Designer Christien Meindertsma has been awarded the very first Paul Deiters Prize, a new initiative by the Stokroos Foundation. The triennial prize honors her distinctive work, which brings together art and design, research, materials, and social issues. In 2027, her work will be featured in a solo exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
Christien Meindertsma is the winner of the first Paul Deiters Prize. The Dutch designer will receive a total of €120,000, consisting of a cash prize of €60,000 and €60,000 for the development and production of new work. That new work will be presented in 2027 in a solo exhibition at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
With this new award, the Stokroos Foundation aims to both recognize established Dutch top talent at a pivotal moment in the development of their work and give them the opportunity to take the next step. For its first award, the Stokroos Foundation has chosen a designer who, for more than twenty years, has demonstrated how design can yield new insights and perspectives on the world around us.
A pioneer in contextual design
In her work, Meindertsma explores the (often invisible) relationships between raw materials, products, production processes, and society. Her projects often begin with a material or production flow and can subsequently result in a book, film, object, piece of furniture, or new production machine. For example, in her work PIG 05049, she investigated all the different products made from a single pig, and in the Flax Project, she thoroughly mapped out the renewed possibilities of locally produced flax.
Her current research also aligns closely with the reason why the board of the Stokroos Foundation nominated her for the award. Meindertsma is working on the further development of the Wobot, a robot capable of three-dimensionally felting wool. Through this, she is exploring a potential new application for the millions of kilograms of new wool that are discarded annually in Europe. In addition, Meindertsma is focusing increasingly on willows and a osier bed in her own local area.
From the Stokroos Foundation’s statement of reasons for the award: “In her work, Christien Meindertsma forges a connection between nature, materials, research, community, and social significance, which aligns perfectly with the thematic focus of the Stokroos Foundation. She is radically inquisitive without being dogmatic. She makes complex systems visible and invites us to see things differently, without imposing a single, definitive conclusion on her audience,” said Chequita Nahar, chair of the selection committee.
The award recognizes the research-oriented aspect of design. Christien Meindertsma is a pioneer in contextual design. She looks not only at how something appears, but above all at where it comes from, how it is made, and what stories and systems lie behind it. It is precisely this combination of design, research, and social context that makes her work so innovative and relevant.
Winnaar Christien Meindertma: “It’s incredibly wonderful to receive the Paul Deiters Prize. It gives me both the freedom and the confidence to strike out in a new direction, and that’s amazing. Having the time to learn on my own and then create new work is an incredibly beautiful gift. Through my work, I want to find solutions to polluting systems and gain more influence over the entire process. I’m fascinated by the materials around us—such as wool, linen, and willow twigs—and by how much knowledge and history is hidden within them. With this award, I can delve deeper into this and explore how we can give these materials a hopeful place in our daily lives once again.”
New Partnership with the Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Following the awarding of the Paul Deiters Prize, a solo exhibition by Meindertsma will be held at the Kunstmuseum Den Haag starting in October 2027.
Margriet Schavemaker, executive director of the Kunstmuseum Den Haag, says: “Christien Meindertsma demonstrates like no other how design can function as a form of research. She brings worlds that are invisible to many people very close to us and takes us along on her exploration of how we can shape a more sustainable future. Offering a new perspective on the future aligns closely with the way we at the Kunstmuseum aim to view contemporary art and design—as a means and a form of better understanding the world around us. We are therefore particularly pleased that, together with the Stokroos Foundation and Christien Meindertsma, we can link this award to the development of new work and provide space for it in the museum in 2027.”
Investing in the Future
The Paul Deiters Prize is named after Paul Deiters (1952–2017), founder of the Stokroos Foundation. As an investor, Deiters built a successful career in private equity and also had a keen interest in the visual arts, music, and nature. He was fascinated by the craftsmanship and imagination of artists and designers. He wanted to give them the opportunity to further develop their work.
As an investor, he knew better than anyone that new developments require time and space— and that, as an investor, you must also provide that space and have confidence in what is yet to come.
Niels Engel, director of the Stokroos Foundation: “Paul Deiters did not leave behind a collection or museum that bore his mark, but he explicitly made his wealth available to enable the development of others and to create space for discovery. With this award, we are linking his name even more specifically to his legacy.”
Anyone who wants to learn more about Christien Meindertsma’s work and meet her in person can visit the Klokgebouw at Strijp-S during Dutch Design Week. From October 17 through 25, Local Linoleum will be on display (as part of the Secrid Talent Podium).
