Join the celebratory opening of the exhibition on Friday, April 24 at 19:00

Three designers and local professionals are joining forces to make mental health a topic of conversation in Eindhoven and to combat loneliness.

“Mental health and loneliness are themes that are particularly suited to be addressed through the power of design,” says Bernhard Lenger, director of Foundation We Are. “Design has the ability to connect people, transform spaces and—most importantly—spark conversations. It can make abstract themes like loneliness tangible and open for discussion.”

With NEST, Foundation We Are gives young designers the opportunity to contribute to the city by connecting them with local experts from different sectors. Over the course of six months, three selected designers—Daisy Dawson, Monis Pinto and Denise Huigen—worked intensively with professionals from Eindhoven:

• Anika Etman, Coordinator of Art & Culture at GGzE, contributed her expertise in mental healthcare and the integration of art and culture into therapeutic processes.
• Susan Maas, Community Builder at Woonbedrijf, shared her knowledge on community building and creating connection within living environments.
• Nathan Ramos from MeerLiefde brought insights into physical and emotional connection, and how these can strengthen mental resilience.

These collaborations resulted in three distinct yet equally connecting projects, each contributing in its own way to reducing loneliness and promoting mental health. By combining their unique perspectives and expertise, the designers and experts developed innovative solutions that are not only aesthetically engaging, but also make a real impact on the community.