David Martens

I like the idea of making openings. An opening is a possibility, a chance, an opportunity where someone can step in and experience something new. Instead of designing closed structures, I wonder how to make more openings. Like opening a public sauna. Or setting up a free expression service called Open Expression Support. Or finding a way to open up and unpack the fascinating phenomenon of darkness.

Open Sauna

OpenDarkness

Open Expression Support

www.texttotree.com is a tool that generates a unique tree from every piece of text. By analysing the emotion in language, Texttotree searches for an appropriate tree shape. A bond between text and tree arises. Words are given a visual dimension. Language gets a connection to nature.

As a trained human centred designer, I had the chance to work with public institutions such as the NHS in Scotland and the Finnish Government. In these collaborations, I learned how to map complex human processes and to think strategically while always keeping the end user, or rather human, in sight. I take joy in researching, prototyping, presenting and (co)developing new products and systems. I tend to make tools to help facilitate moments between stakeholders. To retrieve and collect information that inform a design.

NEB Compass

Foodtrailer Fermentine

Consumer Rights Covered

Wayfinding for the NHS

New Views on Innovation

Fostering Feedback

From Now to Next

I own a camera for some years now and I enjoy taking pictures. With my iPhone, I sometimes capture what I see. Out of this grew a performance carrying the same name as this section: Making Observations. You can also look into a collection of screenshots——artefacts of my navigation through the world wide web.

Making Observations

Pictures

Screenshots

A part of my time I spend making sounds or capturing a moment. Mostly through guitar, piano and voice. Sometimes I manage to record and upload it here. Sketches and musings. Still gathering courage to finish and release something. I'll be adding as I go... You can find a playlist of my captured moments on the internet archive.

ben_moe.mp3

piano_with_shuffling.m4a

desertblues.mp3

drinking_dog.mp3

dreaming_sun_hats_ice_bears.mp3

wind_zee_zeelang.mp3

trying_falsetto.mp3

die_sonne.mp3

brussel_noord.mp3

diep_in_het_bos.mp3

fast_pick.mp3

geroep_in_abdijstraat.mp3

get_me_out_of_here.mp3

i_dont_want_to_lose_y.mp3

ishege.mp3

krekels_nylon.mp3

jungle_telephone.mp3

medley_op_zondag.mp3

mijmering_pia.mp3

no_one_gives_a.mp3

pensez_trop_au_boulot.mp3

piano_kanaalzone.mp3

steel_and_nylon.mp3

this_thing_before_home.mp3

Making moves is what I’d love to do more. In 2020, I found the space to cocreate the performance „Dialog mit der Leere“. Since the pandemic, I am still finding my way back to the forbidden fruit of dancing and expressing myself bodily.

Dialog mit der Leere

Pohoda in the Morning

David is a freelance designer based in Brussels. While wondering how to be a socially committed maker, he is building a practice of making openings.
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Openings as possibilities, chances, opportunities for someone to step in and experience something new. He found himself opening a public sauna, setting up a free expression service called Open Expression Support and creating a digital tool to motivate himself and others to open up and write out their thoughts. David also makes music and enjoys making observations. He can be intrigued by big themes such as darkness and creativity, communicating his learnings by collecting and retelling stories through film, soundscape or performance. He is a graduate of the program Master of European Design and had the chance to study at KISD, GSA and Aalto University.

Always keen to connect.
@zwietviet @makingobs
davidmartens95@gmail.com
CV

Goodday! This is David's personal website. He's a maker/designer and freelancer. Browse through the items above to see his projects.