Former Interns and Future Creators
Pauline Simonet
Intern in 2016,
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts de Lyon, France
Focussed on textile heritage and its circulation, I learned with Nikkie a better understanding of the weaving notation, which was crucial for the follow-up of my studies.
I am fascinated to transcribe what is written in history with the help of another scoring system, for example, weaving. This as a way to rediscover elements from the past to use it in our current spaces.
Currently aspiring to travel around the textile world and developing my own practice of weaving and screen printing on silk, as a designer/maker.
https://paulinesimonet.hotglue.me
Lena Poyard
Intern in 2017,
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts de Lyon, France
Focussed on developing patterns and colour samples for various innovative design projects.
Participated in the Maison&Objet festival in Paris, assisting, traducing, selling. I enjoyed experimenting on a knitting machine, discovering the dutch culture, as eating 'kroketten' during lunchtime and talking about business with Nikkie.
Aspiring to be a conceptual and textile designer. Exploring the crossing paths where sustainability, social matters and design meet each other, learning and experimenting with the history and the potential of traditional textile techniques.
Instagram @poyardlena
Albane Ceyrat
Intern in 2018,
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts de Lyon, France
Focussed on developing patterns for wallpaper, thinking about new conceptual furniture design, colour research and weaving samples. Learned a lot about how a fresh idea in a notebook can transform into a design product. Loved every day of my internship by starting the day with a ferry ride and biking to the studio.
On Focus Friday, we discussed being an entrepreneur, and I discovered new inspiring places in Amsterdam. Nikkie proved to me that creation rhymes with meaning. That is why I am currently aspiring to develop my master project around conservation. To discover the stories behind textile, from its conception to its preservation.
Instagram @albaneceyrat
Rose Ekwe
Intern in 2018
Haute École des Arts du Rhin, Mulhouse, France
Focused on textile research for the project CACAU, I enjoyed developing patterns, weaving and creating technical drawings for this meaningful project. I also worked on the preparations for the Maison & Objet fair in Paris. It was a great experience to learn how to organise an exhibition booth as well as advertising on the exhibition floor. It showed me the importance of communicating about your work during a professional event.
I was delighted to share discussions about brand business, textile, design, travel, Dutch culture, and to discover delicious Dutch meals during lunchtime!
Nikkie transmitted her friendly vibes to me, and this internship made me believe in my aspiration to make textile design my profession. Currently, I’m working on design and weaving projects concerning the combination of sustainability and textile.
Simone Winder
Intern in 2018
Junior Designer at Rebrandt
Fascinated by fabrics, patterns and design, Nikkie has inspired me even more. The applicability in fabrics and textiles and the insight into her craftsmanship have given me valuable pushes in the route I go through.
Tanmay Vippulancha
Intern in 2019
ISD Rubika, Masters in Product Design, France / India
My main focus during my internship was my thesis project, which is about saving the art of weaving in Telangana, India. It was great to have long and meaningful discussions with Nikkie. "Focus Fridays" were my favourite, helped me be autonomous.
I aspire to have my own creation house, where we will create fun and meaningful objects for everyone. Would be happy to help out future interns with any questions about living in Amsterdam.
Elodie Ravinala
Intern in 2019
Ecole Nationale de Commerce Bessières, France
Focused on business affairs, brand strategy, brand awareness, social media and communication.
During this internship, I discovered that marketing is not the field for me. Having a great love for fashion, I found I have aspirations to go into the fashion industry. Either by designing clothing or to work in the field of fashion marketing. I got the opportunity to do several fashion assignments.
During 'Focus Fridays' I worked on visualising my future self and my career path.
After this internship, I will continue my current study and orientate on creative follow up courses in the field of fashion.
Esmé Koenders
Intern in 2020
Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht, Bachelor Product Design , Netherlands
My biggest goal during my internship was to explore who I am as a designer and who I want to be and to discover what shape my future will take. I chose Nikkie Wester her studio as my internship because I always admired designing conceptually, and I wanted to learn a new kind of material. During “focus Friday” I did exercises to discover my goals and points of attention. Together we talked and discussed a lot during those days. Because of these focus Fridays, I found what I want to do in the future. To work as an entrepreneur in the social design field, helping to develop products for clients and carers in mental healthcare. I’m very grateful that Nikkie helped me by giving insight into what I want. I found more confidence to show myself and my work to the world during this internship. Besides that, Nikkie showed me what a fantastic material textile could be; the possibilities are endless. I got an insight into the design process from beginning to end in the professional field. Now it is time to start my dream; to help people with mental illnesses with my products through design.
http://esmekoenders.nl
Florence LoubierInter in 2020
La Martinière-Diderot, Lyon
Fascinated by the different steps which a product go through, this internship allowed me to discover a holistic approach in the Textile world. Indeed, Nikkie's other fields of expertise ( craft, industry, culture heritage ) have enabled me to envision my own activities on a personal level. It is our talks on focus Friday, as much as the art and design references we shared that contributed to my wish to expand my theoretical competence. To realise my desire to work in a cultural institution after my studies. However, my attraction to Crafts remains. The discovery of the TextielMuseum/TextielLab gave me a new opportunity to consider what an excellent scaled, interesting research institute could provide to Craft-makers.
Amber Priscilla Hoogendoorn
Intern in 2021
ROC van Amsterdam, Fashsion design
Nikkie made me think in several ways about what kind of designer I want to be and what I must do to get to that point. This is what I mainly focused on during my internship. I did research and got several assignments to find this out. She showed me the artistic sides of fashion. And how I can apply this in my projects. I also got introduced to weaving, which was a new experience. It was definitely one of the highlights of my internship. Nikkie inspired me a lot. (Still does) Especially by the stories about her experience in fashion. And the way she is so passionate about the things she does. It triggers me to learn more and more about this world we call fashion. Because it’s much more than just “fashion”. I’m grateful for this internship. I learned a lot and I’m ready for all the challenges that come my way in the future.