Eric Vloemans graduated in 1994 in Product Development in Antwerp. He worked for different companies as a product development engineer : VossChemie, VanHool, Grammer, Recticel. Since 2000, he’s active as freelance Product designer in his studio Dalinci Product Design, offering on- or offsite support for one-off’s, small series or industrial mass production, for clients like FLAM, E-Power, Ridley-Bikes, Bio-Racer, Made … He’s a bicycle and motorcycle enthusiast, creator-builder with a broad experience in materials and production techniques. Specialties are technical - mechanical creative concepts, transforming wild ideas into reliable efficient products.

Workshop #1: Recumbent Motorcycling

With a background in product design and over five years of experience, Ornella Torres Melkebeek facilitates workshops and learning experiences that apply design-thinking, systems-thinking and regenerative leadership to real-world challenges.

Working independently at La I de A, she explores how design and innovation can contribute to the sustainable development of the Canary Islands.


She also teaches sustainability and innovation methodology at university and support STEAM education through the facilitation of technology-driven school projects.

Workshop #2: Spaces for future decision making

Hello there, 

We are Ella Adriaens and Thomas Marquenie, both alumni of Product Development, graduating in 2023. For the past year and a half, we’ve been working at the University of Antwerp as Student Life Experience Designers, where we rethink, conceptualize, and reshape different aspects of student life.

Our work is diverse; we collaborate with various people and tackle a wide range of projects, from digital tools to spatial interventions like the one we’re proposing here.

We are  thrilled to collaborate with a group of motivated students to reimagine the waiting spaces across the campuses.

Workshop #3: Reimagining Waiting Spaces​

Susie Brand is lecturer, mentor, and design coach at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Technical University of Delft. She is also trained as a theatre designer and lectures the elective master course “perFORM”, where the two worlds of expertise meet each other in the middle.

Wouter Eggink is a design professional and assistant professor of Industrial Design Engineering at the University of Twente. He teaches Design Histories and researches the role of design in the shaping of Human-Technology relations. His research approach is based on the collaboration between design research and philosophy of technology, for which he coined the term “the practical turn”.

Workshop #4: perFORM; the UnSeen

Annemiek Van der Wal holds a master's degree in Design for Interaction from Delft University of Technology, where she graduated with a project and publication on The Agency of Sketching. She currently works for the central government and enjoys addressing social and societal issues, both research and design contexts. In her work she uses her drawing skills to visualize strategies, visions and (policy) plans. She is convinced that visualizations lead to more insight into complex issues.

Industrial designer JanWillem Hoftijzer worked for several design agencies in the Netherlands. Today, he teaches and manages education and staff concerning design drawing and visualisation, at the faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, and he is a co-chair of the international Special Interest Group ‘Design Sketching’. JanWillem believes that sketching is a crucial competence for all designers, even more so for design students. Citing John Ruskin (1856): “the discipline of drawing tunes the sensitivity of the drawer to a higher pitch, it refines the drawer’s vision”, he believes you need draw to beable to see.

Workshop #5:Het oplossend and verhalend vermogen van ‘design sketching’

Chiara Percivati, clarinetist and performer, is an interpreter dedicated to the music of our time. Her work as an artist and artistic researcher focuses on exploring, questioning, and expanding the symbiotic relationship between performer and instrument. She holds master’s degrees from the Conservatory of Milan and the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. She conducts research in the field of clarinet preparation and augmentation as a PhD candidate at the Orpheus Institute and the University of Antwerp. Additionally, she works as a researcher at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, where she is currently developing a research on clarinet augmentation and digital forms of clarinet and bass clarinet preparation. 

Valerio Lorenzoni received a B.Sc. degree in aerospace engineering from Università La Sapienza in 2005, a M.S. degree at TUDelft in 2008 with specialization in aeroacoustics, and worked till 2014 at Siemens Wind Power on aeroacoustics of wind turbines. In 2019 he received a Ph.D. in Art Science from UGent, focusing on human-computer interaction and musical bio-feedback systems. He has been active in the design and development of 3D printed saxophone mouthpieces and on (electronic) music interfaces. At the moment he is working as postdoctoral researcher at the department of Electrical Engineering at KULeuven, focusing on binaural auralization for an art installation. On the side, he has been playing the saxophone at a semiprofessional level for over 20 years.

