Designer interview with Marc Th. van der Voorn of

Marc Th. van der Voorn has been an independent product and furniture designer since 2001. He’s been a fixture in the design world for quite some time now. His products are timeless; designed with great depth and an eye for detail, yet calm in appearance. It has also been quite a few years since Marc’s path first Vij5 . Since then, he, Arjan, and Anieke have regularly met as friends at trade shows and events. Yet it wasn’t until 2025 that a collaboration came to fruition. His Qui side table fits perfectly with Vij5 DNA in every way Vij5 has therefore been added to the collection.

Curious about Marc’s story, the design process behind the Qui side table, and how our collaboration ultimately came together? Then be sure to read on!

April 2026

Text: Daniëlle van de Haterd
Photography: Vij5

Marc wasn’t raised on creative expression, but the seeds were certainly planted during his childhood. “There is a funny common thread, though. My parents weren’t specifically focused on design. Over the years, they simply bought things they liked. It turned out later that in their search, they Furniture purchased numerous Furniture that New at the time but later became design classics. So, unconsciously, I’ve always been surrounded by beautifully designed products, and that has certainly influenced how I approach design today.”

Creativity in the Family

Marc grew up in a family of four. His father worked in the fashion industry and his mother was a home economics teacher. In addition to a lovingly decorated home, these professions—each in their own way—laid the foundation for Marc’s creative streak. “My mother taught cooking classes at school, and I don’t think she ever cooked the same thing twice in my entire life. She did follow recipes, but she was always on the lookout for new dishes and loved to be surprised by cultures and cuisines. Meatloaf on Wednesdays? I’ve never heard of that. I recognize many of her traits in myself: I’m an explorer and I don’t like repetition.”

“I’ve also drawn inspiration from my father’s field of expertise. Stitching, Velcro, snaps, and zippers are used in the fashion industry as functional fasteners, but they’re just as effective as a means of creating surprising details. I also enjoy incorporating these materials and design techniques into my Design.”

Anything is possible

Until he was thirty, Marc lived with the belief that anything was possible and that he could succeed at anything. “I still tell interns that: use that time to play around and try things out. Later on, your responsibilities and standard of living will change, and the consequences of the choices you’ve made will become more tangible and visible. As a result, the freedom to experiment freely sometimes feels more limited.”

That said, this belief doesn’t mean Marc thinks everything has to be set in stone after that age. He still enjoys working experimentally, precisely to create Design continue to surprise.

“It’s nice to have a creative mind, but there’s also a downside,” he says. “A lot of things fail and cost time and money—you have to be able to handle that.” For him personally, that’s exactly what makes the profession so valuable.Design really a training for life. You learn from the process every day; it never stops as long as you keep challenging yourself. There are so many different factors involved in bringing a design to life, and they all have to fall into place.”

“A lot of things don’t work out and cost time and money—you have to be able to handle that.”

Marc Th. van der Voorn

From business to art school

After high school, Marc decided to study economics in Groningen. “After a year and a half, I knew: I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life. But what then?”

by help by his girlfriend’s by at the time, who worked as an organizational psychologist, Marc began to explore his options. “It became clear that I needed to do something that involved my mind and my hands, but this didn’t quite fit with the secure future my parents had envisioned for me, so I wasn’t immediately enthusiastic.”

Without knowing exactly where it would lead, Marc decided to apply to Minerva Art Academy anyway. “I wasn’t entirely sure about it, but I figured I’d see if they were interested in me. To my great surprise, they were very enthusiastic, and I was immediately accepted into the interior design program.”

Marc completed his studies fairly quickly, although he did take a brief detour to tour with “Is Ook Schitterend,” the nationally known band of which he was a member in the early years as a keyboardist and songwriter. Ultimately, he decided to leave his life as a musician behind and focus full-time on his studies. “I really love creating, but a life in the spotlight doesn’t really suit me. Ultimately, playing the same songs night after night doesn’t make me happy; I much prefer to be innovative and work more ‘behind the scenes.’”

Just a little different—because we can

Although Marc studied interior architecture, he eventually became a product and furniture designer. “The way things turned out was partly a matter of chance, but in a way it was also a conscious choice. I had my heart set on an internship at a design studio specializing in graphic, product, and interior design, because that combination really appealed to me.”

“At one point, my internship supervisor had to travel abroad for a project. She had asked me to think about the Lighting a project while she was away. When she returned, I presented her with a series of lamps I had designed. It turned out that I hadn’t understood the assignment correctly; I Lighting actually Lighting select suitable Lighting from a catalog.”

But his hard work paid off; Marc’s lamps were used in the project, and that marked the beginning of his career as an independent product and furniture designer.

