Alexander Pelikan

Designer Alexander Pelikan was born in 1974 in Speyer, Germany. He worked as an apprentice at Schreinerei Schroth carpentry in Heidelberg, Germany from 1997 to 1999.  From 1999-2000, Pelikan studied psychology and cultural anthropology at the University of Heidelberg. From 2000-2001, he attended drawing classes at Bodo Bremer in Heidelberg; in 2003, he learned woodcarving at Holzfachschule Elbigenalp in Tyrol, Austria. Beginning in 2001, he studied design under Hella Jongerius, Miriam van der Lubbe, and Dick van Hoff at the Design Academy Eindhoven, and ultimately graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 2006.

While still a student, Pelikan interned in the Netherlands design studios of Maarten Baas (2004) and Arnout Visser (2005). After interning, he continued to work in product development with Baas until 2010.

Pelikan launched his own studio, PeLiDesign, in Eindhoven in 2005. He specializes in experimental product, furniture, and concept design and production, with an emphasis on sustainable materials and smart processes. Standout projects include the ongoing ClicFurniture collection (launched 2005), a series of flat-packed, intelligently produced, and easily assembled chairs, tables, and more; and Plastic Nature (2006), a family of designs that fuses the world of handmade wooden furniture with that of plastic-resin cast furniture. Pelikan’s work has been exhibited at a variety of design events and institutions, including Dutch Design Week (2003-2014), Design Miami/ (2008), Design Miami/ Basel (2009), Designyatra in Mumbai (2009), ICFF in New York (2011), London Design Festival (2011), and Ventura Lambrate in Milan (2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014), among others.

He has been honored with the Mart Stam Award for most innovative chair design for the PlasticNature Chair; best stand design at the 100% Design Tokyo exposition, and was nominated for the Dutch Design Award for Plastic Nature (all 2008). In 2012, his A Machine's Perception door handles were added to the permanent collection of the Boijmans van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam. In 2013, the PlasticNature Chair was also acquired for this museum’s collection.