
Usually, when a designer is known for a signature material, it’s something tangible like wood or steel. But in the case of Marjan van Aubel, it’s sunlight. In 2021, the Amsterdam creative harnessed solar energy to power Sunne, a pendant that absorbs light by day and emits it by night.

Building on subsequent sun-themed installations mounted during events like Dutch Design Week, van Aubel unveiled her latest solar powered spectacle this past December in Miami. Working with Lexus and the experiential designers at Random Studio, she presented 8 Minutes and 20 Seconds — named for the time it takes light from the sun to reach Earth — in the sculpture garden of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami.


Graphics printed on transparent plastic sheets recreated the silhouette of the Lexus LF-ZC, a next-gen battery electric vehicle (BEV) set to launch in 2026. A section of each sheet was equipped with organic photovoltaic cells, collecting solar energy to drive an interactive mix of lights and sounds. In this interview, Marjan van Aubel shares her take on the dawn of solar design.
1
Solar needs a makeover
- MvA:
“I’ve always thought that the process that occurs when sunlight hits a surface is amazing. Yet I realized that there was a lot of work to be done regarding the integration and appearance of solar panels. The aim of my career so far has been to lead a shift beyond solar technology to solar design. When you’re coming from a technical approach, you’re thinking about the wires and circuits. But people have to like the object and find it beautiful and appealing if you want them to use it.”
2
Traditional panels are just the start.
“People still associate solar power with ugly roof panels. But there are now completely transparent solar cells and even flexible cells that can be woven into textiles. Working on the curved roof of the Solar Pavilion at Dutch Design Week with red, orange and blue photovoltaic panels was a chance to show people that solar can be colourful. A dark solar cell is still more efficient, but there is a different value to something artistic.”
3
Everything should be self-powered.
“Sunne, my pendant light, is an example of a design that harnesses its own energy with no external power supply. People have changed from just thinking that’s cool to realizing it’s actually something we need. The biggest help has been that prices have dropped to a point where solar is more accessible — in most countries, it is the cheapest source of electricity. Ideas that we’ve had for a long time are now becoming possible to realize.”
4
The auto industry has the right idea.
“Lexus is a good partner for us because they are working towards a sustainable future that’s nicely designed. Our installation in Miami explored the overlap between cars and sunlight: Both move around at great speeds. Solar brought the car in the pavilion to life with colours and sounds that react to your movement. We gave visitors an idea of being inside a car powered by sustainable energy. And one day, electric vehicles may even run on their own solar power.”
5
Solar recycling is the next step.
“It’s hard to look at today’s solar panels and think, ‘Will this all just end up being trash?’ Luckily, there are companies actively exploring ways to design solar cells with modularity in mind, making it possible to disassemble them and re-use components. It’s still a big problem, but there will be solutions for that in the future.”
5 Things We Learned About Solar Design from Marjan van Aubel
At the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, the Dutch designer powered up an illuminating solar installation.