Dutch Design in Seoul

Studio Dumbar and Nuffic Neso Korea are organizing a 5-day Dutch Design Masterclass in Seoul from the 30th january until the 2nd of February. Colleagues Joost Roozekrans and Erik de Vlaam will fly in to teach. Want to take part? Sign up through the nuffic website. 

finger practice

To keep my fingers from going rusty while being busy mostly with business and other left brain activity, I started on a series of illustrations inspired by poetry. My favourite poem is by Mahmoud Darwish - the Eternity of the cactus.  The lyrical aspect makes for an abundance of visual clues. However well you can illustrate it, words still say more than a thousand lines and colors. 

Living architecture

I love this initiative by Alain de Botton, philosopher/entrepreneur. Making top notch architecture available for anyone to enjoy, instead of staring at it from a distance: Living Architecture makes it possible for anyone to spend a few days in a masterpiece of modern architecture somewhere in the English countryside, for an affordable price. With homes by dutch architects MVRDV, and skandinavian masters like NORD and  Jarmund/Vigsnæs Architects, what's not to enjoy! 

going East - again

Two years ago, I did an interview with Kitty de Jong for BNO's magazine Vormberichten, on my career and future plans. At the time, I was just about to start on an adventure in the Middle East. Two years later, with many lessons learned, I am embarking on an adventure in South Korea. So it was time for an update. Download part two of my career dossier (dutch only). 

money, speed and gold

At this years Dutch Design Awards, Catalogtree and the VPRO got away with gold for their amazing interactive documentary "Money and Speed: inside the black box". This was the first year ever that an entry from the communication category won the Golden Eye / Best of the Best. As a member the selection commitee, I was really really proud of this win! Fascinating content + good storytelling + beautiful design + great interaction. Well done. 

Lecture at Hong-Ik University

Prof. Don Cha invited me to give a lecture at the prestigious HongIk University in the vibrant student neighborhood HongDae. I spoke on work and play @StudioDumbar, what we think a designer's role can be, the ecology of Dutch Design, and why it has become world famous. In closing, I asked the students what they will do in the future for Korean Design, and how they will bring their own unique view to the world stage. A hundred students: there might be at least one who will change the game completely...

illustrations featured in arabesque 2

The lifesized illustrations I made at OrientationLab will be featured in Arabesque 2: graphic design from the arab world and persia, by Gestalten. Even though I'm not a designer from those regions, I am greatly inspired by the arabic and persian visual culture, and that shone through enough for the editors to include me in the edition. Edited by Ben Wittner and Sascha Thoma, available from September 2011. 

Let's make it official

The 20th of July will be my last day with the fabulous, smart, warm Lava team. Two years ago I joined Lava to help set up a new studio in Kuweit. Unfortunately the local partner went under, and consequently I joined the Amsterdam team. Working internationally remained my ambition, and I did not want to let go of this goal. I've been fortunate to be offered an amazing opportunity in Seoul with previous employer Studio Dumbar. 

support Ruben

Just a quick post in support of my awesome Lava colleague Ruben Pater, who is studying at the Sandberg Institute. Ruben designed a warning booklet on floods in the Netherlands. It's smart communication + beautiful design + socially relevant. That's the best design ever!!! You can buy the booklet online for only ten euro's. Small price to pay if you live beneath sea level.  

Lava presents new PANL annual

Last night we presented the new PANL Annual at De Zwijger in Amsterdam. The book represents the best of applied Dutch photography. We worked with the awesome editorial team Jos & Claudia to create a book that goes beyond a mere catalog. Developed in cooperation with Lava's Noortje Boer & Manu Meijer.

The Made in Myth

I just sent out a second article for Kevin Finn's Open Manifesto, for my essay series on the west and the rest. This time on taiwan, where western a-brands and Taiwan's reputation hold an entire generation ransom.

A Brand Called You

I'm pretty thrilled to start teaching at the Design Academy in Eindhoven with a class on branding at the Man & Communication department, headed by the Stone Twins. 53 students of all modules will be working on the assignment: A-Brand-Called-You!

What a brandbook should be

You know the drill with brandbooks: mission, vision, values, lots of guidelines... At Lava we wanted a change from the obligatory stuff these books are made off, and used all our visual journalism skills to get it done. So for the National Historic Museum, we went straight into the content of the museum, to tell the story about the brand. The result is a (dare I say it) riveting read.

Open manifesto

I'm really happy to have the opportunity to publish a series of essays on my cross-cultural (mis)adventures in Open Manifesto. Over the years I've travelled a bit for projects abroad, and the experiences left me feeling ignorant on a good day, and downright imperialistic on a bad one. Editor Kevin Finn has given me the freedom to reflect. Have a look at 'Sinners and saints' on my experience working and living in Mali for three months. 

Humanity House opens in The Hague

What does it mean to live through a war or a natural disaster? How does it feel to be forced to leave your home? To depend on emergency aid? The Dutch Red Cross gave Lava the assignment to translate this experience into a museum concept, identity, website and brandbook. The studio was given carte blanche. Creative Director Hans Wolbers worked closely with Henk Schut, best know for his groundbreaking theatre. The result: an engaging museum that gets you thinking. Visit the Humanity House when you are in The Hague!