5 thoughts on design
Designing and being designer is all about connecting people, bringing them close together.
Designing and being designer is all about connecting people, bringing them close together.
If you cannot find a place you belong, build it yourself. That entrepreneurial mindset is what this field needs more of.
If you cannot find a place you belong, build it yourself. That entrepreneurial mindset is what this field needs more of.
The field is full of highly skilled designers, but where do they end up? Is there even space for all of them?
The field is full of highly skilled designers, but where do they end up? Is there even space for all of them?
In Studio Tast, we take co-creation and participation seriously in the learning context. But we always end with a product.
In Studio Tast, we take co-creation and participation seriously in the learning context. But we always end with a product.
You do not have to prove yourself. Be constructive, bring people along and stay unapologetic about it.
You do not have to prove yourself. Be constructive, bring people along and stay unapologetic about it.
Want to know more? Read the full article below
heb deze van je website geplukt
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heb deze van je website geplukt
deze ook! That' usss
heb deze van je website geplukt
deze ook! That' usss
Creating a place of your own
Not everyone finds the place they are looking for. Sometimes you have to make it. Mitchell did exactly that when he founded Studio Tast in Eindhoven after graduating in 2014. Studio Tast works at the intersection of education and learning, combining digital and physical interaction into products. The belief underneath all of it, is that people will always want to learn, as long as the conditions are right. The studio has also been moving into behavior change, learning cultures and inclusive systems whilst first helping clients figure out what they actually need before deciding what gets made. New projects sometimes arrive framed around social design and clients occasionally assume that is what the studio does. It is not. As Mitchell explains: "Now that social design is getting more known, I really have to explain to new clients that while we work on similar projects, our objective is always to deliver a full product. It is our non-negotiable."
Not everyone finds the place they are looking for. Sometimes you have to make it. Mitchell did exactly that when he founded Studio Tast in Eindhoven after graduating in 2014. Studio Tast works at the intersection of education and learning, combining digital and physical interaction into products. The belief underneath all of it, is that people will always want to learn, as long as the conditions are right. The studio has also been moving into behavior change, learning cultures and inclusive systems whilst first helping clients figure out what they actually need before deciding what gets made. New projects sometimes arrive framed around social design and clients occasionally assume that is what the studio does. It is not. As Mitchell explains: "Now that social design is getting more known, I really have to explain to new clients that while we work on similar projects, our objective is always to deliver a full product. It is our non-negotiable."
Too many designers?
The major design studios in the Netherlands were built in the 1990s and the people who founded them do not represent those who are graduating now. Mitchell sees a field full of talent without enough structure to hold it. "I see many highly skilled designers, but there seems to be a mismatch between the market and demand." However, the demand is actually there. Studio Tast is currently taking on more projects than it can handle, and most of them, once you look at the real question being asked, are closer to social design territory than they first appear. So who else is going to take them? "I actually would love to have some competitors now!" His answer is the same one that led to Studio Tast: if the studios do not exist, build them. The more there are, the less time anyone spends proving they belong.
The major design studios in the Netherlands were built in the 1990s and the people who founded them do not represent those who are graduating now. Mitchell sees a field full of talent without enough structure to hold it. "I see many highly skilled designers, but there seems to be a mismatch between the market and demand." However, the demand is actually there. Studio Tast is currently taking on more projects than it can handle, and most of them, once you look at the real question being asked, are closer to social design territory than they first appear. So who else is going to take them? "I actually would love to have some competitors now!" His answer is the same one that led to Studio Tast: if the studios do not exist, build them. The more there are, the less time anyone spends proving they belong.
Nog een leuke foto van een borrel en eten??
voorbeeld van een product
Nog een leuke foto van een borrel en eten??
voorbeeld van een product
Nog een leuke foto van een borrel en eten??
voorbeeld van een product
Culture hire or cultural misfit
A few years ago, as conversations about diversity became louder, Mitchell started noticing he was being invited to more events and panels. The invitations were welcome, but they came with a question he could not ignore: am I a token person, only asked because of my background? He started looking more closely at organisations and how they present themselves. Websites presenting diverse teams, studio pages that read "this is our team" with one person of colour in the frame. Culture hire, or cultural misfit?
A few years ago, as conversations about diversity became louder, Mitchell started noticing he was being invited to more events and panels. The invitations were welcome, but they came with a question he could not ignore: am I a token person, only asked because of my background? He started looking more closely at organisations and how they present themselves. Websites presenting diverse teams, studio pages that read "this is our team" with one person of colour in the frame. Culture hire, or cultural misfit?
Indo roots & design
The way Mitchell works is shaped by what he calls an Indo mindset: warmth and the belief that good work involves everyone. At Studio Tast there is always music and at a bigger even always comes with seriously gooood warm food. Mitchell is not interested in adjusting to expectations that were never built with him in mind. He would rather invite people into reflection than convince them of anything. The goal is mutual respect, not approval.
The way Mitchell works is shaped by what he calls an Indo mindset: warmth and the belief that good work involves everyone. At Studio Tast there is always music and at a bigger even always comes with seriously gooood warm food. Mitchell is not interested in adjusting to expectations that were never built with him in mind. He would rather invite people into reflection than convince them of anything. The goal is mutual respect, not approval.
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DESIGNERS IN FULL COLOR all rights reserved 2026
DESIGNERS IN FULL COLOR all rights reserved 2026
DESIGNERS IN FULL COLOR all rights reserved 2026