Gabriël Walenberg

is a designer interested in the complex symbiosis of material science, technology and the human experience. With a visual arts teacher as a father, he grew up with the privilege of a huge workshop and an endless supply of scrap material to play with. This encouraged him try to get the most out of any material and see its possibilities, even if it is seemingly a waste material. He has a strong desire to understand the world around him. This interest in the workings of machines and devices led him to start his university education with mechanical engineering.

Gabriël loves to play with perspective, both literally as a photographer, and figuratively as a designer. He enjoys taking on the role of the devils advocate to stimulate discussion and thought. He believes that the human mind is in the unique position to create, and reflect, allowing us to shape the world around us. While for many design object's, utilitarian purpose might be its Raison d'être, Gabriël explicitely values the other aspects of existence as well. Value has to be given. For example, the perfectly aligned fence door that the farmer in the movie “Babe” made, would not have any more value than a basic fence had it not received the farmer's appreciation of his own ability to perfect this fence.

Gabriël is one of those people who would be extremely appreciative of that fence. He enjoys things that can act by themselves, and he enjoys them even more if they are made by himself.When he reflects on the creations in his life, it becomes evident that he has a penchant for crafting items that can perform tasks on his behalf. His portfolio includes physical objects designed to automate tasks using electronics, such as automatic lights to influence your mood and plant protection domes. Throughout the years, he has acquired various skills that facilitate the creation of such automated solutions, including expertise in 3D modeling and 3D printing, and scripting. Proficiency extends to both technically oriented software like Siemens NX and Fusion 360, as well as more creatively focused tools such as Blender. His interests span beyond software, encompassing electronics and microcontrollers. He combines this with his knowledge of material science and control engineering to He has maintained a long-standing fascination with these components, particularly in conjunction with IoT integration and Machine Learning, leading to the development of truly smart devices.