Conversation with Vincent Van Duysen : Shaping Timeless Design for a Global Audience

Vincent Van Duysen, known for redefining contemporary interiors with his minimalist and tactile designs, has once again partnered with Zara Home – a global leader in attainable yet tasteful home decor – for their third collaboration since 2021. Expressing his refined aesthetic and commitment to natural materials, Van Duysen’s latest offering introduces sculptural objects, versatile furniture, and elements inspired by his own homes.

In this conversation, he reflects on the collaboration, his design philosophy, and the delicate balance of crafting pieces that resonate globally while maintaining his signature.

What was the spark behind the initial collaboration with Zara Home, and what convinced you to take this bold step?
It all started with my world and that of Marta Ortega colliding. Surreally, I always felt we were crossing paths through similar interests and taste. She has always shown interest in my work, but we had never met, up to this point. Then we finally met in person in Antwerp: the meeting proved and cemented how significant we were to one another. The result is this wonderful collaboration, a new journey both for me and Marta that took the right amount of time to do what was right both for me and the brand.

Zara Home is known for its accessibility, while your work has been rooted in luxury and high-end design. What inspired you to bring your distinct vision to a wider audience?
What inspired me is the fact that Zara Home’s audience is global and blends all walks of life, and that goes hand in hand with my view of how design and architecture should be accessed and enjoyed. I want customers to enjoy all design elements, from the biggest such as sofas, armchairs, dining tables all the way to the smaller ones which we are now introducing with this collection.

How does the collection reflect your views on living spaces?
With this third drop, we took a different approach from the previous two installments. Still heavily inspired by the first two collections, this new drop is more focused on objects which range from wooden to bronze vases to more sculptural objects also doubling both as self-standing decorative elements in space or on a tabletop, a pedestal, or a nightstand beside a geometrical daybed as an addition to the sofas.

With subtlety, we added a component that can be placed around the sofa… acting as a screen that embraces the sofa but at the same time it can hold books and objects, in solid wood with embedded metal containers/niches – so two textures in one piece.

We added a free-standing low chair which creates a little twist and is more dynamic compared to the previous collections… it is utilitarian and functional yet has a sculptural character… reminiscent of vintage chairs with abstract contours and lines.

Can you share a bit about your material choices for the collections?
The collection is based on natural materials that are dear to me, such as oak, ash, Moron lime, wool, cement, linen, leather, and brass. These choices are driven by my tactile nature and over 30 years of experience working exclusively with natural materials. These materials bring warmth and authenticity to my creations. By incorporating these elements, I aim to create a harmony between functionality and natural beauty.

Your work is known for its meticulous attention to detail. How did your creative process adapt for this collaboration? Did it differ from your usual approach to designing for other brands and clients?
Absolutely not. They are as careful to details, quality, and excellent manufacturing, that I didn’t notice any difference at all. The differences between a high-end brand and Zara Home are more in the history and background details and values. For example, a more traditional, premium brand is often steeped in heritage, excellence, and design history; Zara Home is more essential with its pure forms, which reflect my way of living in my homes both in Portugal and Antwerp. Another difference is in the end customer, which is quite different between traditional high-end brands and Zara Home, which has a different and fresher approach.

Bringing your work to a global audience must be a significant milestone. Do you feel you’re redefining what ‘luxury’ means today?
I am not a big fan of the word luxury; however, I try to always improve and challenge myself in order to enhance people’s lives. I am not sure if it can be considered “redefining,” but for sure, I do evolve and progress over time to propose new solutions and sensibilities to stand the test of time.

Experience the full collection here.