Dutch Digital Design collective warms-up for Cannes trade mission with video interview series
In advance of taking part in the fourth ‘Embassy of Dutch Creativity’ trade mission to this year’s Cannes Lions, the Dutch Digital Design collective of agencies has released a series of video interviews with a selection of the Netherland’s key digital players.
Exploring topics such as Dutch influence on digital design globally, the advantage of a Dutch outlook to digital production and the coming of “a new Dutch Golden Age”, the video series features figures including Wesley ter Haar, founder of MediaMonks, Dick Buschman, founder of Achtung! mcgarrybowen, and Bert Hagendoorn, the founder of the Dutch Digital Design initiative. All seven interviews are available to watch online.
ter Haar of MediaMonks, a digital production agency with offices around the world, believes the Dutch mentality is particularly well-suited to digital creativity: “There is a practicality and creativity to it, but we also don't take ourselves too seriously. If you look at the Internet - or digital in general - it is about not taking yourself too seriously. The weirdest things work online. So, I think we as a culture have a natural connection to that and we are now finally finding our voice in a sort of aesthetic style.”
In his video interview, Buschman of digital agency Achtung! mcgarrybowen, also discusses the Dutch character as being an important factor in the nation's digital design output. He says: “The Dutch are Calvinistic, maybe a little bit, so they cut all the unnecessary things off. That can lead to digital solutions being very functional, but I think what a lot of Dutch agencies also bring is that they add a subtle something to it, that takes it from functional to something more likeable.”
Hagendoorn of Dutch Digital Design expands: “The Dutch are very focused on putting the user first. The other thing is we dare to experiment and explore boundaries, to come up with innovative ideas. And the Dutch accustomed to working with different cultures and disciplines. We do not only care about the aesthetics, but also how it works, making it effective.”
The Embassy of Dutch Creativity trade mission will take place between 18-21 June at Plage Long Beach, Boulevard de la Croisette, Cannes.
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Dutch Digital Design
The Dutch are known for creating distinctive digital work, building on an already world-famous tradition of Dutch design. We dare to experiment, innovate and push boundaries. Our no-nonsense and open-minded culture allows different cultures and disciplines to collaborate, and complement each other.
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