Rino Claessens (b. 1994) is an Eindhoven-based designer whose practice is rooted in material exploration and process-driven inquiry. A graduate of the Design Academy Eindhoven, Claessens treats making as a form of research, with the workshop serving as both laboratory and creative foundation. Through experimentation with materials and techniques, he develops objects shaped as much by process as by intention.

Ceramics occupies a central place in his practice, valued for its tactile richness and expressive possibilities. Engaging with the medium’s layered history, Claessens reinterprets traditional techniques through contemporary forms and gestures, allowing material behaviour to guide each outcome. His curiosity also extends to cast bronze and hand-carved wood, expanding his exploration of weight, texture, and form. Balancing intuition with control, Claessens creates works that foreground craftsmanship and process while establishing a thoughtful dialogue between historical techniques and contemporary design.