DESIGN & ACTIVISM
“For many years, my work has been centered around activism. How can my work contribute to the struggle against inequality and oppression?”
Marleen, who?
I live in The Hague, love the sea and Meijendel, and am a resident of a unique housing project. Activism has always been an important part of my life—as a designer, mother, and activist. During my studies at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague, my work over the years has been focused on activism. After KABK, I completed a Master’s program at the Sandberg Institute, a two-year course where I further developed myself as an activist designer connected to the action movement.
During my studies, I became actively involved with various activist groups and discovered that there is always a shortage of idealistic designers who aim to make the world fairer and more beautiful through design—design without commercial motives. Today, alongside my work as a designer, I work as a safety coordinator at Greenpeace, where I oversee the entire design process of civil disobedience actions from start to finish.
Activist design, how?
Over the past ten years, my style has evolved into a colorful form of “protest design.” I believe it is important for creatives to be aware of the impact they can make. Imagine if no creator wanted to work for the fossil fuel or meat industries, and we collectively refused to design (greenwashing) campaigns! Our choices can reduce societal support for these industries.
A striking example of this was seen at the Effie Awards in 2022, with Sieger Sloot.
Design is therefore not just something I do—it is a form of activism through which I pursue meaningful goals. If you, your friends, an activist group, or another initiative want to create something, let me know. I am happy to contribute as a designer, activist, and maker.
