Let your hands do the thinking

I want to learn to work more intuitively, but I often find it quite challenging. So, I asked designer Kiki van Eijk—someone who fully trusts her intuition and gut feeling to guide her path.

Sometimes you hope for something and when it comes true, you get really nervous and have a hard time finding the words.
That happened to me last Monday.
I had the pleasure of chatting for an hour with Dutch designer Kiki van Eijk—one half of the creative powerhouse behind Kiki & Joost.

I’ve admired Kiki’s approach to work for years, even though what she does is completely different from what I do. And honestly—what doesn’t she do? Her work is wildly diverse: tapestries, candlesticks, chairs, intricate paper collages for Hermès storefronts, sculptures, vases… the list goes on. But no matter the medium, her signature style is instantly recognisable.

Something that defines Kiki’s career? She follows her intuition. And that’s exactly what I wanted to learn more about.

As we chat over video call, I spot her team moving around in the background, carrying materials in her vast, light-filled studio. In just a few days, she’s off to Paris for a new project with Hermès. She collaborates with some of the world’s biggest brands, but always on her own terms. She’s given the freedom to create in her own way—because people trust that when she does, the result will be extraordinary.

That’s a stark contrast to how I work, I tell her. My career as an illustrator revolves around magazines and books. Clients come to me with a brief, a story, a plan. My job is to bring their vision to life. And while that’s creative in its own way, it doesn’t always feel autonomous. There are rules, constraints, a specific format I have to fit into.

For Kiki, it’s different. Yes, there are expectations, but they trust her vision. They want her to take the lead. And honestly? That feels more aligned with what I want for myself. But I need to start steering things in that direction. That begins with making more space for work that feels free.

So I ask her, “How can I learn to trust my intuition more, instead of always needing a structured plan and outcome?”

She laughs—she gets it. Like me, she studied at a Dutch art academy, where the traditional method was drilled into us: first, spend weeks developing an idea, refining the concept, justifying your intent. Only then do you get to pick up your materials and start creating. But Kiki suggests flipping that model on its head.
My ears perk up…