With a fascination in how the mind interacts with its environment, Laurens holds a Master’s in clinical psychology (VUB) and a PhD in the field of social neuroscience (VUB). His PhD thesis was entitled ‘Beyond the individual: How the brain reacts to social categories.’ After a decade as a researcher and lecturer (VUB & UGent), he left academia to apply his skills in practice as a human-centred designer. This worked in practical contexts within public administrations, inside businesses and as a partner of European research programmes where psychology is integral for design and organisational development.
As both a psychologist and a designer, Laurens offers a unique combination of analysis and strategy skills. As a researcher he is interested in how problems are defined, how knowledge is derived, how to analyse stakeholders, how divergent interpretations are observed and how to channel quantitative and qualitative research into a narrow scope for action. As a designer he is interested in process, messaging and how solutions ultimately align with the needs of end-users. In his spare time, Laurens volunteers for the NGO Pool is Cool, advocating public outdoor swimming in Brussels.
- Doctor in Philosophy – VUB (BE)
- Master in Psychology – VUB (BE)
- Social psychologist (OSMOS network)
- Service Designer (Knight Moves)
- Guest lecturer (Design Academy Eindhoven & UGent)
- Post-doctoral researcher (UGent & VUB)
Expertise
Dutch (native)
English (fluent)
French (fluent)
German (basic understanding)
Spanish (basic understanding)
Laurens' insights
Rue Haute
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Redevelopment of a social 400 unit housing complex in a dense inner-city neighbourhood fit for the 21st century.
Heist-op-den-Berg
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Engaging stakeholders in the urban study for a new unified administrative centre.
Connecting Nature
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A European research program (H2020) developing nature based solutions: ‘bringing nature to cities and cities to nature’.
Adrian Hill
Adrian is a founding partner of the Osmos Network responsible for general operations with expertise in production in cities and ecological systems.
Eric Haas
Eric is a co-founder of the Osmos Network, focused on the organisation’s business development.
Francesca Gualino
Francesca is a community development worker, educated in psychology.
Hanne Van Reusel
Hanne is an Osmos Network partner bringing the team expertise on the commons, participative processes and the development of public space.
Julia Rocha
Julia is an Osmos collaborator with expertise in visual communications and public space.
Liana Simmons
Liana is an Osmos expert bringing the network a strong foundation in collaboration and cooperation to empower local and regional organisations and communities.
Marco Kooistra
Marco is a founding partner of the Osmos Network responsible for the organisation’s financial management. He brings the network extensive expertise in finance, fiscal strategy, business management and accounting.
Michael Kaethler
Michael is an Osmos expert bringing the network theoretical and methodological skills to address complex and systemic problems often rooted at an epistemological (knowledge) or ontological (being) level.
Nienke Schachtschabel
Nienke is an Osmos expert based Amsterdam (NL). She brings the network extensive experience in visual communication, design research and in agro-ecology.
Stephan Kampelmann
Stephan is a co-founder and expert of the Osmos Network bringing the network practical experience and theoretical knowledge on local economics, resource management and governance within bio-based production chains.
Toha De Brant
Toha is an Osmos expert bringing the network expertise in anthropology and years of practical experience with community building, advocacy and grass-roots development. As a passionate photographer, she also supports the team with documentation of events.