Sculptural object, and furniture designer based in Amsterdam

Simone Smelt is an Amsterdam-based designer of sculptural furniture and collectible design objects. Working at the intersection of form, material, and presence, her work merges bold aesthetics with sustainable design principles, resulting in furniture pieces and spatial objects that are as expressive as they are refined. She graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2017, and since then has built a distinctive design practice that bridges furniture design, product development, spatial design and conceptual object creation.

Her work exists in the tension between sculpture and functionality — objects that hold space, radiate stillness, and offer a tactile experience beyond utility. Each piece is designed with intention: minimalist in form, unapologetically expressive in detail, and rooted in a strong ecological awareness. Her signature lies in her ability to transform everyday objects into design statements that feel architectural, grounded, and emotionally resonant.

Simone is known for her deep sensitivity to proportion, visual balance and material tactility. Her objects often play with geometrical precision, rhythmic composition and a subtle sense of tension, making them feel both grounded and elevated. She creates furniture and sculptural objects that function as anchors in space — visually calm yet undeniably present.

At the core of her design philosophy is a commitment to sustainability and circular design thinking. Her studio focuses on mono-material design solutions, allowing objects to be easily recycled at end of life, while also embracing flat-pack design to minimize carbon impact during transport and production. By choosing ecological principles not as limitations but as poetic frameworks, Simone’s work explores new aesthetics for a future-oriented, low-impact lifestyle.

Her approach to material is intuitive, research-driven and experimental. She often develops pieces in a hands-on, iterative process — combining 3D design and digital modeling with prototyping and tactile experimentation. Every object is developed and produced in her Amsterdam-based studio, where digital precision meets physical craftsmanship.

Simone’s work has been featured in numerous international publications, including Sight Unseen, FRAME Magazine, Dezeen, Vogue, Elle Decoration, The Volkskrant, Architectenweb, Het Parool, and Stijlvol Wonen. Her designs have been exhibited at renowned design events such as Dutch Design Week, 3 Days of Design Copenhagen, and curated group exhibitions like Speculum (Acrylic Community) and Radiant Voids (Katoenhuis).

In addition to her independent practice, Simone has designed for several leading Dutch design brands, including Studio HENK, FÉST Amsterdam, and Zuiver, where she developed high-end furniture collections from concept to production. These collaborations reflect her ability to combine bold conceptual thinking with commercial design strategy, making her one of the key emerging voices in contemporary Dutch design.

Simone’s work is often described as existing between autonomous sculpture and functional design — and this duality defines her approach. Her pieces can be seen as collectible design objects, functional sculptures, or furniture with an architectural presence. She designs for those who value tactility, visual stillness, ecological responsibility and contemporary elegance.

Her objects are not merely designed — they are crafted experiences. Each object holds weight in space, not only physically but energetically, inviting a deeper form of interaction and slowing down the visual noise of our environments.

Through material clarity, circular production methods, ecological sensitivity, and a deeply intuitive approach to form, Simone Smelt is redefining what it means to create furniture in our time. Her designs are not trend-based — they are rooted in timeless form, future-proof thinking and a poetic relationship with matter.

Her Amsterdam-based studio continues to evolve as a hybrid space for experimentation, artistic exploration and sustainable production, where she develops limited series, bespoke commissions and concept-driven objects for clients, collectors, galleries and interior architects across Europe.

Simone is not just a furniture designer — she is a material thinker, a form philosopher, and a design researcher. Her work resonates with those who seek objects with meaning, structure with depth, and form with quiet power.