Design for change: Daan’s sheltered workshop for the formerly incarcerated
From the greenhouse to the classroom
Daan began his career without a high school diploma, working in a greenhouse, which he “really, really disliked.” Then, he says, he realised he had to do something else; otherwise, “I would spend the rest of my life in that greenhouse. An MBO programme in Carpentry became a good next step for me.” However, Daan soon noticed that he needed more knowledge and skills. “Technically, I could make anything, but I still lacked knowledge about the design itself. That's why I started the AD Interior Designer at ArtEZ immediately after my Carpentry programme.”
Why the AD Interior Designer?
Daan’s first impulse was to take the four-year Bachelor's in Interior Architecture instead, for which he had already applied to ArtEZ. In the admission interview, however, he says, “it turned out that I didn't score well on creativity, because I was too practical-minded.” That conversation made him realise that the two-year AD Interior Designer was a better match for his ambitions. Daan: “During the bachelor, it’s more about exploring your own creativity, who you are as a person and as an artist. During the AD, you dive directly into who you are as a designer. The AD was perfect for me in that respect, since it let me focus more on designing.”
His design: a sheltered workshop for former prisoners
For his graduation project, Daan chose a socially relevant theme: a sheltered workshop for former prisoners. Daan says he wanted to design something that would make a tangible difference. Daan: “In my research, I discovered that 80% of formerly incarcerated people still don't have a job after their release, which contributes heavily to recidivism. A sheltered workshop for this target group seemed like a great solution to that.” Daan talked enthusiastically about his design, purposely located in the middle of society: “The current workshop location is Hall 26 in the soon-to-be-developed creative Spoorzone in Zwolle next to the Central Station. It offers a safe and inspiring environment where former prisoners can work and learn new skills. The aim is to help them reintegrate into society by providing a relevant, meaningful daytime activity. I am quite proud of the result!”
Passing on his knowledge
Ever since Daan went into business, he has had his own company, Daan Beijer Interieurbouw. Daan: “I’ve gained an incredible amount of know-how through becoming an entrepreneur. You have to be creative, do administration, showcase yourself as a brand and make yourself stand out from the rest. I wanted to pass on the torch and teach others the valuable skills I gained while learning the ropes of entrepreneurship. My thinking was, if I design a workshop for people with difficult access to the labour market, they can learn those entrepreneurship skills with the necessary guidance.”
Learning to think outside the box
For Daan, the biggest challenge in the programme was the transition from an MBO to HBO education: “At an MBO, everything is very practical and you think in neat little boxes. At ArtEZ, I really had to learn to think outside the box and look at things in a new way. It was pretty difficult in the beginning, but ultimately very valuable. For example, we had classes like painting and drawing, where at first you think ‘why are we doing this?’, but doing so gives you new perspectives. When I look back now on the past two years, all those different subjects and projects have been remarkedly useful. They helped unleash a piece of creativity in me and ultimately contributed a lot to my development as a designer.”
Future plans
After graduating, Daan plans to continue running his own business, but he is also going to work at Hubbers Interieurbouw, “50% as a designer and 50% as a work planner. I want to expand my knowledge further and get more experience in work planning. Eventually, I want to build up my company to where I can work completely independently.”
Tips for future students: Daan recommends the AD Interior Designer to anyone who wants to further develop in the profession. “It is an intensive course, but you’ll learn a lot. I think it’s ideal for people who already have some experience and don't want to study for four more years. You will get a very good foundation in conceptual design and learn to think more creatively.” His most important tip: “Let go of only thinking practically and dare to think creatively. You will come up with much more original ideas and grow as a designer that way. And enjoy your time studying, because it will be over before you know it!”
Learn more about the Associate degree Interior Designer
