Design Virus

A central theme in Pieke's work is the virus. It binds the many disciplines and materials with which she creates products and works of art.

'I am a virus'

Pieke's products are called viruses, due to their natural forms and the way they come to life. But eventually, the biggest virus of them all is the designer in person. Manipulating standard production processes is by all means viral behaviour. In general mass production, a single form is endlessly and perfectly multiplied like a healthy cell. As she allows room for change and serendipity, Pieke aims to create processes in which products are never completely the same. Like a virus, her products change and adapt to various conditions, disrupting common ideas and the predictable evolution of form and design.

The Design Virus will spread and become a global epidemic. Beware! You will be infected.

We find viruses in many different places. In fact, every specific subject with a true culture of its own is subdued to the forming of viruses sooner or later. It simply is the nature of nature. It seems that 'design' has finally become a virus victim as well. As is usual with viruses, when they strike, they strike hard and in many different ways. As we speak, a large variety of viruses attack all existing forms of design. The weak spots of the victim quickly come to light: symmetry, monotony, repetition, mass production and mass distribution. Though most viruses have highly destructive capacities, they often seem to only parasite their subjects or disrupt their common features. Today, the appearance of these viruses seems to have triggered the admiration of many, but the fear of few. That could be the reason why a cure to any of these viruses has not yet been found.