ONE WEEK ABOUT Driving Dutch Design by curators Patrick Aarts Sen (BNO) and Katja Lucas (DDF)Driving Dutch Design is the professionalisation and networking programme of ABN AMRO, Beroepsorganisatie Nederlandse Ontwerpers (BNO) and Dutch Design Foundation (DDF) that helps talented designers get started in the world of entrepreneurship. Jan Willen van Elten is one of them.LEAFIES for those you love
With this in mind, Jan Willen van Elten designed his playful metal leaves. Durable, flexible and above all decorative and a lasting memory.
Jan Willem van Elten started with LEAFIES over a year ago. For some time, he had been walking around with the idea of designing an ‘artificial flower or leaf” that you could give someone as a present. “When Corona literally attacked us, the moment was there to develop my idea and share it with the world. Corona asks a lot of everyone and there was more and more distance between people. LEAFIES are an accessible way to give someone a boost and support them from a distance”.
The first magazines were sold out and before he knew it, there was a webshop, production was scaled up and orders with heart-warming messages were posted daily. “The power lies in the overall picture: a leaflet with a card. On the card you put a message and the LEAFIES is the lasting memory. Everything passes through my hands and I see the most beautiful messages pass by”.
The gesture of a flower, but then just a little different. The LEAFIES are inspired by the organic shapes of plants, made of thin metal and in different colours. They last a lifetime and do just fine without a drop of water. Endless!
For more information about the participants, the programme and registration, please visit drivingdutchdesign.nl.
