UNFOLD

Unfold is a Belgian design studio founded in 2002 by Claire Warnier and Dries Verbruggen, renowned for its pioneering work at the intersection of physical craftsmanship and digital form-giving. Navigating between the languages of computer code and traditional craft, Unfold constructs compelling scenarios where the two collide. Each project serves as an exploration of the digital-analogue divide, probing themes such as technical skill, intellectual property, and the paradox of uniqueness in mass reproduction.

In 2009, Unfold reshaped the design and craft world with the development of the world’s first studio-scale ceramic 3D printer. By releasing open-source plans, the studio catalysed a global movement in ceramic 3D printing, laying the foundation for a rich body of work examining material culture in the digital age. Notable projects include L’Artisan Électronique (2010), a virtual pottery wheel linked to a ceramic 3D printer; A Combmaker’s Tale (2020), a short film that weaves together a Croatian artisan’s fading legacy with a speculative robotic apprentice; and Atlas of Lost Finds (2023), a poetic investigation into how digital traces of lost artefacts—such as 3D scans of items destroyed in the 2018 fire at Brazil’s Museu Nacional—can be reimagined and re-materialised in collaboration with local communities.

Unfold’s innovative contributions have garnered numerous accolades, including Belgium’s Designer of the Year (2017) and the Henry van de Velde Award for Young Talent (2015). Their work has also been nominated for international awards such as the Design Museum London’s Designs of the Year.

The studio’s projects have been exhibited globally, with appearances at Data Clay (San Francisco Museum of Craft and Design), Imprimer le Monde (Centre Pompidou, Paris), the 9th Cheongju International Craft Biennale, and The Bauhaus #itsalldesign (Vitra Design Museum, Germany). Unfold’s works are also part of esteemed institutional collections, including the Centre Pompidou (Paris), the Computer History Museum (Mountain View), MAK – Museum of Applied Arts (Vienna), and the Design Museum Ghent.

Beyond self-initiated projects, Unfold engages in commercial work across concept development, design strategy, scenography, and production. Clients have included Hermès, Ecover, L’Oréal, Aesop, Artek, MAS Museum, Middelheim Museum, and Droog Design.

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