Design isn't only found in museums, design markets or galleries. In Antwerp, you come across it every day – on the street, on public transport, in your hands or in your trouser pocket — often without even noticing it.
Loop Earplugs: keeping noise under control
Loop Earplugs are small earplugs that combine comfort and style. They're used in crowded places, at concerts, or to create a sense of calm in everyday life. The product was developed in Antwerp and went on to become an international success.
Read the interview with the company's co-founder Maarten Bodewes
Mobility in the city: Albatros trams
De Lijn’s distinctive Albatros trams travel through the city and are a familiar sight on Antwerp’s streets. With their streamlined design, they demonstrate how functional design and urban mobility can come together. The design was developed in collaboration with the Antwerp-based design studio Yellow Window.
Sustainable and repairable: Fairphone
Fairphone stands for technology that lasts longer and is easier to repair. The headphones were co-designed by the Antwerp-based design firm Superellipse, with a focus on sustainability and ease of use.
Read the interview with their partner-designer Pieter Lesage
Urban infrastructure as design
Even in something as mundane as waste management, design still plays an important role. The coloured, transparent waste bins in the city were designed by Maximal Design and are making sorting waste clearer and more user-friendly.
Tip: See the city in a different light
Design is everywhere in Antwerp, in large-scale systems and tiny details. If you look closely, you'll discover a city that's constantly being designed and redrawn.