Vogue Living Australia — September / October 2009

Lightfacet featured in Vogue Living’s exploration of Buckminster Fuller’s legacy

In the September/October 2009 issue of Vogue Living Australia, Lightfacet was featured in a major editorial examining the lasting influence of visionary architect, inventor and futurist Richard Buckminster Fuller. The article, titled “Design Scientist”, explored how Fuller’s ideas continue to inspire contemporary designers, architects and makers around the world.

A new generation inspired by Fuller

The article traced the impact of Fuller’s work on modern design, from geodesic domes and lightweight structures to contemporary products influenced by geometric systems and modular thinking. According to the magazine, a new generation of designers was rediscovering Fuller’s ideas and translating them into products that combine efficiency, flexibility and visual innovation.

Lightfacet was selected as one of the examples illustrating this continuing influence.

Geometry as a design language

Within the feature, Lightfacet was presented as a modular room divider by Dutch design studio Bloomming. The publication highlighted the design’s repeating geometric structure and its ability to transform space through a system of interconnected triangular and diamond-shaped elements.

Much like Fuller’s fascination with geometric principles as building blocks of nature, Lightfacet uses a simple modular element to create larger architectural compositions that can adapt to different environments and requirements.

Beyond decoration

Rather than functioning solely as a decorative screen, Lightfacet was featured as an example of design that actively engages with space, light and human interaction. By rotating individual facets, users can continuously alter transparency, visibility and pattern, creating a dynamic relationship between openness and privacy.

This adaptability reflected many of the principles celebrated throughout the article: efficiency, modularity and intelligent use of structure.

Publication details

Publication: Vogue Living Australia
Issue: September / October 2009
Article title: Design Scientist
Section: Design
Product: Lightfacet
Designers: Bas van Leeuwen & Mireille Meijs
Company: Bloomming

Featured mention

The article noted that the influence of Buckminster Fuller on a new generation of designers could be seen in “Lightfacet, a modular system by Dutch design studio Bloomming.” The design was presented alongside examples of Fuller’s work and contemporary interpretations of his geometric thinking.

Why this feature mattered

Being featured in Vogue Living Australia placed Lightfacet within an international design conversation rather than solely an interior design context. Instead of focusing on its function as a room divider, the magazine positioned the design within a broader architectural and conceptual framework, connecting it to the ideas of one of the twentieth century’s most influential design thinkers.

The feature underscored how Lightfacet embodies principles of modularity, adaptability and geometric innovation—qualities that continue to define the design today.

Bloomming featured in Villas magazine

The influence of Dutch design extends far beyond the Netherlands. In issue 64 of Villas, the French architecture and interior design magazine dedicated a feature to contemporary Dutch designers and innovative furniture concepts. Among the selected projects: Bloomming and the work of founders Bas van Leeuwen and Mireille Meijs.

Dutch design through an international lens

The editorial explores a new generation of Dutch designers who combine functionality, experimentation, and a strong visual identity. Rather than focusing solely on form, the featured designers are presented as thinkers and makers who respond to the changing way we live, work, and experience our surroundings.

Within this context, Bloomming was included as part of a curated selection showcasing the diversity and creativity of Dutch design.

A feature for Bloomming

In the design overview, Bas van Leeuwen and Mireille Meijs appear alongside other emerging Dutch designers whose work attracted international attention. The publication highlights Bloomming’s distinctive approach to geometry, modularity, and spatial design — themes that continue to define the brand today.

The feature also includes the Grip table leg system, an early Bloomming design. Grip was conceived as a flexible stainless-steel table base that can be combined with a wide variety of tabletop materials and dimensions. By separating the tabletop from its supporting structure, the design offers freedom for customisation while maintaining a refined architectural appearance.

Recognition beyond borders

For a young design studio, being featured in an international publication such as Villas represented an important milestone. It demonstrated how Dutch design was gaining recognition abroad and how Bloomming’s work resonated with an audience interested in innovation, craftsmanship, and contemporary interiors.

