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Chromatic Atelier

for textile and surface design

Colour is the unifying element in my work, woven into every design, concept, and experiment in my atelier. With a background in communication, fashion, and over a decade in textiles, I approach colour as an instrument to connect people, stories, and materials in a way that’s both purposeful and evocative.

In my work, I push the boundaries of colour application, from traditional methods to innovative biodesign techniques. My designs draw on the cultural, social, and ecological dimensions of colour, crafting narratives that blend with textures, materials, and patterns. It’s a language of harmony and vibrancy, where abstract forms meet graphic clarity.

While Kukka’s collections explore my own chromatic vision, I also work closely with brands to develop textile products, surface designs, and material concepts that create a lasting impression. My collaborations bring fresh perspectives on colour that spark curiosity and invite deeper engagement with design.

Driven by a fascination for colour’s transformative power, I experiment with pigment in its broadest sense, from natural dyes to bio-based innovations. Each project is an exploration, balancing artistry with a commitment to sustainability and meaningful design.

 

Image: Sanne Poot

Bespoke Design & Research:
Since 2010, I have been helping brands—big and small—stand out and differentiate themselves through thoughtful textile and surface design. Collaborate with me to create bespoke designs or engage in extensive colour or material research tailored to you. From innovative product development to unique, site-specific creations and forward-thinking material explorations, I translate your aspirations into tangible form with precision and meaning.

Learn more or Get in touch

Self-Initiated Projects & Research:
My self-initiated projects are a way to nurture and freely express my artistic vision. They serve as a showcase for clients and customers, with some eventually becoming part of my Kukka collection of design editions.

View my projects

Collectible Design:
My limited edition artworks and designs are available for sale in my webshop, at exhibitions, and select locations. I am also delighted to translate my designs into custom projects and products, tailored specifically to your brand or hospitality needs.

Explore my Collection or Get in touch for custom designs

Clients

Projects and Partnerships

Collaboration fuels my creativity. Working alongside craftsmen, creatives, scientists, and industrial partners, I aim to create a sustainable and meaningful colourful world

curious to discover the thoughts of these clients?

REQUEST MY PORTFOLIO

Awards & Achievements

Awards

2023 · DNA Paris Design Awards · winner · category Best Graphic Design: Colourful Project

2022 · Isola Design Awards · shortlisted · category Best Textile Design

2021 · Dezeen Awards · shortlisted · category Best Homeware Design
2021 · Dezeen Awards · winner 3rd place in Public Vote · category Best Homeware Design

2019 · Greenpact Impact Award · winner · won by our ACT-students team from Wageningen University & Research for “Living Colour” research

2018 · Future Fashion Pioneers · nomination · by Dutch TV show VPRO Tegenlicht for project “Living Colour”

Exhibitions

12.2024 · Brasil Eco Fashion Week · New Materials · with Regenerative Fashion Futures ·  Centro de Convenções Frei Caneca · São Paulo · Brazil
10.2024 · ICAD · group exhibition · Grand Kemang Hotel · Jakarta · Indonesia
04.2024 · Chromarama · solo mini exhibition · De Aanschouw · Rotterdam · Netherlands
03.2024 · Warchild presents Secret 7″ · group exhibition · NOW Gallery · London · United Kingdom
02.2024 · OBJECT · curated design show · HAKA Building · Rotterdam · The Netherlands

11.2023 · Design Passage · curated design festival · The Hague · The Netherlands
07.2023 · Puur Talent · group exhibition · with Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design · North Sea Jazz Festival · Ahoy · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
05.2023 – 06.2023 · Designing Circularity · group exhibition · Central Market · Hong Kong
05.2023 – 09.2023 · Chromarama · solo exhibition · Côte du Cool · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
02.2023 · OBJECT · curated design show · HAKA Building · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
01.2023 · A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes · group exhibition · Fresno Art Museum · Fresno · USA

10.2022 · Dutch Design Week · group exhibition · Fashion Tech Farm · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
07.2022 – 01.2023 · A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes · group exhibition · Fresno Art Museum · Fresno · USA
07.2022 · Chromarama Vol. 2 · solo exhibition · De Wasserij · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
07.2022 · North Sea Jazz Festival · with Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design · Ahoy · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2022 · Techtextil · tradefair · Messe Frankfurt · Frankfurt · Germany
06.2022 · Isola Design Gallery · group exhibition · Milan Design Week · Milan · Italy
04.2022 · Isola Design District x Catawiki · contemporary design auction · Catawiki · Milan · Italy
04.2022 – 10.2022 · To Dye For · group exhibition · TextielMuseum · Tilburg · The Netherlands
04.2022 · MaterialDistrict · tradefair · Werkspoorkathedraal · Utrecht · The Netherlands
04.2022 · Artbooster Noord · group exhibition and art auction · Neck of the Woods III · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
03.2022 · International Creatives for Ukraine · charity design auction · Marcin Rusak · Warsaw · Poland

