Designers at MAKUS: Merel and Mirjam
Mirjam and Merel are the design duo of MAKUS. They know how to challenge, inspire and stimulate each other. This is how they come up with beautiful new MAKUS designs. Curious about this duo? Read more about M&M here.
How did you meet?
Merel: “We met each other thanks to a program for sustainable entrepreneurs at the Impact Hub in Amsterdam. The nice thing about that program was that there was a lot of interaction and exchange between all the different entrepreneurs.”
Mirjam: "Everyone helped each other with their knowledge. In this way it quickly became clear that with my design background (Design Academy Eindhoven), I could help Merel realize her ideas for MAKUS."
How do you come up with new designs?
Merel: “We are actually constantly busy with trends, in the field of colours and patterns but also social trends. Think of the meaning of a kitchen or the place of the kitchen in the house.”
Mirjam: "What is very important to us is that the designs are ultimately timeless. You buy an induction hob for a long time, you don't want to be tired of the design within a few years.
Once we have found a trend that fits MAKUS, we develop various options that we then have assessed by a group of consumers.”
What is the strength of your collaboration?
Mirjam: "Working with Merel doesn't feel like work. We share the same enthusiasm and that strengthens each other. Furthermore, we each have our own expertise in which we fully trust and complement the other. If Merel says something that I don't agree with, it is often because she approaches something from a completely different perspective than I do. The discussion that then arises ensures that we ultimately achieve the best result. That way we continue to learn from each other."
Merel: “Amen.”
What are you working on now?
Merel: “We would like to expand the range, with both designs and functionalities. For example, you see a lot of induction with integrated extraction in the market now. By also giving that option, we offer even more possibilities to arrange your kitchen to your own taste. We want to ensure that your induction hob also fits in with your kitchen, so that even more people can cook fossil-free!”