Trained in film and graphic design, Nienke spent two decades predominantly as a freelance designer working across the Netherlands. In this time, she covered the breadth of what is commonly considered graphic design: logos, layouts of reports and books, signs, infographics, marketing material, weekly and monthly magazines and newspapers and so on.
A career turning point came when she moved into design research. This gave Nienke the tools to better understand what sits behind the design process and how the design process can better understand research problems. More recently, her interest has shifted to food production and community food networks.
Nienke now reaches back into her background as a graphic designer to explain complex ideas and help to visually connect theory and practice. This is a great asset in challenging projects where problems are abstract and poorly defined.
- ‘Foodforest Masters’ with the Voedselboss, Martijn Aalbrechts.
- Master Design-research – Piet Zwart Instituut (NL)
- Graphic design – Piet Zwart Instituut (NL)
- Film production – Filmacademie NFTA (NL)
- Osmos Network
- Research & design trainee – Studio 1:1
- Freelance designer – working with clients such as Het Parool, Üppig Identity Store, Vandejong, Ashoka Netherlands and the City of Eindhoven
Expertise
Dutch (native speaker)
English (fluent)
Dutch (proficient speaking and writing)
French (basic comprehension)
Nienke's 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.
Serre de Bockstael
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Developing community-based urban agriculture in Brussels.
Sonian Wood Cooperative
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Developing a cooperative to keep the wood from the Sonian Forest local.
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.
Laurens Van der Cruyssen
Laurens is an Osmos Network partner bringing the network expertise in psychology, quantitative and qualitative analysis, and human-centred design.
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.
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.