Muller Van Severen: “What matters is to focus on what truly interests us”

Hannes Van Severen and Fien Muller around a white table — Founded by Hannes Van Severen and Fien Muller, Muller Van Severen has been bringing color to contemporary design since 2011.

From visual artists to superstars of Belgian design, Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen have forged a bold and unmistakable design language that is easy to fall in love with. In an interview with Design Stories, the couple reveals how their daring mix of art, colour, and form grew into a recipe for international acclaim.

Text: Nora Uotila

THE BELGIAN design duo Muller Van Severen has carved out a name with creations that blur the line between art and design. Their pieces brim with bold colour and attitude, marked by striking geometric shapes, characterful materials, and saturated hues that demand attention.

Formed by artist couple Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen, the studio grew out of their shared background in the arts. The two first met at LUCA School of Arts in Ghent, beginning their careers as independent artists before deciding to channel their creativity into furniture and product design. Since its founding in 2011, Muller Van Severen has worked from a studio connected to their home in Evergem, just outside Ghent.

Today, Muller Van Severen is among the most prominent names in contemporary Belgian design, with furniture, lighting, and small objects featured in the collections of many well-known design brands. Among their longest-standing partnerships is the collaboration with Belgian company valerie_objects, which began in the same year the duo was founded.

In an interview with Design Stories, Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen share insights into the essence of their distinctive style.

A collection of Muller Van Severen furniture pieces in the studio — From the very beginning, the duo’s work has been defined by a marriage of vibrant hues and bold geometric forms. On the left is the cubic Solo Seat lounge chair.

valerie_objects' Rocking Chair placed on a blue table — The minimalist Rocking Chair, along with many of the duo’s most iconic designs, is part of Belgian brand valerie_objects’ collection.

Hannes Van Severen holding a red Hanging Lamp — The appeal of the Hanging Lamp comes from its curved, line-like stem.

Fien Muller holding a white lamp cord — The design process often flows naturally: one adds something, the other takes something away, and together they arrive at something new.

What inspires you the most right now?
“It's never really clear what inspiration comes from. Some things strike us more than others, and the accumulation of things we see comes out in an idea at some point.

Being curious and open to everything is necessary to move forward. Always wanting to look at everything in a new way and continuing to question the familiar things around us and seeing the beauty in the little things is a great motivator.”

How do new ideas usually emerge – do you have specific design routines or do they come about more spontaneously?
“At a certain point, we come together to focus on a new project. We begin modestly, setting ourselves a task inspired by whatever is capturing our interest at that moment. Recent impressions, thoughts, and observations naturally rise to the surface. From there, we choose a subject, a material, a detail, and a way of bringing it all together.

Once we sit down and devote ourselves fully to the process, ideas and first sketches emerge quickly. We then develop a wide range of designs within that concept. Afterwards, we move into a selection phase, keeping only the most relevant pieces from that exploration.”

Hannes Van Severen and Fien Muller carrying a white Alu table in their studio — The aluminum Alu table was originally created for the 2015 World Expo in Milan.

A collection of valerie_objects’ Alu chairs in different colours on gravel — Choosing the right colors for the Alu chairs wasn’t easy, so in the end, they came up with several different combinations. The chairs are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

An Alu chair and trivets in Muller Van Severen’s studio — The fully renovated studio is housed in a 1903 building that once served as an orangery for the local flower industry. On the wall hang Muller Van Severen’s metal trivets.

Has your style evolved since you started in 2011?
“Our style does not change. It is a language we speak – unconsciously yet with confidence – and it is something we cannot deny. To change your style would be to lose that language.

“Our style does not change. It is a language we speak.”

We work independently of trends, because by the time they appear, they are already outdated; what matters is to focus on what truly interests us. We believe you must feel the need to tell a story that runs through your entire journey, rather than jumping from one thing to another. We create what we want, not what the public demands. In this way, we remain true to ourselves and preserve our credibility.”

Fien Muller presenting colourful Circle trays — Made of polyethylene, the sculptural cutting boards sit somewhere between everyday object and artwork.

How does your division of work function as a duo?
“When we work within the same concept, certain ideas may naturally originate more from one of us than the other. Yet often, one of us adds something to the other’s design, which can shift its meaning and open it up to new perspectives. Sometimes a misreading of an idea sparks a completely different vision. These moments – born out of coincidence or misunderstanding – are often the most valuable, as they lead to unexpected possibilities.

It becomes a continuous process: one person adds something, another leaves something out, and gradually the design transforms into something new. Together, we search for the most compelling objects within the concept. The way one of us interprets the idea can, in turn, inspire the other. In the end, the selection is always made collectively.”

The façade of an old brick house with a blue door — Muller Van Severen’s studio and home, with its cobalt-blue doors, share the same courtyard. The couple bought the historic Evergem property in 2007.

The interior of Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen’s living room — Both Fien and Hannes come from families of artists and designers, and their relatives’ works are part of the home’s furniture and art collection.

The colourful kitchen of Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen — Textured marble, emerald-green cabinets, and a red-and-white checkered floor give the kitchen a lively character.

The dining area in Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen’s home — The Hanging Lamp was originally designed by Hannes and Fien for their own home.

Have there been any materials or techniques that you’ve found particularly rewarding – or challenging – to work with?
“One of the most frustrating, yet also most rewarding, materials we use in our furniture is colorful polyethylene sheets. They are at once beautiful, strong, and soft – but notoriously difficult to work with without causing damage. We have cursed them many times, yet they continue to enchant us with their magical qualities.

What matters most in our work is a deep love for the material. We do not deny its life. Things are allowed to age, to get scratched, to develop a patina – these changes can make an object even more beautiful. Just like life itself, everything is shaped by time and influence. For us, that is not a flaw but a form of honesty.”

“Just like life itself, everything is shaped by time and influence.”

What are you currently working on?
“We continue to write our story. The more we create, the more our own work inspires us. One thing naturally leads to another; one object sparks an idea for the next. This is how our ever-expanding world takes shape, growing organically with each new piece.”