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Profile: Joost Overbeek

Joost Overbeek

Dutch Design is often treated as a heavy subject. Nonsense, says Joost Overbeek. Joost is Dutch and a designer, so he should know. Designing is a really fun profession and we need to keep it that way. He knows better than most how to find a humorous perspective on grave world affairs and how to make a mountain out of a molehill. He always does so by experimenting with reality; both substantively and visually. To see how, simply read his book, Design Enzo.

Company name:
Overburen.

Company founding date:
End of 1992.

Place of business:
Amsterdam / Arnhem.

Names of founders:
Joost Overbeek.

Ages of founder:
42.

About the company:
Graphic design and other nonsense. Our slogan. Graduated long ago with the magazine, 'lolmaken' (Having Fun), which still exists today, and most of the work is still from 'nonsense'. That’s what we call it. Visual columns, and so on. That was what the book, 'Design Enzo', was all about...

Current project:
All sorts of stuff; see www.overburen.nl

Source of inspiration:
Everything that makes me laugh.

My big idea:
Fun.

Favourite tools:
My vocal chords.

Favourite website:
www.youtube.com/

Hobby:
Writing.

Best advice I ever received:
Ask Karin to marry you.

Biggest blunder:
Almost always first talking and only then thinking...

Tips for professional colleagues:
Don’t kid yourself into believing your work is all that important.

As an ambassador of Amsterdam, I would...
.. think: what am I doing here?! I want to go home!

Company website:
www.overburen.nl

Company email address: