Longread | Ingrid van der Wacht
Dreaming of the Endless Sea
Nida Art Colony of Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania
27 January – 31 January, 2025
Just before the start of the new semester, a group of students from various academies across the Baltic States participated in Dreaming of the Endless Sea, a midweek program at Nida Art Colony, organized by the Vilnius Academy of Arts (VAA) and Ingrid van der Wacht.
Designing for the Future
Audronė Drungilaitė, director of the Design Innovation Centre at VAA, and I have collaborated in European design networks for years. Trained as a designer, Audronė has become a dedicated advocate for design as a driver of change and innovation. She actively supports Lithuanian design students and alumni through national and international programs, ensuring their presence at key design events such as Dutch Design Week, Stockholm Design Fair, and the upcoming Milan Design Week.
Recognizing the challenges students face – both in their studies and in shaping their career – Audronė and I wanted to create a space for deeper exploration. Beyond enhancing skills and portfolios, personal development plays a crucial role in a designer’s journey: understanding oneself, defining a mission, and taking time for reflection. This inspired an immersive workshop that brought together a diverse group of design students from various disciplines, experiences, and cultural backgrounds, resulting in a rich blend of perspectives and creative energy.
A Collective Experience
Each day began with guided group meditations to foster focus, set intentions, and build connection – all against the natural backdrop of the sea and whispering treetops. In moments of playful silence and mindful exchange, students uncovered new layers of inspiration. They departed Nida not only with fresh ideas and strengthened portfolios but also with enduring friendships and a reinvigorated sense of purpose.
Alone You Go Fast, Together We Go Far
In my role at the Dutch Design Foundation, I’ve built networks that demonstrate the transformative power and value of design. During the workshop, I shared insights into the international design landscape, highlighting how many designers are driven by a meaningful mission. In 2016, DDF co-founded World Design Weeks – a global network of design festivals aimed at exchanging best practices, building stronger platforms, and fostering collaboration to create a world that works better for everyone. The European Commission also supports mission-driven designers with initiatives that contribute to Europe’s green, inclusive, and fair transformation, offering diverse mechanisms for collaborative projects and awards.
We examined the career paths of designers who have successfully integrated sustainable practices into their work. For example, Dutch Design Award Winner Christien Meindertsma has, since her graduation project in 2003, been revalorizing wool – most recently developing the 3D wool printer, the Wobot, for large-scale projects. Similarly, Mexican/UK-based Dutch Future Food Design Award winner Fernando Laposse has innovated with new materials for furniture by repurposing waste streams from indigenous corn, in collaboration with local farming communities. These inspirational examples sparked discussions among the sixteen students, who explored potential collective missions through fictional case studies – demonstrating that from individual dreams can emerge powerful collaborative endeavors.
Designers Bridging Lithuania & The Netherlands
We dived deeper amongst others through recorded interviews with two inspiring designers whose work spans from Lithuania to the Netherlands to the world, or spans the globe. Both showcasing how cross-cultural collaboration can drive sustainable innovation:
Agnė Kučerenkaitė (Lithuania/Netherlands)
A VAA graduate who further honed her craft at Design Academy Eindhoven, Agnė is the visionary behind Ignorance is Bliss, an ongoing design research project. By repurposing industrial waste and secondary materials, she transforms discarded resources into high-value products for both interior and exterior applications. Her work challenges conventional perceptions of waste while actively contributing to more sustainable built environments with a strong focus on planetary health. Agnė’s journey is a powerful example of how Lithuanian resilience and Dutch design expertise can merge to forge innovative, environmentally conscious solutions.
Super Local (Netherlands)
Founded by Luc van Hoeckel and Pim van Baarsen – both Design Academy Eindhoven alumni – Super Local embodies the spirit of locally driven innovation. Over the past decade, they have dedicated themselves to developing tailored solutions for local challenges on a global scale. Their project From The Himalayas, which transforms plastic waste into 3D-printed design souvenirs, earned them a prestigious Dutch Design Award in 2023. This initiative not only turns an environmental challenge into a creative opportunity but also engages local communities in sustainable practices. Additionally, the evolving career of Pim van Baarsen, now leading his own studio, illustrates how embracing collaborative innovation can redefine professional trajectories.
Participants Dreaming of the Endless Sea
Annette Abdrashitova – In my practice, I shape lifestyle through product and service design, believing that limits exist only in our minds.
‘No Phone Zone’ is an interactive lighting concept designed for the restaurant dining experience. The lamp uses light from smartphones, ensuring they don’t interfere with dining and conversation. It brings you back to the present moment, helping you disconnect from the online world.
Rūta Mielytė – Create to express yourself. Create works that are inspiring and meaningful to others. Create environments that bring harmony to everyday life.
‘Not Alone’ is a coffee table designed for conversations – both with yourself and with others. Based on a modular principle, this triangular table can be connected to additional units, creating a larger space for wider discussions.
Pāvels Žeļezņaks – Fashion Design at the Art Academy of Latvia. In my work, I draw from personal experiences, emotions, and human psychology, aiming to create clothing as a form of emotional therapy.
My collection ‘Reaction of Three’ explores the three stress responses – fight, flight, and freeze. Through material and form, I sought to understand how these reactions shape people and how clothing could embody them.
Agnese Zīle – As a designer I value traditional media in design as it fosters a deeper connection between me as a creator and the project.
I am the founder and creative director of ‘NORK’ magazine that I started back in 2017. NORK seeks to present bold storytelling where balance between text and illustrations is the key. It showcases contemporary stories, interviews and visual tales.
Domantas Rutkauskas – The ‘Archi’ coffee table is inspired by openwork bridges and architectural motifs. The design subtly mimics the structure of a bridge. The curved shape of the legs provides both aesthetic and structural stability. The openwork elements add lightness and distinction to the table.
Raminta Malijauskaitė – Third year graphic design student in Vilnius Academy of Arts. I love experimenting with vibrant colors, all kinds of techniques and visual effects. I specialize in poster, visual identity and illustration creation.
‘Savęs ieškau’ (Self searching) is an educational board game. It’s all about exploration, learning and connecting with people around You.
Ainė Barbora Rutkutė – To live an authentic life and leave this planet a little bit better than i found it, both in my personal and professional life, is what I’m seeking.
‘Hope Pavilion’ is a space dedicated to meditation, allowing people to slow down and connect with their inner selves.
Viltė Paulauskaitė – Second-year product design student at Vilnius Academy of Arts. I want to create objects that are aesthetic and functional. I like a minimalist and composition-oriented style, and I often include geometric shapes into my work.
The ‘Reflectra’ mirror consists of a triangular stand crafted from sheet metal to which two magnetic, movable mirrors are attached.
Nida Art Colony: A Space for Deep Immersion
For those inspired to follow in our footsteps, Nida Art Colony offers opportunities for extended residencies – providing artists and designers the chance to fully immerse themselves in this unique environment. Keep an eye on their residency calls or explore options for short-term stays. Follow them on Instagram: @nidaartcolony.
My visit was made possible with support from the Erasmus program EU for travel and accommodation costs.
