Design Academy Eindhoven
NL, 2017-2022
A week before defending my Master's thesis, Human and Machine, at Design Academy Eindhoven, I was invited to teach at the Bachelor's program and run a course on materials and tactility. Over the past 5 years, I have developed and facilitated a popular 6-month elective for 2nd-year students from all design departments. Make Material Sense centred on experimental Biomaterials Design & Biodesign using recycled organic 'waste'
and cultivated organisms, and included sensory experiences and empirical knowledge. Students worked with their preferred resources, pushing the boundaries of what materials could be or do.
I provided instructions on sustainability, life cycle, research and development, experimental processes
and techniques, as well as curating design and creating biodegradable and compostable materials and products from scratch, using what was at hand.
I oversaw large student groups, 35 students on average, organised. and produced classes, lectures, exhibition visits, and previews with curators at Dutch Design Week.
I also arranged workshops with guest tutors such as Belgue biohackers Glimps, local stars Precious Plastic, scent specialists from California’s Institute of Art and Olfaction, art scientists, and former students who dropped by
to help. Together with my students, we assembled a Biomaterials Archive filled with samples and showcased it
at Dutch Design Week in 2019. Additionally, we conducted professional workshops outside of school at Berlin’s Floating University, participated in a conference in Brussels, opened the school’s first BioLab, and navigated through the challenges of lockdowns, among other adventures.
Make Material Sense on Instagram
Client:
Design Academy Eindhoven
Course name:
Make Material Sense
Role:
Lead Tutor
Precious Plastic Beyond Plastic
NL, 2019
I have been collaborating with Dave Hakkens since he was a ‘designer-kid’ starting his studies at Design Academy Eindhoven. As a sustainable design journalist, I wrote about his early projects, and later his Precious Plastic set
of machines inspired my MA Graduation Project, which he helped shape and kindly lent me early prototypes to display
at the Vanabbe Museum.
When I started teaching at Design Academy Eindhoven, I asked Dave if my students could squeeze biomaterials through his recycling plastic machines, but they were too difficult to set up. Two years later, he launched Beyond Plastic,
along with designer Jannis Kempkens, which featured a heat press that transformed food waste into products.
This led to plenty of knowledge exchange, both at my course and at their Headquarters, a workshop for my students
and a summer production of samples for our Biomaterials Archive exhibition at Dutch Design Week.
Client:
Design Academy Eindhoven
Course name:
Make Material Sense
Role:
Lead Tutor
