Thomas Sandell studied architecture at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm from where he graduated in 1990. During the late 1980s and early 90’s, Sandell was a part of the design group Element Design together with a.o. Love Arbén, Tom Hedqvist , Pia Wallén, Jonas Bohlin, and Pia Törnell.
When his friend and colleague, Jonas Bohlin was getting married in 1989, Sandell created Bröllopskåpet (eng. Wedding cabinet) for him. The cabinet later inspired Sandell to create the Bröllopspall (eng. Wedding stool) that was produced by Asplund and later used in the Swedish ambassador's residence in Berlin.
After graduation, Sandell ran his own architectural office from where he made several well-known interiors for restaurants and public spaces including Rolfs Kök, as well as furniture for Asplund, Cappellini, Artek, and Källemo. In 1995 he founded the studio Sandellsandberg together with Ulf Sandberg and Joakim Uebel. Sandellsandberg is one of the biggest and most prominent architectural offices in Sweden, in 2016 it became a part of AFRY. For Sandellsandberg, Sandell has made several buildings including the Gåshaga jetty in Lidingö.
In 1995, Sandell was one of the designers of IKEA’s PS collection, for which he designed a bench dresser on wheels. Three years later Sandell was responsible for the interior of the public spaces at the Modern Museum and the ArkDes- Architecture and Design Museum in Stockholm. For the museum’s restaurants and café Sandell's chairs TS for Asplund and Moderna M by Gärsnäs were used.
During the 1990’s Sandell began working with Italian manufacturers Cappellini and B&B Italia. For the later, he designed the armchair and stool Elena in 1999. During 2020 Sandell made the interior for the restaurant Goma by Miss Voon in Stockholm. The interior included the furniture collection Goma, manufactured by Made by Choice.
Thomas Sandell has been the recipient of several Excellent Swedish Design and Red Dot awards. He is represented at a.o. the Swedish National Museum of Fine Arts, the Röhsska Museum of Craft and Design in Gothenburg, and the Museum of Furniture Studies in Stockholm
