This year The Palace of Typographic Masonry, an imaginary institute that graphic designer Richard Niessen founded in response to the lack of an institution that takes care of the profession, was nominated for a Dutch Design Award for the second time. This prompted the Stimuleringsfonds Creatieve Industrie to organize an expert meeting on graphic design and produce a special newsletter in which, besides a report of this meeting in which the designer's perspective is central, you could also find an example of a special commission relationship.
With "Letters to the Minister," among others, The Palace of Typographic Masonry has been championing the imagination of graphic designers and creating a framework for thinking about his craft since 2015. In response, the Stimuleringsfonds organized an expert meeting together with Richard Niessen and invited design strategist Roel Stavorinus and designers Alex Clay, Chantal Hendriksen, Janna Meeus, Toon Koehorst, Catelijne van Middelkoop and Niels Schrader. What is the state of the profession? And what will it take to turn the tide?
Niessen saw the Zeeuws Museum as an example of a client who gives designers the freedom and space to develop, with the aim of inspiring, surprising and creating added value. But good commissioning is more and begins with involving the designer at the right time. In an interview with Richard Niessen, part of this special newsletter, curator Ivo van Werkhoven explains, "even before a project starts, we seek collaboration with the designer. That is a substantially different approach than first creating your story and then asking someone to execute it. So it starts a few steps earlier."
