‘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’

Armand Mevis is one half of design studio Mevis & Van Deursen. He talks to us about the people he admires and what he would like to do if he would win the lottery. Also the understanding as a Graphic Designer what kind of work you make. ‘What is actually your work in the work?’ We end the interview with the question how he would liked to be remembered. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Armand Mevis talk at Walker Art Centre

Viktor & Rolf

M&vD introduction at Integrated 2009

Armand Mevis is one half of design studio Mevis & Van Deursen. While Linda Van Deursen is the head of the Graphic Design department at the Rietveld Academy, Armand Mevis teaches at the Werkplaats Typografie in Arnhem. We talk with Armand about the collaboration, on the commitment towards each other. For them working together is much more a conversation then sketching on the computer. How they hand over work to others and the position of this temporary third partner in their work. As a teacher Armand talks to us about his vision on teaching and his opinion on the level of design education in the Netherlands. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Mevis & Van Deursen

M&vD at Designmuseum

Werkplaats Typografie Arnhem

Gerrit Rietveld Academy

Hugo Puttaert is a graphic designer, teacher and organiser, based in Brussels. He talked to us about organising the Integrated Conference 2009 in Antwerp. How he chooses the guest speakers from a list of 200 names! Hugo explains the conference history which began 12 years ago under the name C-Type focusing on type and urbanisation, later evolving into a wider field of graphic design. As a graphic designer, teacher and organiser he questions the future role of the graphic designer. You should be severe with your clients but you should first be severe with yourself in order to achieve the best results. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

Hugo’s studio Vision Factory

Integrated 2009 website

Integrated 2009 info

Sint Lucas Academy, Antwerp

Graphic design students of the Sandberg Institute in Amsterdam discuss design topics. This first edition of the Design Discussions is about European identity, organised and edited by Anja Groten and Maartje Smits. Attending students of the Sandberg Institute:
Janneke de Rooij, Lauren Grusenmeyer, Camilla Bustamamte, Michèle Champagne, Mike Oustamanolakis.
As background information for the discussion they asked the students to read the lecture of Jozef Mrozek who talks about the identity of Europe. Mrozek tries to define Europe and the Design of Europe by looking at its traditions. Is it a good choice to define Europe through its past/history/heritage? Is there a way of giving it an identity which is focused on the present time and is there necessarily a need to define it anyway? 
Recorded February 2nd, 2010 at the Sandberg Institute.

Sandberg Institute

A Tradition Imagined - lecture by Józef Mrozek

Pan-European identity

European preamble project

Glasgow-based artist David Shrigley works in various media, but is best known for his slightly bizarre and humourous illustrations. David enjoys his artistic freedom, he considers himself lucky. He talks about humour, how he is perceived, his DJ-ing and taste in music. He sometimes says he’s not really good at it, but drawing does come naturally to him. 30 sheets of paper every day, he tries to put a lot of variety in his drawing. There are lots of people he admires, but he contemplates about the meaning of heroism. He ends talking about the meaning and themes of his work, and his ventures into the medium of animated film. Recorded at the Integrated 2009 conference in Antwerp, Belgium.

David Shrigley

Worried Noodles book/cd

Modern Thought films

On how he draws

Who I Am and What I Want

Pringle of Scotland animation