Tord Boontje was born in Enschede, Netherlands in 1968.

He first studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven (1986 – 1991), and followed this with a Masters from the Royal College of Art in London (1992 - 1994). Studio Tord Boontje was founded in 1996. Tord Boontje lived and worked in London from 1995 to 2005, when he moved his home and studio to Bourg-Argental, France. In 2009 he took up his appointment as Professor and Head of Design Products at the Royal College of Art, and continues work at his London-based design studio.