The 7 talents of the Secrid Talent Podium 2026

For the fifth time Secrid Talent Podium puts seven talented designers in the spotlight during Dutch Design Week (DDW). With their innovative and sustainable ideas, they aim to transform the industry. At its heart is the power of design to create change together.

At DDW, visitors can gain insight into the choices, considerations and motivations behind the designers’ work. Their stories encourage reflection, invite conversation and, above all, inspire action.

In addition to a platform to showcase their work, the Secrid Talent Podium supports the designers through coaching, funding and access to a relevant professional network.

Below, we highlight the seven talents:

Ifeoluwa Afolayan & Wangyang Hu | Muju Earth Technologies

Ifeoluwa (Lu) Afolayan and Wangyang (Ocean) Hu are the founders of Muju Earth Technologies, a startup supporting farmers in the transition to regenerative agriculture. Aeropod is a biodegradable pod that bursts open to aerate compacted agricultural soil. In the video below, you can find out more about the design and the story behind the Aeropod.

Karlheinz Samenjo | Chloe Innovations

Chloe Innovations a start-up whose mission is to develop affordable medical devices that give women worldwide access to safe and dignified pain relief during gynaecological procedures. Designer and researcher Karlheinz Tondo Samenjo has developed a simple extension piece that attaches to a standard syringe, enabling local anaesthesia without the need for expensive equipment.

Vincent & Rick Eurlings | Aumens

Aumens the start-up behind The Compass: a compact device with a compass whose needle always points to a pre-set location. Thanks to a built-in GPS chip, it helps people with dementia find their way home independently. In the video below, Vincent and Rick tell you more about The Compass.

Bobby Kolade | Buzigahill

Buzigahill is the circular fashion house founded by activist and designer Bobby Kolade. Through RETURN TO SENDER, the Kampala-based label aims to reverse the global fashion supply chain: discarded clothing from the Global North is transformed into new fashion pieces and sent back to the countries it came from. In the video below, Bobby shows how design can be a form of activism.

Thomas Linssen & Jana Flohr | House of Thol

House of Thol tackles everyday problems with a significant environmental impact by creating practical products that make sustainable living easier. Through House of Thol, Jana Flohr and Thomas Linssen develop user-friendly products that help people live more sustainably. By encouraging people to grow their own food and adopt healthier eating habits, the studio aims to reduce food waste and promote a more sustainable lifestyle.

Christien Meindertsma | Local Linoleum

Christien Meindertsma investigates the origins and composition of everyday products. She traces where materials come from, how they are produced and what they are used for, processes that often remain hidden as a result of industrialisation and globalisation.

Maartje Dros & Eric Klarenbeek | .unusual

With their studio .unusual, Maartje Dros en Eric Klarenbeek explore sustainable raw materials and innovative production methods. Using bio-based materials, living micro-organisms and 3D printing, they develop alternatives to production chains that regenerate the planet rather than deplete its resources.

Do you want to find out more?

Read all the in-depth interviews with the seven talents here!