Guest Contribution by Katerina Biliouri

Mieke Meijer is the Dutch designer behind Alter Ego. Her design brand Mieke dingen is defined by the guiding principles of sustainability, utility and beauty. Her workshop is based in Eindhoven, where she produces her designs on a small scale. Meijer, who has studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven, was among the "Dutch Invertuals", a group of designers who presented their latest work during the Dutch Design Week from 17-25 October 2009 in Eindhoven.

Alter Ego is a set of cabinets to play with. Joined together they form an impressive cabinet. It is a cabinet with a "split personality" both in the sense that it can be split in different parts, as well as that when set as a whole it represents an engraved chair . The represented engraving acts as the cabinet's "Other Self", its "Alter Ego".

Image Courtesy of Mieke Meijer

Alter Ego [Latin for "The Other I"] is usually a second self, a second personality or persona within a person. In Mieke Meijer's world, however, it is an engraved Louis XVI Armchair within a cabinet. As it is stated by the designer "flexibility is the key to the choice of basic principle, whether it is materials, everyday situations or certain specific techniques. By developing a well-conceived idea and sticking to it, Meijer dingen objects have a distinctive and very recognisable signature".

So, if someone says that he/she has an Alter Ego, do not worry.  Just stay calm and as an informed Yatzereader assume that this person might be the owner of a Meijer dingen cabinet!