Interior Architecture students tackle circular design challenges at PROTO Changemakers
- Architecture and...
How can we reduce production waste? What role can humanoid robots play in the future? And how can solar panels be designed to better integrate into our surroundings? These were some of the challenges that first-year Interior Architecture students at ArtEZ tackled during PROTO Changemakers.
From March 11 to 13, they collaborated with students from Cibap, Deltion, and Windesheim, along with 22 businesses and organizations in the Zwolle region. Together, they explored innovative solutions for a more circular economy. An urgent topic, as the Netherlands aims to reuse 50% of all raw materials by 2030 but is currently falling behind on this goal.
Interdisciplinary learning in action
At PROTO Changemakers, ArtEZ students worked in mixed teams with students from different disciplines. This collaboration helped them experience how valuable it is to approach sustainability challenges from multiple perspectives.
Student Merlijn Gabrielse reflects on the project
"This project felt different from other sustainability discussions. We were truly part of the change. Everyone knows about climate issues and the need to reduce waste, but we rarely get the chance to actively contribute to solutions. This week, we did." Some teams developed concrete, actionable plans, while others focused on conceptual ideas that project leaders can build on. "This week also opened my eyes to how much waste we produce as a society. Being so immersed in circular design made me see the scale of the problem in a new way."
Want to know more?
The collaboration between education and industry during PROTO Changemakers demonstrates how the designers of the future can make an impact. A selection of the outcomes will be showcased in Zwolle during Innovationday on June 26, 2025.