The programme ‘101% Designed in Brussels’, is meant to internationally promote the most promising and innovating designers, and to highlight creativity in Brussels through their work. A selection of five young designers have been selected to represent 101% Designed in Brussels during the Salone 2011.
These actions are conceived and organised within the framework of a close partnership between the Foreign Trade Department of the Brussels Capital Region and the Brussels institution for the promotion of this sector, ‘Designed in Brussels”.
Below are video presentations made by each of the 5 selected product designers
Pinacoteca di Brera
After training as a designer at the Esad in Reims, Julien Renault (FR, °1985) trained for six months at the Bouroullec studio in Paris. Afterwards he finished his training at the Ecal in Lausanne (CH) where he graduated as bachelor in product design. Since 2009 Julien is based in Brussels where he assists designer Sylvain Willenz.
He participated at the 4th edition of the Design Parade 2009 competition in Hyères and in 2010 he won the D3 Contest at the IMM fair in Cologne. In the meantime, Julien developed his own activities and focuses on timeless, simple and clear designs. His latest project, a fibre chair, was first presented at the Interieur Bienale in Kortrijk.
After training as an architect and then as an interior architect, Benoît Deneufbourg (°1977) worked for two years with designer Xavier Lust before opening his own b.dnb design studio in 2004. He creates furniture and objects intended for large-scale production, as well as interior designs and installations. In his projects, he reinterprets classic functions by operating a simultaneous simplification of the aesthetic and the production technique. Showing an exceptional economy of means, his creations are marked by a formal unity and a sharp line.
His clients include Interni Edition (BE), Macrolux (IT) and Vange (BE). Beside his cooperation with international companies, b.dnb design studio launched its own objects such as the 120° CoatHook and the Cross Out mirror
In 2001 Corentin Dombrecht (°1975) graduated as industrial Designer at La Cambre (BE) with a golden DJ
installation. It was a plea for new ergonomic practices and a statement around bad taste, an idea he likes to play with.
He discovered the power of experiment in design: exploring its commercial aspects, sensing the borders of contemporary art and introducing show elements. Inspired by average people, as well as by luxury, nature and urban life, Corentin’s universe is very eclectic and more conceptual inspired than easy identifiable.
Architect and designer Julien De Smedt (°1975) is the founder and director of JDS Architects, based in Brussels and Copenhagen, whose work is known in Europe and abroad. Julien’s commitment to the exploration of new architectral models and programs has helped to re-energize the discussion of architecture with projects such as the VM Housing Complex, the Mountain Dwellings, the Maritime Youth House and the Stavanger Concert Hall.
Julien attended schools in Brussels, Paris, and Los Angeles before receiving his diploma from the Bartlett School of Architecture in London. Before founding JDS Architects, Julien worked with OMA, Rotterdam and co-founded and directed the architecture firm PLOT in Copenhagen.
Among other awards and recognitions, Julien received the Maaskant prize of Architecture 2009. In 2007, Julien won the international competition for the new Holmenkollen Skijump in Oslo, currently under completion. Frequently asked for his lectures and critics, Julien has been guest professor at Rice University in Houston and the University of Kentucky. The first monograph of JDS Architects, entitled PIXL TO XL, was published by Damdi in 2007. In December 2009 JDS released a second book entitled AGENDA, published by ACTAR and distributed worldwide.
After studying as an interior architect in Mons (BE) in 2005, Vanessa Hordies (°1987) won the first prize Léonard Montres within the framework of the international Film Festival d’Amour. In 2010 she graduated as a bachelor in industrial design at the Ecal in Lausanne (CH). After training at the industrial design studio Multiple (CH), she decided to train intensely at atelier oï at La Neuveville (CH). At the moment she is training at the Interaction Design department of the EPFL in Lausanne. Her graduation project Veilleuse was presented at the Interieur 2010 Design Competition.