Today, many of the same principles visible in these early projects remain at the heart of Bloomming’s collection: modular thinking, architectural form, and products that transform the way spaces are experienced.

Publication details

Publication: Villas Magazine
Issue: No. 64
Country: France
Feature: Dutch Design (Design des Pays-Bas)
Products featured: Grip table leg system and Bloomming studio work
Designers: Bas van Leeuwen & Mireille Meijs

More than a decade later, these early international publications offer a glimpse into the origins of Bloomming and the design philosophy that continues to shape the brand today.

Playing with Light

Published in EH&I, February 2008

In February 2008, Dutch design magazine EH&I featured designer Mireille Meijs and her graduation project Light Facet, a room divider that explored new ways of shaping sunlight within interior spaces.

At the time, the project was still in its early stages, years before Facet would become an internationally recognised room divider and the foundation of Bloomming’s success.

The Origin of Light Facet

According to Mireille Meijs, sunlight can transform a room, but traditional solutions such as curtains and blinds often create a static result.

When closed, these systems block light and can make a space feel darker. Light Facet was conceived as an alternative approach: a room divider that allows users to actively shape the flow of light through a space.

The design consists of individually rotatable geometric modules. By adjusting the position of the modules, users can create changing patterns of light and shadow while simultaneously controlling privacy and openness.

As Mireille explained:

“To create changing patterns of light and shadow, the surfaces of Light Facet can be rotated independently. This allows any desired area to be opened or closed.”

The resulting pattern resembles an abstract field of flowers and creates a playful interaction between sunlight and interior space.

Design Academy Eindhoven

Light Facet was developed while studying at Design Academy Eindhoven.

When asked why she chose Eindhoven, Mireille emphasised the importance of strong ideas and thorough research:

“A good idea is the foundation of a good product. By exploring all possible angles of a problem, you discover new solutions.”

This design philosophy would later become a defining characteristic of Bloomming’s products: combining visual elegance with a clear functional purpose.

Building a Design Practice

At the time of the interview, Mireille had already started her own design studio and was actively developing the Light Facet concept further.

She expressed a clear ambition for the future:

“I think it would be fantastic to one day see Light Facet hanging in people’s homes all over the world.”

Looking back, this statement proved remarkably prophetic. What began as a graduation project eventually evolved into Facet, a room divider now used in homes, offices, restaurants, hotels and public spaces around the world.

Inspiration and Learning

Mireille credited the designers at Feiz Design Studio, who supervised her graduation project, as important sources of inspiration.

She admired their ability to take simple everyday themes and develop them into refined and intelligent design solutions.

When asked what frustrated her most, her answer was concise:

“Arrogant designers.”

Future Plans

At the time of publication, Mireille’s goal was to further develop her ideas, bring products to market and inspire people through design.

She also shared a broader ambition:

“I would like to work in a developing country for a period of time in order to help people there.”

A Design That Endured

What makes this article particularly significant is that it documents one of the earliest public appearances of Light Facet, the project that would later become Facet.

The core concept described in the article remains unchanged today: a room divider composed of individually rotatable modules that allow users to shape light, privacy and transparency according to their needs.

More than fifteen years later, Facet continues to embody the same idea that inspired its creation: transforming light into an interactive part of interior design.

Publication Details

Publication: EH&I
Issue: February 2008
Featured designer: Mireille Meijs
Project: Light Facet
Institution: Design Academy Eindhoven
Topics: Room dividers, light and shadow, interior design, Dutch design, product design

Аэрофлот Бортовой Журнал / Aeroflot Inflight Magazine

Aeroflot Inflight Magazine is the official in-flight publication of Aeroflot – Russian Airlines, distributed to passengers across the airline’s domestic and international network. Published monthly, the magazine covers travel, culture, lifestyle and design, reaching a broad audience of business and leisure travellers throughout Russia and beyond.

