Getting in the groove on the internship front...

Some of the leftovers from the last book wrapping. I don't know, I just like these shapes for some reason.

Not really a quickie this time as it took me several hours (come to think of it, so did the other ones actually). Now for a book from 2007 that we liked and had bought recently. All my books are back home so I only had one at hand from 2003: Super, Welcome To Graphic Wonderland.

I tried to reflect on the concept – inviting 13 designers from Europe and letting them do whatever the f*** they wanted to – by doing whatever the f*** I wanted to while still keeping some references to the design of the book. Hence the fragmentation and the use of the different papers.

Just like I did with my Danish connections, here finally some faces to the Den Haag names I keep telling you about.



Cécile (F) – Daniel (GER) – Ege (TUR) – Leontios (ZYP) – Naïma (F)
Sayuri (J) – Nele (GER) – Kate (HUN) – Hae Won (KOR) – Rebecca (US)
Siebe (NL) – Dylan (NL) – Jos (NL) – Liz (NL) – Fleur (NL)
Cynthia (NL) – Urlie (NL) – Weirdo (GER)

That basically describes the happenings of yesterday. It all started with most of my old class giving their reviews of the stages they are currently attending. Again very interesting and actually quite scary to see that even after my really extensive research of graphic design bureaus, there's still a huge number of really good ones I've never heard of. After that, as is customary, the school sponsored beers and some snacks and interested 2nd year students could talk with the 'interns'. So I stayed and had some nice chats with my old classmates. After a while everybody was gradually taking off and Dylan and Siebe asked me if I wanted to join them on their way to Haarlem to some fashion outlet sale.

I had about 60 seconds to decide and no plans for the afternoon / evening, so why not? Got on the train to Haarlem (the REAL one, not that fake copy in New York that's just named after it ;)), arrived there and started searching for the Lichtfabriek, which turned out to be a pretty cool location – an old factory building with vast halls perfect for big parties. I would really like to see how that place'd be cookin' with some bad ass electro beats. Anyways, the company that was having the outlet sale was Kuyichi, a brand that strongly emphasizes the fact that all it's fashion is made with 100% organic cotton and dealt fair trade. Not exactly my style but ok, ended up buying a belt.

After that we went to visit Dylan's brother who works in Haarlem at Pepperminds, a relatively big marketing agency. Very cliché in fact, with oh-so-hip modern interior, we-are-a-team propaganda plastered all over the walls and hyperactive and overly friendly staff, some of them seemingly on coke or something. We had a couple of beers there, played a game of pool and continued on. Dylan went to Amsterdam to some party and I went with Siebe to his place, where we were soon joined by his girlfriend and a friend of hers. Had a nice chat and at about ten decided to go to town.

On the way to the city center I could see, how pretty Haarlem actually is. Lots of cozy little streets, small canals and cute houses – very nice! I was told that a lot of people move here from Amsterdam as soon as they have kids only because they want them to grow up in these surroundings. Anyways, after a bumpy bike ride with me pedaling and Siebe on the back seat we arrived at a street with lots of bars, endless rows of tables outside and hundreds of young people. Kinda how I would imagine a Botellón, just that the people aren't sitting on the ground. We were greeted by more of Siebe's friends and I ended up having one of the coolest, chilled out nights since my arrival here. Cool atmosphere, good conversations and lots of hard flirting. Just that last part would make it worth coming back...

Sorry folks, no pictures this time, as none of this was planned :)