TFS#235 - Robert van Embricqs, Man Behind The Viral Wall Desk, From Viral Videos to Royal Recognition

Robert van Embricqs is an award-winning
Dutch designer known for his innovative,
transforming furniture inspired by nature’s intricate forms—like
bone structures and plant life. His minimalist approach
emphasizes a unique collaboration between designer and material,
allowing each piece to “unfold” into its own shape.


Connect with Robert!


https://www.instagram.com/robert_van_embricqs


https://nl.pinterest.com/robertvanembricqs


https://www.robertvanembricqs.com


CHAPTERS:


0:00 – Introduction


1:03 – Meet Robert van Embricqs


2:15 – Did Robert film and edit his own viral clips?


3:01 – Childhood creativity and how it influences his design


5:00 – Does Robert still have dreams and fantasies today?


7:05 – Educational background


9:19 – How does Robert test physics and weight distribution in
his designs?


11:24 – Robert shares that he works alone in creating his designs


13:29 – What’s Robert’s production volume per design?


15:24 – How he started selling his designs internationally


16:07 – How the Dutch Queen recognized his designs at the Salone
del Mobile


17:46 – Does Robert sell directly to consumers or through
distributors?


18:45 – Producing older designs from his collection


19:24 – Furniture production after his viral video


21:41 – Robert shares his current and upcoming collection


25:28 – Issues he faced with design copies and replicas


29:47 – Strategy to prevent future copying of his designs


31:23 – What’s the most exciting publication Robert’s work has
appeared in?


34:12 – Robert shares receiving compliments from Simon Sinek and
Trevor Noah on his furniture


36:47 – Robert's advice for product designers to get featured in
publications


39:21 – Robert's marketing approach for his upcoming product
launches


41:22 – How do gallery partnerships work with his products?


42:14 – Rising Chair prototype and explains how it works


43:16 – How did Robert come up with his cutting and folding
technique?


44:41 – How he balances his time across multiple projects


46:02 – How he organizes design ideas that come to mind


46:59 – Robert shares his admiration for the design of Alfa Romeo
cars


52:47 – Robert shares why he likes the GUBI lamp


54:14 – Robert shares some models he keeps that may never become
actual products


56:06 – Robert talks about his process of creating models and
prototypes


57:05 – What is Robert’s design technique called?


58:45 – Robert shares his typical day and work routine


59:49 – How 3D software translates his foam models into digital
3D models


1:02:41 – Will Robert’s easel product be sold to museums or the
public?


1:03:49 – Gravity testing and real-life load testing stories


1:06:55 – How he creates real-life prototypes


1:07:50 – When did Robert officially start his brand?


1:08:46 – How he learned the business side of running his design
brand


1:10:19 – How he manages pricing and profit margins for his
products


1:11:05 – Does Robert front the manufacturing costs for new
products?


1:13:11 – Robert shares that he never expected his wall desk
video to go viral


1:15:02 – How he got invited to do a TEDx Talk


1:17:53 – How Robert’s designs ended up featured in the Netflix
movie Big Bug


1:21:52 – Robert's advice for designers wanting to go viral or
gain media attention


1:23:52 – How Robert maintains uniqueness and handles the
pressure of audience expectations


1:25:52 – How his various designs evolved from initial ideas to
functional products


1:27:43 – Robert shares the creative and design process behind
six of his products


1:33:16 – Robert talks about the function of his fruit bowl
design


1:34:24 – Robert shares the packaging advantages of his flat-pack
furniture


1:35:17 – Robert shares client feedback and how his work becomes
part of their lives


1:37:00 – Focused on over the past six months?


1:38:03 – How Robert uses ChatGPT for creative and business
guidance


1:40:33 – Lessons he has learned about brand positioning and
pricing


1:42:27 – Robert's personal goals for the next six months


1:43:18 – Connect with Robert


1:43:59 – Outro