TFS#235 - Robert van Embricqs, Man Behind The Viral Wall Desk, From Viral Videos to Royal Recognition

Robert van Embricqs is an award-winning Dutch designer known for his innovative, transforming furniture inspired by nature’s intricate forms—like bone structures and plant life. His minimalist approach emphasizes a unique collaboration between designer and material, allowing each piece to “unfold” into its own shape.Connect with Robert!https://www.instagram.com/robert_van_embricqshttps://nl.pinterest.com/robertvanembricqshttps://www.robertvanembricqs.comCHAPTERS:0:00 – Introduction1:03 – Meet Robert van Embricqs2:15 – Did Robert film and edit his own viral clips?3:01 – Childhood creativity and how it influences his design5:00 – Does Robert still have dreams and fantasies today?7:05 – Educational background9:19 – How does Robert test physics and weight distribution in his designs?11:24 – Robert shares that he works alone in creating his designs13:29 – What’s Robert’s production volume per design?15:24 – How he started selling his designs internationally16:07 – How the Dutch Queen recognized his designs at the Salone del Mobile17:46 – Does Robert sell directly to consumers or through distributors?18:45 – Producing older designs from his collection19:24 – Furniture production after his viral video21:41 – Robert shares his current and upcoming collection25:28 – Issues he faced with design copies and replicas29:47 – Strategy to prevent future copying of his designs31:23 – What’s the most exciting publication Robert’s work has appeared in?34:12 – Robert shares receiving compliments from Simon Sinek and Trevor Noah on his furniture36:47 – Robert's advice for product designers to get featured in publications39:21 – Robert's marketing approach for his upcoming product launches41:22 – How do gallery partnerships work with his products?42:14 – Rising Chair prototype and explains how it works43:16 – How did Robert come up with his cutting and folding technique?44:41 – How he balances his time across multiple projects46:02 – How he organizes design ideas that come to mind46:59 – Robert shares his admiration for the design of Alfa Romeo cars52:47 – Robert shares why he likes the GUBI lamp54:14 – Robert shares some models he keeps that may never become actual products56:06 – Robert talks about his process of creating models and prototypes57:05 – What is Robert’s design technique called?58:45 – Robert shares his typical day and work routine59:49 – How 3D software translates his foam models into digital 3D models1:02:41 – Will Robert’s easel product be sold to museums or the public?1:03:49 – Gravity testing and real-life load testing stories1:06:55 – How he creates real-life prototypes1:07:50 – When did Robert officially start his brand?1:08:46 – How he learned the business side of running his design brand1:10:19 – How he manages pricing and profit margins for his products1:11:05 – Does Robert front the manufacturing costs for new products?1:13:11 – Robert shares that he never expected his wall desk video to go viral1:15:02 – How he got invited to do a TEDx Talk1:17:53 – How Robert’s designs ended up featured in the Netflix movie Big Bug1:21:52 – Robert's advice for designers wanting to go viral or gain media attention1:23:52 – How Robert maintains uniqueness and handles the pressure of audience expectations1:25:52 – How his various designs evolved from initial ideas to functional products1:27:43 – Robert shares the creative and design process behind six of his products1:33:16 – Robert talks about the function of his fruit bowl design1:34:24 – Robert shares the packaging advantages of his flat-pack furniture1:35:17 – Robert shares client feedback and how his work becomes part of their lives1:37:00 – Focused on over the past six months?1:38:03 – How Robert uses ChatGPT for creative and business guidance1:40:33 – Lessons he has learned about brand positioning and pricing1:42:27 – Robert's personal goals for the next six months1:43:18 – Connect with Robert1:43:59 – Outro