WALTER AMERIKA BLOGS

Explaining Dutch Design on television 5

 This time, industrial design. Dutch design agency WAACs, most famous for its Senseo coffee machine (Philips and Douwe Egberts), talks about its 'Exclusive Inclusive' philosophy. My point of view leads to the designers dilemma of the sustainability of product design. A question Raymond Loewy, godfather of industrial design, at the time didn't have to worry about.

Creative Industry Sofa in the press

Still working on the idea of the Creative Industry Sofa, the bank which we can not call a bank, Which is ok, because first step is to establisch a fund anyway. However, in the aftermath of the financial crises people are interested in what's next or what's new. Dutch free newspaper De Pers did an article on people with new 'banking' ideas. My partner in dream Adriaan Kukler and myself were interviewed as well.

Explaining Dutch Design on television 4

This episode of Kunstuur is about Gilian Schrofer. Schrofer is the interior designer who co founded Concrete, amongst other designs famous for the Supper Club interior. And his 'holistic' design for a dutch pharmacy (no, not a coffeeshop) is impressive. His exhibition Models for Concern was recently shown in NY. And he is trying to establish a master course in spatial design. 

Creative industry slowly finding its way in politics

Yesterday funding for the Dutch creative industries was discussed in parliament. A very short session with the Minister of Culture, who was also representing the Minister of Economic Affairs. Green party representative Mariko Peters put forward three resolutions: one on the initiative by Economic Affairs to stredge the funding possibilities for Tech Starters to creative Non Tech starters, one on promoting Green Design and one on suggesting research on further initiatives based on fiscal incentives for investors in the creative industries. 

The Minister was ok with the first two, but hesitated on number three. Obviously because there was no possibility to check this with the Ministry of Finance on the spot. However it was mentioned and that in itself is already a good thing.

Viking of Finance

When I came up with the idea of the Creative Industry Bank and starting researching it by talking to classical bankers and other quite formally dressed men and women, people started wondering about how long it would take before I would get rid of my golden earring. Never I said. I'm a man of principle, not of good taste! And look here, I've got a friend in the financial world: Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg. Although I'm still wondering about the pin-striped suit.

Explaining Dutch Design on television 3

Typography and in particular designer Rene Knip are central in this episode of Avro's Kunstuur. Typography was my first creative love. Made all the poster for High School Parties (there was no such thing as a flyer, desktop publishing wasn't invented yet). I was blown away by Herb Lubalin's Mother and Child Logo   and his designs, subcribed to a magazine called Upper and Lower Case, learned about the power of logo's etc etc. Anyway...it was fun presenting.