The pull of the unknown. It is always there. Ilona Huvenaars’s curiosity is so extensive that she will not confine herself to one specialism. Each design is completely different. But it always holds a surprise. Because nothing is what it seems. Not even for Ilona herself.

“Designing is like a puzzle in which I play around with form and material. Following my intuition. Preferably using techniques that are new to me. I am so fascinated with these discoveries every time.”

Raised on a farm she still feels like a child of nature. When she is designing, memories of her childhood will come floating to the surface. She is also a hoarder of random items. Plastic toys, objects and materials she will have stumbled upon. To an outsider it will be a chaotic collection. To Ilona herself it serves as an inspiration.

Ilona will turn small objects into grand gestures. Without overdoing things. Her designs are honest and sober. But they will always make sense. Sometimes by creating a new feeling, at other times because she will give the design an extraordinary function.

Since graduating from the Design Academy in 2000, Ilona Huvenaars has been working on a range of products and interior designs. She runs her own studio by herself, but two heads are better than one, so she will often collaborate with other designers. Different points of view can lead to extraordinary results. Ilona’s co-designers have included Alissia Melka-Teichroew, Willem Derks and Anna-Sara Gereadts.