What is my greatest passion in my work?
I like to contemplate the diversity of life and society. Additionally, I enjoy paying attention to the well-being of others. These two aspects come together when I engage in genuine and sincere conversations with clients and partners about what concerns them in the here and now. When I feel that my qualities seamlessly align with the projects and collaborations I take on, there is an explosion of energy. My greatest passion is to create inspiring and creative solutions with this effervescent tablet.
What is my greatest fear?
My seven-year-old daughter tries to wash her own face in the bathroom every morning. When I pick up her washcloth to put it in the laundry, it’s always soaked, and a lot of water drips onto the floor. Mine, on the other hand, is thoroughly wrung out and almost dry after use. My greatest fear is that creativity and the ability to generate new ideas are not infinite. I’m afraid that this talent will run out someday and my creative ability will ultimately be like that wrung-out washcloth. However, I choose to believe that there will always be a tap available, even if I sometimes have to search a little longer before I find it.
What do I love most about my work?
Language! I am a lover of language in the broadest sense. Think of images, writing, speech, signs, symbols, sounds, and gestures. It’s fantastic to express and communicate thoughts with this diversity of meanings. I love seeking the right combination and balance, thereby imbuing a message with strength and emotion.
What is my biggest pitfall?
The compulsive side of my personality. Since I don’t need this side very often, it’s lying at the bottom of an old cupboard collecting dust. But if you look closely, you’ll see that excessive perfectionism lies hidden underneath. Maladaptive patterns, inflexibility, stubbornness, and indecisiveness. It was important to break free from this to grow. Creating is a process that can be messy and outside the lines. Viewing a traffic jam from a hot air balloon is a whole different experience from tailgating on the A2 with an hour’s delay breathing down your neck. Choosing consciously which experience I want to inhabit, observing events with distance, and not placing myself right in the middle ensures that I don’t get stuck in my pitfall.
What does the statement ‘The Heroine’s Journey’ mean to me?
The heroine’s journey symbolizes development to me. A plan for personal growth. Saying yes to myself and listening to my intuition. The older I get, the better I get to know myself. I see that things are always changing. If I remain flexible, floating weightlessly to the rhythm of the waves, I am in my power. This gives me the opportunity to live my life fully and embark on adventures.
What would I like to change about myself?
I want to live more, think less. I want to change the little voice in my head that constantly tells me I still ‘have to’ do things, and that there aren’t enough hours in a day. ‘Have to’ is maddening. I am an ambitious person, and I love to act. When I feel more often from within that I WANT and CAN do something, rather than that I still HAVE TO, I gain more freedom.
What is my greatest professional achievement so far?
I stepped out of the office life. I let go of my anchor, rhythm, and routine. In return, I received a bucket full of self-awareness, and my career took on my own twist. I am building a career that suits me, that cannot be labelled, and that does not conform to any expectations. Setting up my own business, engaging in projects that are close to my heart, in a structure that suits me, are things I am extremely proud of.
Where would I most like to live and work?
I have a free spirit, and I often feel like a free bird. I am influenced by the people around me, and I am inspired by the cultures I encounter. I prefer to work for myself, which gives me the freedom to seize adventures and see where they take me. I am in love with the beach. It would be wonderful to feel the grains of sand between my toes at the end of my workday and to feel the warm touch of the sun on my face.
What is my most distinctive characteristic?
My humor is characteristic. When you meet me, I always have a smile on my face. I love people and I am incredibly optimistic. A smile can make a big difference. For myself, how I view my day, but also for the people I work with or a stranger I meet on the street.
Where do I get the best ideas outside of the house?
I get my best ideas outdoors after running. My breath and heartbeat making themselves heard, taking control from the whirl of thoughts, provides a reset in my brain. This process allows me to look with fresh eyes and it makes blind spots disappear.
Which books have influenced my life and how?
‘The view on Infinity’ by Hans van Bovene. Hans van Bovene was a sports journalist, reporter, writer, athlete, but above all, my grandfather. The book is about a group of people who are all engaged in movement in their own way. They meet during a week in the mountains, get to know nature, but also learn how they depend on each other. Those who can cover long distances know how to set their view on infinity.
“Living is moving, moving is living”.
‘You Only Die Once’. What music would I want to listen to on my last day?
‘Dream a little dream of me’ by Doris Day. This is a soothing and comforting song for me. I feel a serene calmness through it. There are (fortunately) things that are bigger than me. Worries will disappear. The storm will calm down on its own. The stars above me and the sun rising tomorrow will continue even when I am no longer there.
Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me
Who is my heroine in fiction?
My heroine is Moana (also known as Vaiana). This young lady comes from a family of navigators. The love I have for sailing aligns with hers. She is the daughter of the chief of her tribe. Despite all external expectations and opinions, she sails around the world in search of a legendary island. She is strong, intuitive, inspiring, and has a good sense of humor.
Who are my real-life heroines?
I have a diverse set of female role models in my life. Anette – my mother, Miriam – my stepmother, Patricia, and Tina – my father’s best friends. Each of these women showed me in their own unique way how they stand in their power and grab life by the balls. They contribute to the growth of my perseverance and independence.
Which movie would I recommend you see at least once in your life?
Shawshank Redemption, The Sixth Sense, and Shutter Island. Wonderfully thrilling films that held my attention until the end. It’s so enjoyable to be completely drawn into a movie and be surprised by the outcome.
What does the statement ‘I am the storyteller of my own life’ mean to me?
The statement ‘I am the storyteller of my own life’ tells me that I am the one holding the pen. I write my own book. My thoughts determine my experiences. I’m incredibly excited for the next chapter of my story and eagerly anticipate everything that is yet to come.
What role do stories play in my life and work?
Storytelling plays a significant role in my life. Through designing I tell stories to the outside world, to the viewer, and I hope to evoke emotion. I also tell stories to my daughter daily in my role as a mother. Sometimes literally, from a book by Jip and Janneke. But also, stories about life and death, about having fun, being sad, and being resilient.
Which project am I looking forward to?
There are so many projects I look forward to that it’s currently impossible to choose just one. What I am particularly looking forward to is creating with others. No longer working for others. I am incredibly excited to work WITH people. In groups, in workshops, in presentations, and of course in design.
I look forward to developing and expanding TADEYO. This is a journey in which I discover who I am as a person and how I translate this into my work. I cannot be placed with one employer, I cannot be confined to the hours of 08:30 to 17:00. I am incredibly excited to take on a diverse range of new projects.
Who would I like to see invited by Peter to tell their Heroine’s Journey story?
Iris van Zelderen, founder of Digital Analog. Iris is a designer, website maker, concept developer, and organizes various workshops. She is a busy bee, with whom I find mutual understanding. We used to sit together in school benches where the foundation of our bond was formed. We are friends, colleagues, life enthusiasts, and philosophers.
How can you get in touch with me?
The Heroine's Journey 