Julie Thissen (1989) is a French/Dutch designer based in Rotterdam. Trained as a product designer at ENSCI–Les Ateliers in Paris, she worked for François Azambourg and later for Chris Kabel in Rotterdam and established her own studio in 2013. Alongside her studio practice, she also launched The Cyclist, a label offering accessories for urban cyclists and commuters.

Originally rooted in product design, her work has always sought a balance between functionality and material expression — often blending ornament, structure, and tactility. Over the years, her practice has gradually shifted towards a more abstract and autonomous direction. Moving away from the purely functional, she now creates sculptural pieces and material-based compositions that explore texture, color, and form in a more intuitive and open-ended way.

Her recent work sits at the intersection of design, textile, and visual art, and reflects a consistent interest in materials and production techniques—from industrial processes to craft-based experimentation. Collaboration and context remain key to her approach, whether she’s working on an abstract object, curating a publication, or coordinating a multidisciplinary project.