10.2021 · Dutch Design Week: Embassy of Inclusive Society · group exhibition · Ketelhuisplein · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
10.2021 · Dutch Design Week: It’s In Our Nature · group exhibition · Klokgebouw · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
10.2021 · Dutch Design Week: The Exploded View · group exhibition · The New Block · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
09.2021 – 10.2021 · Female Artists · group exhibition · Priveekollektie Contemporary Art | Design · Heusden · The Netherlands
09.2021 · Fabrique Mozaique: The Circular City · group exhibition · Huidenclub · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
07.2021 – 10.2021 · Design by Nature · group exhibition · Museum de Fundatie · Zwolle · The Netherlands
07.2021 · OBJECT · curated design show · HAKA building · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2021 · Fashion and Design Festival Arnhem · online group exhibition · Arnhem · The Netherlands
06.2021 · 22Rooms&Artists · group exhibition · The Student Hotel x Pottage Foundation · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
05.2021 · Analog Eco Festival · group exhibition · De Grafische Werkplaats · The Hague · The Netherlands
04.2021 – 09.2021 · Showroom Limburg · group exhibition · Discovery Museum · Kerkrade · The Netherlands
02.2021 · Chromarama · solo exhibition · De Wasserij · Rotterdam · The Netherlands

10.2020 · Design and Utopia: from manifesto to action · group exhibition · Abierto Mexicano de Diseño · Franz Mayer Museum · Mexico City · Mexico
10.2020 · Dutch Design Week · virtual group exhibition · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
06.2020 · Design to Fade · PUMA biodesign exhibition · Milan Design Week & Fuorisalone · Milan · Italy
04.2020 – 07.2020 · Dezeen Virtual Design Festival · London · UK

10.2019 · ArtEZ Labyrinth of Sustainability · group exhibition · Embassy of Sustainability · Dutch Design Week · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
09.2019 · Raw Assembly · group exhibition · Melbourne · Australia
09.2019 · Barrett Barrera Projects at Seattle Art Fair · group exhibition · Seattle · USA
09.2019 · Biofabrication in Fashion, curated by Open BioFabrics · group exhibition · Avantex · Paris · France
05.2019 – 09.2019 · A Queen Within: Adorned Archetypes · group exhibition · MoPOP · Seattle · USA
04.2019 · Raw Assembly · group exhibition · Sydney · Australia
02.2019 · Design Shanghai x Neuni Group · group exhibition · Shanghai · China
01.2019 · ColourNext 2019 · group exhibition · India Design ID · New Delhi · India
01-2019 · Future Fabrics Expo by The Sustainable Angle · group exhibition · Victoria House · London · UK

11.2018 · Circular Experience · group exhibition · Corporate Fashion Award · Hulstkamp gebouw · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
10.2018 · Bioneers Conference · group exhibition · The Change Makers Fair · San Rafael, CA · USA
10.2018 · Fashion? Future Design for the Present · group exhibition · Dutch Design Week · Campina Melkontvangst · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
10.2018 · Work in Process · group exhibition · Dutch Design Week · Klokgebouw · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
09.2018 · Colour Via · group exhibition · London Design Festival · Surface Matter · London · UK
09.2018 – 10.2018 · Fashioning the Future · group exhibition · Impulse · Wageningen University & Research · Wageningen · The Netherlands
06.2018 – 08.2018 · State of Fashion – Searching for the New Luxury · group exhibition · Melkfabriek · Arnhem · The Netherlands

09.2017 · Night of Art and Science · group exhibition · Leiden · The Netherlands
08.2017 · Future Flight Movie Night · group exhibition · BlueCity · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2017 · Fashion Innovation & Sustainability · group exhibition · Venture Café · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2017 – 07.2017 · Fashion Makes Sense LAB in cooperation with Waag Society · group exhibition · FashionClash Festival · SAM Decorfabriek · Maastricht · The Netherlands
06.2017 – 11.2017 · Earth Matters · group exhibition · TextielMuseum · Tilburg · The Netherlands
01.2017 · reVISIONing textile · group exhibition · Schatjes art + events · Amsterdam · The Netherlands

07.2016 · FashionClash Festival · designer market · SAM Decorfabriek · Maastricht · The Netherlands

09.2011 – 11.2011 · Bring it On · group exhibition · Ship of Fools gallery · The Hague · The Netherlands

Books

2023 · Goede gespreksstof, van grond tot garderobe · Stijntje Jaspers · Stichting Fibershed NL
2023 · Kleerkastvasten; de textielketen ontrafeld · Sarah Vandoorne · featured project “Living Colour” · Uitgeverij Vrijdag

2022 · Smart Clothes and Wearable Technology · Jane McCann, David Bryson · written: chapter 10. Smart colour: textile innovation in colouration from manufacturing techniques to applications for smart clothing and wearable technology · Woodhead Publishing
2022 · Der Stoff Aus Dem Die Zukunft Ist · Markus Petruch, Dominik Walcher · featured project “Living Colour” · FinanzBuch Verlag

2021 · The Colour Bible · Laura Perryman · featured project “Living Colour” · Octopus Books / Ilex

