Jólan van der Wiel

Jólan van der Wiel is a Dutch designer and artist known for pioneering experimental design processes that harness natural forces as creative tools. Born in 1984 in the Netherlands, he graduated from the DesignLAB department of the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in 2011 and established his own multidisciplinary studio the same year. His work explores the intersection of design, science, technology, and nature, often revealing the invisible forces that shape the physical world.

Van der Wiel gained international recognition with the Gravity Stool (2011), a groundbreaking project created using his self-developed “Gravity Tool.” By combining liquid resin, iron particles, gravity, and powerful magnetic fields, he allows objects to “grow” into unique organic forms. Rather than imposing a predetermined shape, he creates the conditions for natural forces to participate directly in the design process.

His practice spans furniture, sculpture, fashion, installation, and architecture, and he has collaborated with figures and brands including Iris van Herpen, Issey Miyake, and Dom Pérignon. Exhibited internationally and held in major museum collections, Van der Wiel’s work challenges conventional manufacturing methods while celebrating the creative potential of nature, experimentation, and technological innovation.