Jul 25

Marjan van Aubel | Solar Designer

Pushing the boundaries with designs inspired by solar energy, Dutch designer and architect Marjan van Aubel is a beacon of light in the design world. From the creative streets of Amsterdam to the innovative centres of London, van Aubel combines solar energy with an aesthetic revolution. Proving that the sun is not only a source of energy but also an aesthetic expression, the designer offers both an eye-catching and environmentalist perspective in every project. Van Aubel's collaborations and projects demonstrate how attractive and sustainable integrating the sun into our daily lives can be. At the point where solar energy meets an artistic vision, we talked to Marjan about his work and production practice.

Interview: Onur Çoban

Who is Marjan van Aubel? Could you briefly introduce yourself? How did your journey to becoming a globally recognized designer begin?

My design journey began in Amsterdam where I studied Design at the Rietveld Academy and continued in London with a master at the RCA. I enjoyed my time as a student a lot and exploring my interest in sustainable materials. I have always been interested in how things work and also seemingly ordinary things that most people take for granted.

As a solar energy designer, what led you to this field? What moment or experience pushed you to explore the power of the sun?

I’ve always been fascinated by the power of the sun and the fact that there is so much unused energy in front of us. We mostly know solar from these blue squares on rooftops; When I looked around, I always wondered why there aren’t more well-designed objects that integrate solar in a beautiful way. So I wanted to change this view on solar energy and turn it into something beautiful, something that people would want to have in their daily lives.

The Interactive Sun ©Ronald Smits, Britt Berden, Pascal Ontijd

"The sun is all around us, almost everywhere on our planet, so why not use what we have in abundance and turn it into something useful and beautiful that can bring us a step closer towards a more sustainable future."

Your project with Lexus made a significant impact worldwide. Could you tell us a bit about the story of this collaboration? How did solar energy and other solar-related themes shape your artistic expression in this work?

I began my collaboration with Lexus as a mentor for the 2023 Lexus Design Award program. This role offered me deep insights into the brand's commitment to sustainability, innovation, and human centered design. It was an incredible experience to work with designers who developed new products aimed at building a better, more sustainable future. Throughout this process, I found that Lexus and I share many design principles and values. So, when they invited me to create a sculptural installation inspired by the LF-ZC concept car, I was thrilled. This opportunity has allowed me to explore and design in novel ways while contemplating the future possibilities of solar energy.

8 Minutes and 20 Seconds ©Steve Benisty

"My passion lies in working with solar technology to foster a sustainable future worldwide. Therefore, I am particularly interested in projects like these that connect industries and communities, bringing sustainable ideas to a broader audience."

Which of your projects has excited you the most in terms of the design process and the final product?

That's a difficult question, as the projects are very different. I dream of a world in which clean energy is our main energy source. Large installation works such as the solar roof of the Dutch pavilion for the World Expo in Dubai or the Solar Pavilion that we showed during the Dutch Design Week can give a sense of what this future could look like. It's always exciting and rewarding to work with architects, engineers and specialists from different fields to bring visions and ideas to life together. That's why I also enjoy working with companies from other sectors, because connecting industries and communities is the way forward. We can only reach the dream of a sustainable future together. In that context I also enjoy developing objects like Sunne that make beautiful solar design more accessible. The more people we reach the better as the goal is to invite and inspire people to work towards a sustainable future together.

Solar Pavilion ©Lucas Schilder, Aiste Rakauskaite

What are the most important developments that have influenced your work in the field of renewable energies? In your opinion, what key trends will shape the solar energy sector in the coming years?

So much is happening in the field of solar energy, which is very exciting and

inspiring! A few years ago, sustainable energy was still a niche, whereas now it is

becoming more and more mainstream. When we look back, it's incredible how

much more efficient and affordable solar panels have become and how many new

applications have developed. There are thin film solar and organic cells, different

colors and designs to play with. More and more researchers and designers are

exploring the integration of solar cells into textiles, paint and many materials more

which will all shape how we look at solar energy in the future. And I think we are

only at the beginning - there is so much potential! Making it more accessible will

make a big difference. It will become more and more normal to have solar-powered

objects and use solar energy.

Dubai Expo ©Buro Bélen, Nadja Schlenker

Could you share some of the sources of inspiration behind your work? Who are the people you follow with interest in this field or other disciplines?

My biggest inspiration is the world around me. It started with the solar panels on

the roofs, which I always wondered about. Why aren't solar panels designed more

beautifully so that they are not only efficient, but also make houses more beautiful?

It always starts with questions like this. How can we make solar energy more

accessible, more beautiful and more popular? The natural course of the sun was

therefore also the inspiration for the function of Sunne. We wanted to bring the sun

into people's homes in the truest sense of the word, so we decided to create three

settings that resemble the natural course of the sun - Sunne Rise, Sunne Light and

Sunne Set. We hope it will make people think about how nice it can be to use solar

energy at home and spark interest in the technology behind it.

And of course, there are also a lot of inspiring people out there, many of whom I've

met at conferences, interviewed for my book and met during the Solar Biennale,

where we bring people involved in the field of solar energy together to share ideas

and knowledge.

Are you excited about the future? What are your plans?

Definitely! There are so many interesting and promising things happening in the field of solar energy, both from a technical and a design point of view. We are currently working on various collaborations, of which we will reveal more soon. There will be an immersive and interactive light installation on show during the London Design Festival this autumn and we are currently also planning the next edition of the Solar Biennale, which we are really looking forward to. Through more product innovations, immersive light installations, and solar artwork, our studio aims to design for a positive future.