2020 · Unfolding Fashion Tech · Marina Toeters · featured project “Living Colour” · Onomatopee Publishers

Grants

2024 · Mono Japan: Mono Makers Programme · Kukka x Kiten.Kyoto

2023 · Creative Industries Fund NL · Design grant “Bouwen aan Talent” · project “Blended Fibres”
2023 · DOEN Foundation · personal development grant “Art and Design for Biomaterials”

2021 · European light industries innovation and technology (ELIIT) project · European grant · project “BInc” in cooperation with Studio Ilfa Siebenhaar and Vienna Textile Lab
2021 · Droom & Daad Foundation · Design grant · project “Chromarama 2.0” in cooperation with Tegendraads

2020 · Creative Industries Fund NL · Design grant · project “Chromarama”
2020 · Stokroos Foundation · Art & Design grant · project “Chromarama”

2019 · Creative Industries Fund NL · Voucher foreign presentation · project “Living Colour” at Future Fabrics Expo London

2018 · Bankgiro Lottery Fund · project The Future of Living Materials in collaboration with CoE ArtEZ Future Makers and Wageningen University & Research (WUR)

Residencies

2023 · Glass(s)elf Vol.7 · Glassblowing residency · Boda · Sweden
2020 · Taskforce Fashion · Residency for Responsible Fashion · Tilburg · The Netherlands

Talks

10.2024 · Colours of Connection: Designing for Inclusion and Ecology · ICAD · Jakarta · Indonesia
09.2024 · Creative Synergies in the MONO MAKERS PROGRAM: A Mid-Project Report · Mono Japan Fair · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
09.2024 · Colour and Refuse Reuse · Cairo · Egypt

10.2023 · Redefining Sustainability · panel discussion · Ox Space · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2023 · Designing Circularity: Fashion · podcast

10.2022 · Designer Talks: Colour Blindness with Pat Bloom and Laura Luchtman · podcast · Designplatform Rotterdam

10.2021 · Inclusivity Talks: Visual Impairments · Dutch Design Week · Embassy of Inclusive Society · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
05.2021 · Textile/Fiber Design – Collaborating with Nature · webinar · Fiberspace Gallery · Stockholm · Sweden
05.2021 · Analog Eco Symposium · De Grafische Werkplaats · The Hague · The Netherlands
04.2021 · Maintaining tradition in a transitory world · webinar · Center for Culture and Development · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
02.2021 · Chromarama: the role of design in colour blindness · online · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
02.2021 · Renske Mennen · Future Visions ep.4 How bacterial dyeing can change the toxic fashion industry · podcast

11.2020 · BlueCity · The Growcast ep.5 Natural textile dyeing with bacteria · podcast
10.2020 · Webinar Design Method: Working from personal fascination · Center for Culture and Development · Rotterdam
10.2020 · Dutch Design Week Talk: To Reassure Reality · Online · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
10.2020 · Dutch Design Week Talkshow by NBTC Holland Marketing · Effenaar · Eindhoven · The Netherlands
10.2020 · Guest lecture Material Futures · HKU Fashion Design · Utrecht · The Netherlands
06.2020 · BNR News Radio · De Ochtendspits · live interview project Design to Fade: PUMA x Living Colour
06.2020 · Omroep Wetering · interview project Design to Fade: PUMA x Living Colour
06.2020 · Dutch talkshow Studio Circulair
01.2020 · BNO IMG LAB: Fashion · Het Nieuwe Instituut · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
01.2020 · Future of Fashion; a panel discussion · Erasmus University · Rotterdam · The Netherlands

11.2019 · Dutch Fashion TV show Hip voor Nop
11.2019 · Getting Closer Fashion Festival panel discussion · De Wasserij · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
03.2019 · TEDxRotterdam: Raising the Bar · Theater Rotterdam Schouwburg · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
02.2019 · The Future of Living Materials · round table · Avantex · Paris · France
01.2019 · Embassy Lab Water Conscious Fashion · Neonyt · Berlin · Germany

12.2018 · Guest lecture for 3rd year biological and medical laboratory research bachelor students · Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
11.2018 · Colour Materialized Symposium · Avans University of Applied Sciences AKV|St Joost · Breda · The Netherlands
10.2018 · Design Research & Innovation Festival (DRIVE) · NatLab · Eindhoven · The Netherlands

11.2017 · TextielCommissie Symposium Natural Dyeing in cooperation with Waag Society · Cultural Heritage Agency · Amersfoort · The Netherlands
08.2017 · Future Flight Movie Night · BlueCity · Rotterdam · The Netherlands
06.2017 · Fashion Innovation & Sustainability · Venture Café · Rotterdam · The Netherlands

Workshops

2024 · Threads of Colour: Inclusive Design · ICAD · Jakarta · Indonesia
2019 · Tataki-Zome · DWGWD festival · BlueCity · Rotterdam · Netherlands
2017 · Night of Art and Science · Leiden · The Netherlands
2017 · Fashion Makes Sense LAB in cooperation with Waag Society· FashionClash Festival · SAM Decorfabriek · Maastricht · The Netherlands

Memberships

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