Hella Jongerius Retrospective 'Whispering Things' Opens at Vitra Design Museum

Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein, Germany, presents 'Hella Jongerius: Whispering Things,' the first major retrospective of the Dutch designer's work, on view until September 6, 2026. Curated by Glenn Adamson with Marcella Hanika, the exhibition features approximately 300 objects, including early projects like inflatable textiles from her 1993 graduation at Design Academy Eindhoven and collaborations with Droog Design. Jongerius, born in Utrecht in 1963, has served as artistic director for colors and materials at Vitra, which now houses her archive. Highlights include the Soft Urn vases, a polyurethane shower mat, and the Knitted Lamp, alongside corporate projects for KLM, Artek, Camper, IKEA, Maharam, and Kvadrat. Her Nymphenburg porcelain plates from 2004 feature playful animal reliefs, while recent research focuses on color and material studies, such as the Coloured Vases installation and Angry Animals ceramic sculptures. The designer emphasizes introducing irregularities to counter industrial perfection, stating, 'If well designed, even an irregularity can become a positive characteristic.' The exhibition's Business Class section critiques corporate rigidity, and a new pond by Bas Smets will host Angry Animals in June. Jongerius notes the archive transfer as a new beginning, not an end.