Identity
Monkey Mind
2025/02/15 08:36 Filed in: Product Design / Branding
Monchhichi is a line of Japanese stuffed monkey toys first released in 1974 (when Arda was born). They were licensed by Mattel in the US until 1985. These adorable monkeys were created in order to inspire respect and love in young children. There name is derived from the words ‘Mon’ (which translates to ‘Mine’) and ‘Chichi’ (which closely resembles the sound of baby sucking on a pacifier [Dutch: zuigspeen]). This is a special edition to celebrate the brand's 50 years. Straight from Japan! Wearing a T-shirt with the famous Hokusai [Grote Golf] wave. For Arda, for Valentine’s Day. I have added her little monkey from 1984(!) to this short stop-motion movie.
My Philosophy
2025/01/10 21:04 Filed in: Design Thinking
Recently slightly updated, but still my vision on design thinking—and the execution—in a nut shell.
No Pain, No Gain
2024/12/26 14:47 Filed in: Advertising / Product Design
SpongeBob SquarePants pal: Patrick Star—a dimwitted yet friendly pink starfish who resides under a rock. Patrick considers himself to be intelligent, with his ignorance of his stupidity being a key trait of his. By chance I came across this muscular starfish during X-mas shopping this year.
Kung Fu Fighting
2024/12/26 13:08 Filed in: Advertising / Product Design
SpongeBob SquarePants pal: Sandy Cheeks—a thrill-seeking and athletic squirrel from Texas who wears an air-filled diving suit to breathe underwater. She lives in a tree enclosed in a clear glass dome locked by an airtight, hand-turned seal and is an expert in karate.
“Moksi baby!“
The lion-dragon Barong is the king of the spirits and leader of good forces in Indonesian mythology. Very cool—and rare!—T-shirt for my son Niels (a.k.a. ‘Buffeltje’).
Red Lights
2024/12/26 13:07 Filed in: Photography
Monster Truck Fun Facts: Since 1999 there have been a total of 41(!) Grave Digger monster trucks built. Perhaps the most visible trademark is the red headlights which glow whenever the truck is in competition. The lights were first used when Dennis Anderson (the original driver) was building a transporter out of a school bus and removed the characteristic red stop lights.
Curiosity is the life force in all of us
2024/09/26 20:44 Filed in: Product Design
When imagination, creativity and play are your fuel, your limitless potential can take you anywhere you imagine. This remarkable LEGO® set—created in collaboration with visionary designer Pharrell Williams—reflects his unbridled creative optimism + undeniable creative influence.
This exclusive set [a pre-order] is a special gift for my boys Niels and Sjoerd, as a sort of ‘old-age reserve’. ;)
Evolution of a logo
Design is an iterative process: explore, try, share, test, reject … and start over again. This cycle approach stimulates progressive insight.
The concept ‘design = fijn’ [Dutch for ‘fine’] has become an integral part of the philosophy underlying all my work: for people who appreciate fine design. My fascination for mechanical typewriters, monospaced fonts, ASCII art and emoji, led to the logo design.
An early version from 2015 to 2018 and now (early) in 2024.
EGO
2023/03/25 18:57 Filed in: Advertising
‘EGO’ is the Latin word for ‘Me, Myself and I’, a song by American hip hop trio De La Soul, released in 1989.