Dirk Wynants founded Extremis in 1994. To date, he is still the full owner and president of the board of directors, but gives priority to designing and art direction. In addition, he is managing director of his own design studio Dirk Wynants Design Works (founded in 2006). Next to its headquarters in Belgium, this studio also has a division in Shanghai.
Dirk established Extremis for the realization of his own design ideas. The Gargantua garden table was his first ever Extremis product. The further development of the company was actually based on the success of this first creation.
Innovation, superior quality materials, a keen eye for functionality and ecology are part of the credo.
Dirk established Extremis for the realization of his own design ideas. The Gargantua garden table was his first ever Extremis product. The further development of the company was actually based on the success of this first creation.
Innovation, superior quality materials, a keen eye for functionality and ecology are part of the credo.
Thanks to this attitude, Extremis soon became a worldwide renowned design brand. Dirk’s designs already won many awards. Apart from that, his company also got awarded for design management, general management and export. Since the establishment in 1994, designer Dirk Wynants has succeeded in getting his company a top position within the international design scene. The fact that he never follows the mainstream, but always brings innovative and progressive design, certainly forms part of this success story.
Today Dirk shares his experience at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, where he also runs his design studio.
Today Dirk shares his experience at the Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, where he also runs his design studio.
Born
May 9th 1964 in Belgium, son of a cabinet maker.
Education
Interior architecture and furniture design at the Architecture Institute Sint-Lucas in Gent, Belgium.
Bibliography
“I’ve always been attached to the globe” is the title of the book dedicated to the work of Dirk Wynants. It was written by the renowned Belgian design critic and journalist Chris Meplon, who has been keeping a close eye on the international design scene since 1998.
Awards
- Architonic product award for Sol+Luna (2017) & Bistroo (2018)
- Core77 Design Award for Virus (2017)
- DesignX50 award for Walrus (2015)
- European Product Design Award for Virus (2018)
- FX international design award for Picnik (2003), Arthur (2004), Donuts (2005) & Kosmos (2009)
- German Design Award for Hopper (2012), Walrus (2015), Anker (2017), Sol+Luna (2017) & Virus (2019)
- Good Design award for Picnik (2004), Alea (2011), Hopper (2013)
- Henry van de velde Award for Acacia (2019)
- Henry van de Velde Label for Designer (2001), Picnik (2003), Inumbra (2006), Woodstock (2006) & Hopper (2011)
- Henry van de Velde Nominee for Virus (2017)
- HIP award for Virus (2017)
- IDEA Silver for Inumbra (2007) & Hopper (2011)
- IF design award for Picnik (2004), Inumbra (2007), Kosmos (2009), Hopper (2011), Walrus (2016) & Virus (2018)
- Interior Innovation Award for Picnik (2003), Donuts (2005), Hopper (2011) & Walrus (2015)
- Les Best of NOW! design à vivre for Picnik (2003)
- Md award for Hopper (2011)
- Province of West Flanders Design award for Woodstock (2008), Kosmos (2012), Hopper (2012) & Abachus (2012)
- Red Dot Award for Donuts (2005), Hopper (2011), Abachus (2011), Pantagruel (2015) & Bistroo (2019)
