Being valuable for people is my drive and their passion my inspiration

Identity

I like to challenge myself by setting goals, becoming better and by this getting the most out of myself. Becoming Dutch Champion in juggling at the age of 15 has showed me what hard work and dedication can bring you. But juggling has brought me much more than just a hobby, it is the reason I start designing in the first place. At the age of 4 I could already read by teaching it myself, so gaining skills autodidact is something that is in my blood. When I needed a website to promote myself, I taught myself how to make that website. Performing, giving workshops, organising conventions, presenting shows all these skills I already brought with me before starting ID. But also having my own design business in graphic design and web development, I knew how to listen to a customer’s needs, act professional and translate them into designs.

As a designer, I often have strong opinions about concepts with a good eye if something is realistically feasible or not. I’m good at listening to people and understand what they truly are meaning to say. My way of working is organic, I experiment using an iterative design process, in order to gain knowledge. Just like juggling, you have to drop hundreds of times in order to know, how to do it right.

     "The true method of knowledge is experiment"
      William Blake

I have a clear focus on one subject and can work on it for a long time even deep into the night. I work till I have a certain task done and move on to a next one. I am able to keep a lot of activities going at the same time, just like in juggling, you only have to focus on the tipping point of the ball, in order to keep the pattern going.

     "Simon, I got to know you as a multitalented hardworking person"
      Coach Iris Douma

Having a passion for something you do is the most wonderful thing in my opinion. I always shared my skills and knowledge with others in order for them but also me to grow. Being valuable for people is my drive and their passion my inspiration. I want to challenge myself more by gaining and improving skills and knowledge so I can be more valuable for more people. In this way I keep myself motivated and happy and make the world a little bit better at the same time.

Influence of juggling
Research Report

The way the juggling community works has showed me how it can also be used in relation to product design. The side activities juggling brings with it, has given me certain skills and the life lessons. Juggling will remain a way of escaping all my thoughts and going to juggling festival has become the same as seeing my friends again. I focus less on becoming a good juggler, but still want to see what happens if I use my design knowledge with creating a juggling act. I think the EJC will be an ending point for me of things I will do for the community and from there on I will have to focus more on my career as a professional designer. Still juggling has taught me a lot already and it will continue to do this just for a little while.