He didn’t even do his graduation project on an interior design, but on a lamp. “That wasn’t actually allowed, but I argued that my lamp design could transform the space and atmosphere—the academy thought that was so brilliant that they made an exception for me. During my studies, I pushed the boundaries and sold my work well. I think that’s also part of my strength; there are undoubtedly plenty of people who are better at Design I am, but I’m also good at marketing it.

From lamp to label

After graduating, Marc launched his own brand, AAN-UIT; later, he decided to broaden his focus, and lighting took a back seat. “In those early days, I learned how everything works. I came up with an idea, found manufacturers, went to trade shows, handled sales, and so on. Basically, it was a bit like what Arjan and Anieke Vij5 for Vij5 . Through this, I learned what the big picture should look like and that my strength lies in gathering and putting together the right pieces of the puzzle.”

“I enjoy working with brands; together, we explore what appeals to them in my design language and what’s still missing from the collection.”

Marc Th. van der Voorn

Seeing the big picture

“To expand my reach, I find reproducibility very interesting, but that doesn’t mean I want to have handled every single component or product myself.”

Instead, Marc prefers to collaborate. “I enjoy working with brands; together, we explore what appeals to them in my design language and what’s still missing from the collection.”

When it comes to Design , Marc Design his approach as closely as possible with the production processes that brands already use. “I see myself as the architect of every step in the product development process,” he explains. By this, he means that he oversees the entire process and organizes the path to its completion as efficiently as possible.

While Marc believes that the overall vision of his Design be right, he actually applies the same principle to the rest of his environment. “My partner is a major pillar in my life and plays a big role in the decisions I make. Her work is completely different from mine, but we speak the same language. We’re both critical and passionate. Those are such essential values for being able to support and understand each other. That’s how you get the best out of yourself and each other.”

Collaboration with Vij5

Vij5 I go way back; I met Arjan and Anieke back when they were just starting out, when they FlexVase the FlexVase . That design really spoke to me because the way the parts fit together is a key aspect of the design. I fell in love with the vase and decided to buy it for my parents.”

Although we’ve stayed in touch on a friendly basis ever since, many years passed between that first meeting and the inclusion of one of Marc’s designs in the Vij5 . How did that happen? “All the pieces of the puzzle had to fall into place. Both sides were interested, but the right design still had to be created.”

“I think the fact that you can still see the wood grain so clearly is a real plus.”

Marc Th. van der Voorn

The Qui Side Table

Experimentation is a key principle in Marc’s design processes. The Qui side table is a good example of this. “I was working on another design using 3-millimeter-thick plywood. That’s quite thin and therefore flexible. by working by , I learned a lot about the qualities and properties of this material. The way it’s glued makes the sheet bendable in one direction. I wanted to test how far I could push this material, and that’s how I arrived at the curve that forms the basis for this little table. Next, I looked into what was needed to secure and stabilize the structure. I believe that something born by or fascination only truly becomes a product by . If something isn’t possible, what is? Patience is a key factor.”

At a certain point in the design process, Marc felt that this might just be the piece for the Vij5 . He took the plunge and presented it to Arjan and Anieke. They were immediately enthusiastic about the design.

“The unfinished little table was a nice piece,” says Marc, “but I saw added value in color.” He found the perfect match in linseed oil, for which Vij5 is Vij5 . “I think it’s a real quality that you can still see the wood grain so clearly.” And so another piece of the puzzle fell into place.
Together with Vij5 , the side table Vij5 given a finishing touch. The design was already well developed, but decisions still had to be made regarding matters such as the dimensions of the tabletop, color selection, reproducibility, and packaging. Ultimately, the power of collaboration is reflected in the product.

Eternal value

When Marc does something, he does it right. “Volled verleden tijd,” a song he once wrote for his band, has become a staple of the Top 2000, and he hopes to achieve that same enduring appeal with the interior design pieces he creates.

With every idea, he carefully considers whether the world really needs it.
“I don’t design a lot of things,” he laughs, “I’d rather create truly great pieces that are just as timeless as the design classics in my parents’ home.”

Pride

Marc enjoys designing pieces with timeless appeal, where aesthetic choices never come at the expense of comfort. “When people are moved by I’ve created and want to keep it close to them, I feel proud and my mission is accomplished. Naturally, my products must be of sufficient quality to achieve this. That’s one of the reasons why I think it’s important that things can be taken apart, so that parts can be replaced if necessary. I choose my ‘ingredients’ carefully. In terms of Design , what Design most to me Design what it adds. If something I’ve created becomes part of someone’s daily life, it has proven its worth.”

Products by Marc in the Vij5