Hella Jongerius (born 1963, De Meern) is a Dutch industrial designer known for blending traditional craftsmanship with industrial production. Her work explores color, materials, and textile innovation, often challenging mass-production norms.
Her practice is characterized by a deep investigation into materials, color, and textile processes. Rather than treating industrial production as a system that eliminates variation, Jongerius introduces subtle irregularities and handcrafted elements that restore individuality and tactile richness to manufactured objects. She is particularly known for her research into color systems and surface treatments, often revealing how minor tonal shifts can profoundly affect perception and atmosphere.
Between 2007 and 2015, she served as Art Director for colors and materials at Vitra, where she reexamined the company’s material palette and updated iconic modernist pieces with new textile and chromatic approaches. Her collaborations extend to companies such as Royal Tichelaar Makkum and KLM, reflecting her ability to work across scales from handcrafted ceramics to large-scale interior environments.
Jongerius’s work is held in major museum collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Throughout her career, she has consistently advocated for what she calls “emotional durability” in design, arguing that objects should foster long-term attachment rather than disposable consumption.
