Designer Interview with Isabel Quiroga of

Isabel Quiroga had had the design for her photo frames sitting on the shelf for a while, but something was still missing. She found what she was looking for in the pigmented linseed oil used for various items produced by by Vij5 . A collaboration was born, and since then, her“Precious Memories” have been part of the Vij5 collection.

September 2025

Text: Daniëlle van de Haterd(Staaldraad Tekstschrijver)
Photography: Vij5

Isabel spent her childhood—as the daughter of a Bolivian father and a German mother— by , in a small village just across the border from Enschede. She lived a carefree life there, grew up in a relaxed and free environment, and spent a lot of time outdoors. Isabel’s father was a mechanical engineer and a true tinker; her career as a product designer is closely tied to that.

Making Things Yourself

“My father had a shed full of tools, and from a very young age I was fascinated by by all the things you could do with them. He made all kinds of things for us, from a slide to a treehouse to even a little electric motorcycle. I, too, soon started making things myself—like a skateboard. I cut a small board to size and sawed a roller skate in half to use as wheels.”

Training to Become a Furniture Maker

Isabel’s drive to create was instilled in her from an early age and is something she truly enjoys. After high school, she therefore enrolled in a program to become a furniture maker. She knew this wouldn’t be her final destination, but rather a great start. After completing that program, she gained a year of work experience, and then it was time for the next step. “I was drawn to the creative sector, but I wasn’t sure yet which direction I wanted to take. I was torn between design and architecture, but I knew it had to be something at art school.”

“I never really grew up with art at home.”

Isabel Quiroga

The Art Academy

There are very few art academies in Germany, which makes it difficult to secure a spot there. Isabel therefore enrolled at the AKI in Enschede. Her original plan was to build a portfolio there to improve her chances of admission in Germany, but she soon fell in love with this small school and decided to complete her entire degree there. “Once I arrived in Enschede, a whole new world opened up for me. I’d never really been exposed to art growing up, but this journey of discovery made me very happy.”

Spatial Design

After completing her first year, Isabel chose “spatial design.” She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to focus on architecture or photography within that field. “The program suggested that I pursue both tracks at the same time. I did that for a while, but I found it too intense, so I decided to go all in on architecture. Even so, it was still a very broad field—it covered both interior and exterior architecture, as well as product design. In the end, I chose the latter because that’s where my heart has always been.”

“I enjoy experimenting with different materials.”

Isabel Quiroga

Product Design

“The free-form style and small scale are what appeal to me most in product design. It felt very natural to complete my degree in this field, because it builds on my training in furniture design; I was already familiar with working with different materials, and I enjoy exploring them.”

“Don’t make me sit in front of a computer—my Design come to me by when I’m working with my hands.”

Isabel Quiroga

Studio and workshop combined

After graduating, Isabel ended up in Amsterdam, where she lives with her girlfriend in a small apartment in the Oost neighborhood and has a studio that doubles as a workshop. “We live in a small space, so that workshop is really nice. Don’t make me sit behind a computer—my Design come to me by when I’m working with my hands, and I have that space there.”

Master's in "Design Research"

About three years ago, Isabel pursued a master’s degree in “Design Research” at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam. “So much has changed in the years I’ve been working as a designer. I wanted to delve deeper into the complexity of design— Design —and examine it from different perspectives.”

“I don’t like the throwaway culture, which is why I always try to make my own Design in a way that people will come to love it.”

Isabel Quiroga

Sustainability as a Theme

“Over the years, I’ve seen sustainability become an increasingly important issue. I used to think it was mainly about materials and technology, but I discovered by during my master’s program that it has much more to do with how we relate to it. It’s not just about knowing how to shape materials; what’s even more important is being able to create a connection between people and objects. This really resonates with me—I don’t like the throwaway culture, which is why I always try to design my own Design in a way that makes people grow to love them.”

Playfulness and Functionality

In her “ Design ,” Isabel combines individuality and playfulness with functionality. “I want things to be usable and to truly add something to everyday life. If you find yourself thinking, ‘Wow, it’s so convenient that this works this way,’ over and over again, you’ll build memories with the product and won’t want to part with it anytime soon.”

Workshop

Isabel has channeled her enthusiasm for creating a connection between design and the user into a workshop, which she teaches as a guest lecturer at various educational institutions. “I really enjoy doing that because you get feedback from the students. You see what’s on their minds, and I’m happy to see that they’re becoming increasingly aware of sustainability. You’re really engaged with the present moment. I learn just as much from them as they do from me, because they have a different perspective. I always find it really exciting to see what I get back—it actually feels a bit like unwrapping presents.”

Precious Memories

Isabel’s “ Design ” often develop organically, and the same is true of her “Precious Memories.”

“I’m a real collector, so I had a whole bunch of small wooden blocks lying around. In the end, I used them to make stands for picture frames. I combined them with gold-colored aluminum and a glass panel, but I was still missing a way to personalise. The design had been sitting on the shelf for a while when I found the missing piece of the puzzle in the pigmented linseed oil used in various products in the Vij5 collection. This completed my design, and I presented it at the Design Passage in The Hague.”

Landscape of Memories

“by , using the various colours, my photo frames allow you to create your own landscape of memories. The design really invites you to personalise by combine them in different ways. I also love that photos aren’t just stored on your phone anymore, but that you consciously choose moments you want to print so you can look at them often. That’s how you make memories tangible and build a deeper connection with them.’

“I love that photos aren’t just stored on your cell phone, but that you consciously choose the moments you want to print.”

Isabel Quiroga

The " Vij5 " Collection

Isabel had known Arjan and Anieke for years; they would run into each other regularly at various exhibitions. “They were also at the Design Passage, and Arjan came to see my design. It wasn’t until afterward that I realized my ‘Precious Memories’ would fit beautifully into the Vij5 collection. I got in touch, and one thing led to another.”

Making Things Efficient

Although Isabel is an independent designer through and through, she definitely sees added value in collaborating with Vij5. “While I, as a designer, can sometimes be impractical and let myself be led like a toddler by by what I like, they’re much better at figuring out how to make things efficient. That helps bring structure and calm to the process. Arjan and Anieke have a lot of experience with users and stores, which I really appreciate. I learn from their approach.”

Tweaking the design

As is the case with many products in the Vij5 collection, the original design of “Precious Memories” has been tweaked slightly to make it easier to produce. For example, a different material was chosen for the backing plate, and the wooden blocks are now made in standardized sizes.

Isabel doesn't mind that at all; in fact, she thinks it's great. “The design is the same, just a little more streamlined.”

The Future

Although Isabel has been active in the world of product design for quite some time and is happy with what she does, she feels she still has a long way to go. “I want to delve much deeper into my research on the relationship between people and objects and apply this Translate to my Design.” She also has some personal aspirations: “As I get older, I find myself missing the laid-back atmosphere of a small town. So I think I’ll leave Amsterdam someday. But I’d still want to live near a big city, because I want to be able to easily access that energy and culture!”

Isabel's products in the " Vij5 " collection