Wanders was born and raised in Boxtel, Nethlands, and graduated cum laude from the Institute of the Arts Armhem in 1988, after briefly attending the Design Academy Eindhoven. Wanders first drew international recognition for his 'Knotted Chair', produced by the Dutch design brand Droog, in 1996. The 'Knotted Chair' has since been acquired by the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Master in Mechanical Engineering at Politecnico of Milan in 1969. From 1973 to 1979 technical manager of Kartell, in charge of the development of furniture projects and plastic laboratory equipments.
Marcel Wanders designs architectural, interior and industrial projects.
In 2005, together with chef Peter Lute, he developed a concept called Lute Suites, the first 'all over city suites' hotel in the world, located just outside of Amsterdam. He also designed the interior of Blits, a restaurant in Rotterdam, as well as the interior of restaurant ‘Thor’ at the Hotel on Rivington in New York City, including its bar, lounge and private club. In 2007 Wanders collaborated with German sportswear and apparel manufacturer Puma AG on a range of lifestyle products, such as beach accessories.
Wanders' designs have been selected for collections and exhibitions in such institutions as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and San Francisco, the V&A Museum in London, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Central Museum in Utrecht, Museum of Decorative Arts Copenhagen and various Droog exhibitions.
