‘Is there such a thing as an autonomous designer?’

After reading Jeroen Boomgaard’s text ‘Radical Autonomy’, we felt the need to have a discussion about the theme of autonomy and how important it is to use the term and define yourself as a designer or artist. We asked ourselves and the participants the following questions:
+ Are you an artist or a designer and can you be both?
+ Have you ever made autonomous work, or could you make autonomous work?
+ Is there something like non autonomous work of art?
+ Is there something like an autonomous designer?

Here you can listen to the discussion that followed. Attending were Sandberg students Anja Groten, Michele Champagne and Lauren Grusenmeyer, Typeradio’s Donald Beekman, Liza Enebeis and Akiem Helmling, philosopher and applied ethicist Nikki Brörmann and Annelys de Vet, head of the design department of the Sandberg Institute. Moderated by Brigiet van den Berg and Maartje Smits, Sandberg students.

Jeroen Boomgaard ‘Radical Autonomy’

In the second part of the interview Erik Kessels talks to us about the other side of advertising, and ‘In almost every picture’, a series of books on found photography, published by KesselsKramer themselves. Number 8 in the serie is one about Oolong the rabbit, that can balance almost anything on his head. ‘In almost every picture #7’ is a lifelong document of the Dutch woman Ria van Dijk (89) situated in a fairground shooting gallery. Because of all these projects related to photography we ask him if he also photographs himself. He talks about what kind of images he likes to shoot and how the common family photo album is purely propaganda. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Documentary 'The view of Kessels (55 mins, dutch)

KesselsKramer publishing

Oolong the rabbit

Ria van Dijk - Creative Review article

Erik Kessels is co-founder and creative director of advertising agency KesselsKramer. KesselsKramer, founded in 1996, is based in a church in Amsterdam. In 2007 KesselsKramer set up an office in London named KK Outlet.
We talk with Erik about why they started an office in London. Also about the possibility to cross-over between various disciplines, which he thinks is very interesting. And the story behind mobile phone company ‘Ben’, which was reintroduced recently. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

KesselsKramer

KK Outlet, London

Ben

Initially Jan Hespeel and Randoald Sabbe started their careers seperately. Ever since they both teached at Sint-Lucas art college in Ghent, a certain synergy appeared and they began to collaborate. They have been working together as Janenrandoald for over five years now.
We asked them what they think is typical Belgian design and we also hear everything about their collections. From the collection of their feet to the various stuffed animals like the penguin, the deer, the lamb and the ‘grote trap’ (great bustard). Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Janenrandoald

St.Lucas art college

grote trap / great bustard

Is technology our next-nature?
The 2010 Dutch royal christmas message, given by Queen Beatrix, inspired us to initiate a talk on the influence of technology on our daily lives. The Queens states that we alienate ourselves from our fellow men and our direct nature through the rise of social media. But how virtual is virtual life? How alienating is technology actually?
Slavoj Zizek gives us an inspiring insight on these questions and directly challenges the Queen’s statement!
A round-table discussion with first years students of the Sandberg Institute Design Departement about technology vs. ecology and ecology as an ideology. With Anja Groten, Michele Champagne, Brigiet van den Berg, Maartje Smits, Donald Beekman, Liza Enebeis and Janneke de Rooij and Lauren Grusenmeyer as moderators.

Sandberg Institute

Queen Beatrix Christmas message 2009 (in dutch)

Slavoj Zizek in ‘Examined Life’