5 Things We Learned... Martin Sämmer

On a usual day, Martin Sämmer can be found designing everything from retail installations to museum displays to furniture at his cool and modern design studio in the up-and-coming Amsterdam Noord neighborhood. Pre-COVID shutdown, I had the pleasure of meeting Martin and discussing his unique path to design. Martin grew up in Munich, Germany, and graduated from the University of Art and Design Karlsruhe. His life and work adventures have taken him to Taiwan, China, France, and the Netherlands. After working for design luminaries such as Marcel Wanders and Marc Newson, he founded his own Studio. His work starts with storytelling and focuses heavily on relationships with users. It has been featured in leading design magazines and newspapers such as Vogue, Frame, AD, Wallpaper, and Elle Decor.

Here are 5 Things We Learned about Martin.

What made you...you?

I am deeply influenced by my parents who have a home for children. It’s fascinating to see that people are formed and transformed by their social environments.

I am a bit of a nomad myself. I never really traveled a lot for fun, but I always liked to move and travel for work. So while I was born in Germany, I lived in New Zealand for a while. I also worked in Taiwan and in France… and for the last 13 years, I’ve been in Amsterdam. My work still brings me in contact with people from all around the globe. I love to experience how in different places, people have found different answers for the same fundamental questions, such as making food, for example…

If I look at the most important switch-moments in my own life, then a big one was to quit economics and study design. And to switch from product design – storytelling in form -  and go to spatial storytelling. But I feel I am in the right place now.

When are you happiest?

It’s sometimes difficult for a creative to be really happy because in design, there is always a lot of uncertainty and compromise. With time and experience, you learn to trust yourself and you know that being creative is not magic, but a process. The best projects with the best outcomes are the ones that allow for good processes. You always have to push, never give up, and enjoy the ride.

Would you rather have a muse or be a muse?

 I have a muse and I am a muse. My wife is a contemporary artist and in our work, we cross-pollinate, inspire, and discuss constantly.

Who do you admire?

I mostly admire people who have found their very own style by creating great work. I’m lucky to have worked with some very inspiring people. Marc Newson; he makes the most amazing objects by controlling manufacturing up to the last detail. Marcel Wanders is an amazing entrepreneur… And, for me, the most important (example)": for almost 10 years, I had the chance to work very closely with Herman Kossmann, who in my eyes is one of the greatest inventors of layered spatial storytelling.

What is important?

It is important that people can have shared experiences that help them transform themselves into the people they want to be. That can be with exhibitions, but also through so much more. If you think of my trade as spatial documentary-making, then there is still a lot of work to be done for brands, services, and museums.