Partners in both business and life, Kiki van Eijk and Joost van Bleiswijk, known simply as Kiki and Joost, work individually and collaboratively as multidisciplinary creatives based in Eindhoven. From high-end furniture to large-scale installations, architecture to accessories, lighting to textiles and ceramics, their practice defies simple definition yet remains instantly recognizable.
Having met as students at the Design Academy Eindhoven, Kiki and Joost rooted their lives in their native Netherlands by transforming a self-constructed, energy-efficient workshop. The expansive rural compound now functions as both their home and the birthplace of uniquely vibrant creations, each piece, irrespective of size, prioritizes artisanal warmth and human connection, embodying a design vision that engages both hands and heart.
During Dutch Design Week 2022, Very Simple: Kitchen invited Kiki and Joost to develop a special collaboration as part of the exhibition project “Low Resolution,” presented by the designers at their Eindhoven studio. The project explored the concept of “low resolution”, referring to the lack of sharpness and clarity in on-screen or photographic images, to underscore the duo’s intentional counterbalance to digitalization in their creative process. By embracing an intuitive, low-tech approach, they aimed to safeguard their creative discipline while maintaining intense focus, design clarity, and their distinctive singularity.
For the exhibition, Very Simple: Kitchen took direct inspiration from Kiki and Joost, creating a custom-painted pink kitchen island based on the duo's own design. Featuring rounded corners and a Carrara white marble countertop, the island was positioned at the heart of the Eindhoven studio. It was conceived not just as a functional piece, but as an artistic installation and a social gathering space.
Indeed, the modules serve as a canvas upon which Kiki and Joost have created various drawings and decorations, transforming the kitchen into a work of art. The installation is completed by a lighting project, designed by the Dutch duo, consisting of lamps painted in the "Faded Yellow" tone, one of the standard colors from the Very Simple: Kitchen catalog, crafted by repurposing the brand's iconic handles.