AN INTERVIEW WITH LEONNE CUPPEN
LEONNE CUPPEN Yksi Expo
Leonne Cuppen studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven. In 1990, right after graduation and together with two fellow students, she founded Yksi Design as a studio and Yksi Expo as a foundation to stimulate Dutch Design. Some years ago, the design firm split up and Leonne Cuppen went on with Yksi Expo and with her new company Yksi Connect to set up projects and link young designers with the industry. More and more, her focus is on sustainability and circularity. What is her vision on the future of design? How do we build or design in 10 years
More and more companies focus on
In 10 years, sustainable and circular design
because they see the market growing, or
if it were up to you?
and construction should be the standard, and I have faith that we can make this
future possible, because a real transition is
happening now. Sustainability and circularity were the undercurrent for a long time, but are getting more and more momentum in recent years.
You can see it happening on trade
because of pressure from the inside out.
Recently, 300 Amazon employees signed
an open petition to demand the company puts more effort into becoming climate neutral by 2030. Additionally, IKEA is
making serious strides to becoming fully circular in 10 years, a very ambitious endeavour.
shows and events, like in Milan, at Dutch
Personally, I try to contribute by passing
MaterialDistrict Utrecht. Young designers
Yksi Expo and Yksi Connect. Along with
Design Week in Eindhoven and also at
want to be relevant and contribute to a
better world, preferably with an impact. They want to offer solutions for the challenges we face, on ecological,
economic and social levels. They aren’t driven by high ideals or political vistas, but are looking for practical and pragmatical solutions. 48
sustainability and circularity as well, if only
on my knowledge to young designers via the Young Talent Team, I host exhibitions, presentations, projects and workshops
revolving around sustainable and circular designs. I include as many companies as possible, to ensure that those young
designers have access to the too often
closed-off world of the hardcore industry faster and more easily.
