Chris Kabel (b. 1975) is a Dutch designer whose work often hovers at the edge of the unexpected—where materials behave in ways you didn’t quite anticipate and everyday objects get rethought from the inside out. After graduating from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2001, he set up his practice in Rotterdam, collaborating with brands, architects, and institutions across Europe. His projects range from furniture to lighting to public installations, but there’s always a material story at the core. Over the years, Kabel’s work has earned international attention and awards—including from Wallpaper*, Dutch Design Awards, and the New Material Award. His objects have made their way into the permanent collections of MoMA in New York, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, among others. In parallel to his design work, he also teaches at ECAL in Lausanne, where he brings his curiosity for structure and process into the classroom.