Maarten Baas redefines mass production with 'More or Less' at MDW 2024

Dutch Originals, the producer of leading Dutch design furniture, has once again pushed the boundaries of creativity and timeless design. With a focus on both industrial classics and modern (re)designs, Dutch Originals is known for its high quality, craftsmanship and authenticity with the labels Gispen Classics and Gispen Today.

Dutch Originals is delighted to reveal the launch of a collection of More or Less new products during the upcoming Milan Design Week. Spearheaded by the artistic direction of renowned designers Richard Hutten, Maarten Baas and paying homage to the legacy of Wim Rietveld, this showcase promises to be a highlight at Masterly Milan.

Celebrating the centennial anniversary of Rietveld's birth and marking 70 years since his Compasso d'Oro triumph, the iconic 116 chair and 533 table are set for a remarkable revival. Under the creative stewardship of Hutten, these timeless designs have been sensitively updated to meet contemporary standards of comfort and sustainability. Hutten enthuses, "Wim Rietveld's designs stand as pillars of mid-century Dutch Design, coveted in the second-hand market and cherished as heirlooms. It's the epitome of sustainability." By incorporating advancements in materials and techniques, and subtly adjusting the dimensions of the chair, Rietveld's classics are poised to endure for generations in the Gispen Classics collection of Dutch Originals.

In a nod to the historical legacy of Gispen, Maarten Baas made waves in 2008 with his innovative More or Less chair. Commissioned by Hutten during his tenure as Gispen's Art Director, Baas's design ethos championed the beauty of imperfection and variability in industrial production. Baas explains, "Beyond the dichotomy of 'Less is More' and 'Less is a Bore', I advocate for 'More or Less' – embracing uniqueness within mass production." The showcased collection features eight distinct iterations of the More or Less chair design, each imbued with enhanced comfort while retaining Baas's signature charm. Additionally, Baas introduces a table design inspired by Gispen's mid-century classics, marking his final foray into mass-produced furniture design. This table stands as a testament to Baas's commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in design, ensuring that his creative vision reaches a wide audience.

Briefly, the expressive character of the table and chairs reflects Baas' style signature. By combining his style with the Gispen Today collection, Dutch Originals emphasises the versatility and contemporary relevance of their designs. “Dutch Originals remains true to its heritage of innovation and craftsmanship by collaborating with visionary designers such as Richard Hutten and Maarten Baas. As Dutch Originals likes to describe it, “These collaborations enable us to push the boundaries of design and create timeless elegance that stands the test of time as Dutch heritage.”