The March 2013 issue marks a significant milestone: Aeroflot’s 90th anniversary, celebrated on the cover with archival imagery spanning the airline’s history from Soviet-era propaganda posters to contemporary cabin interiors.

My Other Half – A Design Feature on Romantic Gifts

Pages 102–106 of the issue contain a multi-page design feature titled “Половинка моя!” (“My Other Half!”), written by Katerina Afonchenkova. The article explores how contemporary designers are reimagining romantic gifts — objects that hint at deep feeling while remaining genuinely useful and considered. The feature presents eleven numbered products, each selected for its clever concept and design quality.

The editorial premise is built around the idea of pairing: gifts designed for two people, where each half belongs to the other. Products range from a dual-reservoir teapot by Polish designer Ewa Sendecka, to a heart-shaped anatomical wine decanter, to a set of lovers’ gloves connected by a shared mitten, to a kinetic wooden heart sculpture by British artist Martin Smith.

Bloomming in the Feature

Among the eleven products presented, Bloomming’s interlocking ring collection is featured as item 8. The rings are described as gold or silver jewellery sets from the Dutch team Bloomming. The editorial highlights the defining characteristic of the One collection: each piece can only connect with its own counterpart. The interlocking mechanism means that no two rings from different pairs can be joined — making the set a literal, physical expression of exclusivity and belonging.

The rings are presented alongside a bold red heart sculpture, visually reinforcing the romantic theme of the spread. Their clean, minimal form contrasts with the more elaborate objects in the feature, allowing the concept — rather than decoration — to carry the emotional weight.

The One Collection: Jewellery as Commitment

The One collection by Bloomming translates the idea of a unique bond into a wearable object. The interlocking rings are engineered so that each pair fits together precisely, and only together. This mechanical exclusivity makes the collection not just a piece of jewellery, but a statement: two rings that belong to each other and to no one else.

By including the collection in a feature about romantic design gifts, the Aeroflot editors positioned the One rings alongside some of the most inventive couples-oriented products on the international design market in early 2013.

Reach and Context

As an inflight magazine distributed across Aeroflot’s network, this publication reached a substantial international readership at a moment when Aeroflot was one of Europe’s largest airlines by passenger volume. The March 2013 issue, timed around Valentine’s Day gift-giving, placed Bloomming’s work in front of a diverse, design-aware audience across Russia, Europe and beyond.

The feature appeared in the “Дело вкуса / Дизайн” (Matter of Taste / Design) section, a recurring editorial slot dedicated to highlighting notable product design from international studios and designers.

Publication details

Publication: Аэрофлот Бортовой Журнал / Aeroflot Inflight Magazine
Section: Дело вкуса / Дизайн (Matter of Taste / Design)
Article title: Половинка моя! (My Other Half!)
Author: Katerina Afonchenkova
Issue: March 2013
Pages: 102–106
Product featured: One – Interlocking Ring Collection
Company: Bloomming
Designers: Bas van Leeuwen & Mireille Meijs
Category: Inflight lifestyle and design magazine

Why this feature mattered

Placement in an airline inflight magazine represents a distinct form of editorial reach. Unlike design press read primarily by industry professionals, inflight publications are consumed by a general audience with broad purchasing power and an appetite for lifestyle and gift ideas. The March 2013 timing — shortly after Valentine’s Day gift guides would have been relevant — meant the One collection was presented to readers in a mindset receptive to meaningful, design-led gifts. The feature reinforced Bloomming’s growing international profile and placed the One collection in a context that emphasised its emotional concept as much as its aesthetic qualities.

Is That the Time? No, Really, Is It?

Published in SmartLife Magazine

Among the products featured in SmartLife’s Objects of Desire section was Clock Delay, a sculptural clock designed by Bas van Leeuwen for Dutch design studio STUDIOBloomm.

