Secrid Talent Podium

Industrial Evolution

Secrid believes in the power of design. Look around you. Everything is designed. From the clothes you are wearing, to the phone in your pocket and the building you are in. All these products shape our society and impact our ecosystems.

Since the Industrial Revolution and the relocation of factories to low-wage countries, mass production of low-price and short-lifespan products has become the norm. This development has brought prosperity to some, but also social inequality, depleted raw materials, environmental pollution, declining biodiversity and a climate crisis.

Industry cannot be stopped, but it can be changed. We see a leading role for designers within that transition. The general guideline is simple: every new product must be better than its predecessors. We call this: Industrial Evolution.

During Dutch Design Week, we’re putting seven talented designers in the spotlight. These are creative minds who, through their innovative approach, are driving the evolution of their industry. As well as this platform, we’re offering each designer coaching and a cash prize of €7,777: a nod to our seven design principles for holistic product design.

Design for impact

In collaboration with Dutch Design Foundation the following designers have been selected for the 2026 edition:

Ifeoluwa Afolayan & Wangyang Hu | Aeropod by Muju Earth
A biodegradable pod that bursts open and aerates compacted farmland.

Karlheinz Samenjo | Chloe Innovations
An accessible medical device for safe and dignified pain relief in gynaecological care.

Vincent & Rick Eurlings | Aumens
A user-friendly compass that helps people with dementia find their way home.

Bobby Kolade | Buzigahill
New Ugandan fashion from discarded Western clothing: RETURN TO SENDER reverses the global clothing supply chain.

Thomas Linssen & Jana Flohr | House of Thol
Practical products to reduce food waste, for a green and sustainable life.

Christien Meindertsma | Local Linoleum
From hidden material flows to new uses for local raw materials like wool, willow and flax.

Maartje Dros & Eric Klarenbeek | .unusual
Living organisms as building blocks for a new production landscape.

The Original, Made in Europe

When we think about design, we often think about the final product. But the greatest impact of a design is often created much earlier. It lies in the decisions that come before it: who you work with, where you produce, which materials you choose, and whether people can do their work safely and with pride.

During Dutch Design Week, Secrid explores how these decisions become part of the design itself. Through The Original, Made in Europe, Secrid shows that the way a product is made is just as much a design challenge as the product itself.

Using the Original Cardprotector as an example, visitors gain insight into the relationship between material, production, use and repair, and how Industrial Evolution takes shape in practice.