Workshop #6: Future Shock Orchestra

Milo Berben is a mobility designer focused on new mobility, shaping sustainable innovation where humans and technology meet. After earning a master’s in Product Development from the University of Antwerp, he moved to London to complete a master’s in Intelligent Mobility at the Royal College of Art. Through various collaborations and internships, he developed a growing specialisation in micromobility. He currently works at VROEGH Design in Utrecht, the Netherlands, designing and developing innovative mobility concepts with partners ranging from major companies to bold startups.

​Workshop #7: Designing the LEVscape for 2035-2040​

Ann Bonneux holds a Master’s degree in Product Development from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. After gradua ng in 1999, she worked in various places, including Ghent University, in the Industrial Design department, where she spent 10 years as a lecturer focusing on design thinking and fostering crea ve thinking. This was followed by 10 years of guiding young enthusiasts at Sint-Lucas in the Industrial Arts department. Missing the act of creating, she enrolled in a ceramics program at the academy about 8 years ago. Together with her colleague Evelien De Winter, she founded ZIRKOON (www.zirkoon.be), where they design and craft poetic final resting places. Currently, Ann is fully engaged in launching her studio Stofwolk.org, where courses on design thinking combined with ceramics will take place.

Workshop #8: More Than a Plate: Designing the Dining Experience

Bas Flipsen is associate professor with passion for circular product design. He loves to f ix stu and integrate his engineering teaching with play and learning. As lecturer, he teaches younger generations about our precious world, and how to design for a better future. His research focusses on the most inner circles of the circular economy, (re)designing product architectures for improved repairability to recyclability. Next to his work he plays field hockey and loves to cycle through the mud.

Stefan Persaud is senior lecturer and educationalist with a passion for design engineering. He loves experimenting with hands-on education where learning is done with the heart, hands and head. He combines his knowledge & skills on Inclusivity & Diversity with Design Teams, Design Engineering with didactics and pedagogy, to develop innovative courses and curricula for both teachers and students. Next to teaching he plays bass guitar for 3Speed Automatic and Rokus.

Workshop #9: Secrets of the Mouse - Hands-on Circular Design for Repairability

Gus Van Dender is an AI Implementation Expert, alumni of product development, and co-host of the Prime Elite AI Mastermind. He specializes in helping businesses integrate AI into their opera ons through on-site, hands-on training that uses real data and workflows instead of generic conference-room sessions. With over 20 years of experience in business systems, Gus has built and scaled multiple companies, including seven successful exits. His approach focuses on practical AI adoption, ensuring teams achieve sustainable transforma on rather than short-lived enthusiasm. He is passionate about turning AI from a buzzword into a productivity engine for organizations.

Kristof Vaes holds a Professorship in Inclusive Design and Design for Interaction. Before transitioning to academia, he gained valuable experience working with diverse design teams and agencies. After completing his doctoral research on Stigma-free Design, Kristof has been deeply engaged in promoting and advancing human-centered and inclusive design principles across both design education and research. Funny fact: He studied alongside Gus Van Dender some 30 years ago, a shared foundation that continues to connect their journeys today.

Workshop #10: Mastering the AI Revolution

Eva Van Emelen studeerde Productontwikkeling aan de Universiteit Antwerpen en studeerde af in 2019. Sindsdien werkt ze mee aan de product- en brandontwikkeling van Quut Toys, een Belgisch speelgoedmerk dat focust op kwaliteit, kleur en duurzaamheid. Twee jaar geleden startte ze haar eigen merk Abel, waar ze woorden letterlijk laat plakken met nostalgische strijklabels. Vanuit haar focus op producten die zowel functioneel als emotioneel raken, én uit de wens om meteen te zien wat een product met mensen doet, bouwt Eva stap voor stap aan een merk dat emotie, ontwerp en ondernemerschap samenbrengt.

Workshop #11: van idee tot impact

Wim Boudewyns (1977, Antwerp) holds a Master's degree in Product Development from the University of Antwerp, Belgium. Graduated in 2000, he worked for 8 years as a consultant and CAD expert at companies like Philips, Xeikon and Agfa Gevaert. He then joined Voxdale, a design and engineering agency, as a designer. Wim considers himself a peoples person and an all-rounder with a strong background in product development, engineering and innovation. He has a strong focus on the product development process and experience in mechanical engineering, complex surface design, injection moulding, project management and production transfer. Since 2023 he also teaches at the university.

Workshop #12: Concept design an aerodynamic exploration of a high speed utility watercraft