Submarine Channel

profiles.submarinechannel.com

Willem van der Sluis is not an architect. He ’s a product designer with a Master’s degree from the Amsterdam Art Academy. That is why Van der Sluis, from design studio Customr, tends to confront assignments from a different angle.

During the design process he spends much of his time considering questions like: Does the world really need yet another new lamp. And, if so, how can these designs add value – something different, a new feature or a new functionality to already existing designs?

Van der Sluis is fascinated by repetition and rhythm, resulting in modular clusters and efficient systems that are easy to use, easy to transport and easy to transform. But above all, they are simply beautiful. Like the sport domes Van der Sluis created for a prison near Amsterdam.

A project shrouded in ambiguity, this prison is not for criminals, but holds instead illegal immigrants. Embracing this dilemma, Van der Sluis created truly eye-popping structures, to draw increased attention to an issue that requires public concern.

Credits
Director: Noud Holtman, Camera: Stef Tijdink, Sound: Benny Jansen, Editing: Casper Sikken, Commissioning editor Submarine: Geert van de Wetering, Production Submarine: Olivia van Leeuwen, Production assistance: Marah Haan, Voice Over: Lotje Sodderland, Music/sound design: Big Orange, Produced by Submarine, Commissioned by DutchDFA.

Dutch Profiles is a series of short documentaries produced by Submarine commissioned by DutchDFA about architects, graphic, product and fashion designers in the Netherlands.
dutchdesign.submarinechannel.com

Dutch Profiles focuses on the conceptual, context-oriented and research-based practice of Dutch designers and includes interviews with, among others: MVRDV, 2012 Architects, Jurgen Bey, Claudy Jongstra, Gerard Unger, Paul Mijksenaar, Marlies Dekkers, Alexander van Slobbe and G-Star.