The magazine highlighted the unusual appearance of the design, describing it as a striking aluminium and steel object that looks more like a kinetic sculpture than a traditional clock.

A Different Way of Reading Time

Clock Delay was created to challenge conventional expectations of how a clock should function and appear.

Instead of using traditional hands and a dial, the design displays time through three rotating cogwheels representing hours, minutes and seconds. Numbers run along the outer edge of each wheel, and the current time is determined by observing the point where the three indicators align.

The result is a clock that transforms the act of telling time into an engaging visual experience.

Technology as Sculpture

While the publication humorously acknowledged that Clock Delay is not the most practical way to read the time, it praised the design for its hypnotic quality and elegant mechanical appearance.

The exposed mechanism invites viewers to observe the movement of time itself rather than simply reading a number from a display. In doing so, the clock becomes both a functional object and a conversation piece.

According to the magazine, the design possesses a compelling presence that encourages people to stop, look and interact with it.

International Recognition

Clock Delay was featured as one of the magazine’s selected design objects and was presented alongside high-end audio equipment and luxury lifestyle products.

The publication described the clock as a memorable and distinctive design that stands apart from conventional timepieces through its exposed mechanics and sculptural character.

About Clock Delay

Product: Clock Delay
Designer: Bas van Leeuwen
Studio: STUDIOBloomm (later Bloomming)
Materials: Aluminium and steel
Function: Clock displaying time through three rotating cogwheels representing hours, minutes and seconds
Price at publication: Approximately £1,015 plus shipping
Website: www.bloomming.com

Publication Details

Publication: SmartLife Magazine
Section: Objects of Desire
Featured designer: Bas van Leeuwen
Company: STUDIOBloomm
Featured product: Clock Delay
Topics: Product design, kinetic design, clocks, exposed mechanics, Dutch design

Design from the Cradle

Published in Zuiderlucht, October 2008

In October 2008, sustainability was a major theme at both Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven and Interieur Kortrijk in Belgium. Designers, architects and thought leaders explored how products could be created with greater consideration for resources, re-use and longevity.

One of the concepts receiving considerable attention at the time was Cradle to Cradle, developed by Michael Braungart and William McDonough. Rather than creating products that eventually become waste, the philosophy promotes designs in which materials can be continuously re-used.

Delay by Bloomming

At Dutch Design Week, designer Bas van Leeuwen presented Delay, a project developed through Bloomming.

The project originated from a simple observation:

“Nobody knows anymore how products are put together; if they break, we simply throw them away.”

With Delay, Van Leeuwen sought to restore appreciation for technology and craftsmanship. Instead of concealing the mechanics of a clock behind a traditional dial, the design exposes its inner workings and turns the mechanism itself into the focal point.

By revealing how time is measured, Delay encourages users to engage with the object, understand its operation and develop a stronger connection with the product. The project reflects Bloomming’s belief that thoughtful design can create lasting value and help reduce our throwaway mentality.

Eindhoven’s Creative Ecosystem

The article also highlighted Eindhoven’s growing reputation as a centre for design and innovation. Through initiatives at Strijp-S and Dutch Design Week, young designers and entrepreneurs were supported in developing products, launching businesses and bringing new ideas to market.

Bloomming was mentioned as one of the emerging creative companies contributing to this movement.

According to Bas van Leeuwen:

“The Netherlands remains exceptionally strong in design. Every year new talent emerges.”

About Delay

Delay transforms the traditional clock into a sculptural object that celebrates technology rather than hiding it. By exposing the mechanism behind the passage of time, the design invites reflection on how products are made and how we interact with them.

The project became an early example of Bloomming’s interest in sustainability, product longevity and creating meaningful connections between people and the objects that surround them.

Publication Details

Publication: Zuiderlucht
Issue: October 2008
Featured designer: Bas van Leeuwen
Company: Bloomming
Featured project: Delay
Topics: Dutch Design Week, sustainability, Cradle to Cradle, product design, Eindhoven