Can you describe what you do? Where you are based, the neighbourhood you live in, your daily routine, the people you work with, the scene you feel the closest to.

I am an independent UI designer, which means I craft custom-made websites, mobile apps, web tools and other digital solutions for various industries. My main goal is to create digital products that feel and look good. I find the most fulfillment when I can think of both the functional and graphical aspect of a digital product. For me these two are inseparable. It comes down to structuring, organizing and visualizing information in a clear way and experimenting with interaction.

Besides this, I regularly make visual identities for my clients as well and then I’m thrilled to experiment with various materials, printing techniques and media. Since 2014 I also teach interactive design at the Graphic Design department of LUCA, School of Arts, in Brussels. 

I usually start my working day with a visit to a coffee bar in my neighborhood, ’t Eilandje, which is mostly to unwind from the struggle of getting my daughter to school on time. The rest of my day consists of working on projects, meetings or calls with clients and co-workers, researching or teaching at LUCA. My network of peers and clients is mainly spread over Antwerp and Brussels so I zigzag quite often between those cities and I also work from a distance for clients abroad.

How do you perceive Antwerp? In your view, what kind of city is it? Its people, its cultural landscape, its vibe? 

I’ve been living in Antwerp for 7 years now. I grew up in a small town close to Mechelen, moved to Brussels when I started as a graphic design student and stayed there after I graduated. I started working for an Antwerp based company and commuted for more than a year between the two cities. I worked long hours and often got home late. That, in combination with unreliable and overcrowded public transportation and the need for change made me decide to move to Antwerp. Even though I wasn't really excited about Antwerp before (from a distance Antwerp seemed too polished and limited) and I didn’t know a lot of people there, I’m really happy I've swapped cities. Over the years, my view on Antwerp changed dramatically and I truly began to love the city. 

A lot of creative things happen here and I’ve been inspired by the city and its people quite often. Also, each neighborhood has its own identity with plenty of contrasts and quirks. In our neighborhood you could see a lot of friction between the obsolete and the new. Beautiful old hangars, pricey residential towers, authentic boatmen bars, spacious esplanades, old bridges and cranes, a shimmering new Havenhuis, the rawness of the port, and so on. From one extreme to the other.

It’s also interesting to live in a part of the city that is in full transition. Let’s just hope the neighborhood won’t lose its edge in a couple of years.

Another priceless aspect of ’t Eilandje is its location on the edge of town which allows me to easily escape the hustle of the city. The port, the Schelde and the Noordkasteel, all blissful somewhat desolate places.