The Dwell 24: Forever Studio

Bienke Domenie and Sara Degenaar joined forces the moment they met in a metal workshop during their third year at Rotterdam’s Willem de Kooning Art Academy. "It was the first time we had to work three-dimensionally, and we were both like, Wow, this is what we want to do," says Domenie.

After graduating in 2015, they continued their research-driven practice, formally launching as Forever Studio in 2017. They began experimenting with polycarbonate in varying degrees of opacity molded into geometric shapes illuminated from within by bulbs—lamps, but just coincidentally.

Their recent designs, such as the Piece Out Lamp, a cylinder of lustrous anodized aluminum, are more overtly functional but no less sculptural. "Light has become a design tool for us because it gives extra dimension," says Degenaar. With light, "the object goes from art piece to design product." 

Read the full Q&A with Sara Degenaar and Bienke Domenie below. 

Hometown: Schiedam/Rotterdam

Describe what you make in 140 characters. Forever is forever driven by a constant desire for experiments in order to create one of a kind pieces.

What’s the last thing you designed? We are working on an onion/garlic hanger at the moment.

Do you have a daily creative ritual? Not really, but every day does involve a lot of coffee and time spent looking for design solutions and new ideas.

How do you procrastinate? How do we not is a more fitting question, but starting on new projects constantly without finishing the previous is definitely a way to procrastinate.

What everyday object would you like to redesign? Why? Sara: a sofa; can’t find the perfect one! Bienke: keychains, we just got a new car and am looking for the right accessory that fits the key.

Who are your heroes (in design, in life, in both)? Magali Reus, Charlotte Perriand, Rihanna, OFFICE Kersten Geers David van Severen.

What skill would you most like to learn? Sara: being fully focused. Bienke: aluminum casting/baking/saving money.

What is your most treasured possession? Sara: my baby girl; Bienke: my Alessi percolator.

What’s your earliest memory of an encounter with design? Sara: driving around with my parents in our hometown with our signal red Volvo 240; people always knew it was us. Bienke: my dad's pocket knife, I remember I saw it and thought it was super clever how they made it with all those different tools.

What contemporary design trend do you despise? All the chunky/funky round stuff.

Finish this statement: All design should... not be mass produced and should be treasured forever by the owners.

What’s in your dream house? Sara: a self-built house in the city center of Rotterdam with a big garden located on the South, always sunny, or an old garage. Bienke: something in between an old city apartment and a beach house.

How can the design world be more inclusive? Being more open for collaborations and sharing knowledge with each other, not being afraid that others will walk away with your ideas.

What do you wish non-designers understood about the design industry? That coming up with something and making something takes time and that this is valuable.

You can learn more about Forever Studio on their Instagram.    

View the 2022 Dwell 24!