ONE WEEK ABOUT Driving Dutch Design by curator Patrick Aarts Sen (BNO). Over the next few days, we show the Drivers of 2025, Henk-Jan Panneman is one of them.
My name is Henk-Jan Panneman. I am a visual designer with a constant curiosity. I have learned many new things in recent years. Russian language for a side project, making music, interviewing, teaching, learning to draw better.
I don’t do all this just because I need to feed my brain or because I enjoy inventing something “new”; I am in contact with a wide range of clients and creative colleagues. My field is very broad and has connections with everything. The 21st century cries out for creative solutions to global issues. How do I relate to this as an individual creator, as a tiny cog in a larger whole? How do other colleagues do that? Many people are trying to help the world move forward a little. To shine a spotlight on this, I wrote a series of participatory interviews for Dutch design magazine van de BNO. In it, I learn a skill from a specialist. It’s great fun and educational on multiple levels.
Because I want to convey commitment and meaning based on the question of why. Meaning in a social context: making the world a little better. Against disinformation, because otherwise democracy cannot function. Cognition is the new battlefield, as they say. And communication is key. Facts don’t convince everyone, but emotions often do. I think factuality is still important in visual argumentation and that personal interpretation can add a valuable layer. Whenever possible, I incorporate personal experiences into my work. I like it when the creator’s touch is present. Something authentic in illustrations and visualisations.
Driving Dutch Design programme
The programme at Driving Dutch Design helped me gain insight into where I stand, where I want to go and how I can get there (and some things about entrepreneurship I wish I had known years ago!). DDD has opened a new chapter with new developments in the coming period. It is also very special to be immersed for a while as an independent creator among “peers” with very different specialities and to experience how much overlap there actually is. You hang out with inspiring fellow participants and learn from each other. And it’s not over yet, is it? We will stay in touch.
Driving Dutch Design
Driving Dutch Design is the professionalisation and networking programme of the Dutch design sector that helps driven designers get started in the world of creative entrepreneurship. Besides Design your business and Design your identityfor startups, in 2025 there is also DDD Next Level for mid-career designers.
The organisation is in the hands of the BNO and the programme is supported by Stichting Stokroos and the Cultuurfonds, thanks in part to the Ahrend Fonds.
