In 2017 Unfold was awarded 'Designer of the Year' in their home country Belgium and has been awarded and shortlisted in various international awards.