http://www.foundationweare.org/

Foundation We Are, Eindhoven (2026)

25/05/2026

Knuff’s Cuddle Puddle: How to encourage people to connect and feel safe?
by & Nathan Ramos

People have a deep need for human connection. But what if no one is nearby? Or if you want a connection but don’t know how? Research shows that hugging, even with a stuffed animal, can calm the nervous system and positively impact adults’ mental health. Through conversations with Nathan Ramos, Denise explored her motivation to create safe connections as a foundation. During her graduation she created KNUFF, a thoughtfully designed companion for adults who may think they’ve outgrown stuffed animals. At KNUFF’s cuddle puddle, you can experience KNUFF in a cozy, relaxed setting. Denise also hosts cuddle workshops at where participants learn, through guided exercises, to make physical contact in a safe and mindful way. This helps lower the barrier to connecting with others.
combines design, storytelling, and playful learning to drive social change. She focuses on the positive impact of building an inclusive society with space for authenticity and self-love. That’s why she creates products, workshops, and hands-on learning experiences that are accessible and practical.

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

18/05/2026

Colorful Disruptions: How can space inhabite color, fantasy, and craft?
by & Susan Maas

A subtle detail, an unusual shape, or an unexpected form can transform how we experience a space. Inspired by the wish to bring surprise into the daily life of the Haven student community, Monis Pinto designed a series of mosaic interventions to spark joy and imagination. By embedding these handcrafted mosaic creatures into the architecture, the work creates small moments of wonder for those who encounter them. Through elements that are easy to miss yet rewarding to discover, the project explores how these playful disruptions reshape our perception of space.

It turns passive observation into active engagement, allowing imagination to thrive in everyday environments. Monis and Susan plan to install the works in the Haven student complex in Eindhoven, home to 735 residences.
is an interdisciplinary artist, storyteller, and maker whose work blends world-building, character creation, and handcrafted media. She approaches fantasy as a space uncovered through material engagement, allowing narratives and characters to emerge organically through making. Susan works as a Community Builder for Vestide, part of

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

14/05/2026

🗓️ Mark the date! Our next Common Grounds event is taking place on 17th of June. This time we are reflecting on the question: “What is the role of our cities when it comes to our mental health and wellbeing?”

From the daily stress of economic inequalities and the performance-driven society to war tragedies and environmental and economic crises – our mental health and emotional wellbeing are under higher pressure. What seems challenging for ordinary citizens is even more inaccessible to those with disability and challenged intellectual development. The healthcare sector is famously bursting at the seams, with waiting lines becoming unbearably long for some of our most vulnerable fellow citizens. But the challenges of the healthcare sector belong to all of us.

A whole movement in the cultural and creative sector has formed around new notions of care, art and design as emancipatory and therapeutic practices, and healing as a collective and systemic matter, rather than an individualistic one.

On June 17th, during the six edition of Common Grounds, we’ll get together with psychologists, system therapists, artistic researchers and social designers to talk about the role of the city and how it can be transformed by new artistic and care practices.

This time we are joined by: , , , Tim Hulshof, Debbie Straver, Gjilke Keuning and Manon van Hoeckel. Moderated by:

We think it is time for a more collective approach to mental health and we think that the city of Eindhoven can play a role in that. Join us for this interactive conversation as we try to shape new ideas, ways of thinking and strategies for mental health and wellbeing in our cities.

Date: 17th of June 2026, 15:30 – 17:30
Location: Foundation We Are, Torenallee 22-04, 5617 BD Eindhoven

11/05/2026

What can we learn from GGzE Landgoed De Grote Beek Eindhoven?
by &

At GGzE’s Landgoed De Grote Beek, mental healthcare, art, craftsmanship, and community come together. This project highlights not just the physical space, but the unique approach where care, creativity, and daily life intersect and reinforce each other.

On view is a personalized vending machine which displays objects created on-site, including artworks, work rehabilitation products, gardening projects, and more. These items make care processes visible, bringing what usually stays inside the institution into public space. Playful elements help spark conversations around mental health, art and making.

In the exhibition you can use the vending machine or take a custom-designed bike to explore the estate yourself, turning your curiosity into a direct experience of what GGzE offers. The project celebrates the vision of GGzE De Grote Beek and encourages us to see mental health not as something hidden, but as something we can collectively understand and appreciate and celebrate.

, a system designer and founder of , explores neuro-liberated design, believing that creativity and care can enrich the world. , Art and Culture Coordinator at , bridges care and art to create space for recovery and connection.

Now on display until 30th of August 2026.
Come by and explore also the other works of the exhibition.

05/05/2026

Our new exhibition NEST is now open. A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the official opening!

From April through the end of August, we’re hosting three works developed within the NEST programme: New Experiment for Social Transition. Three emerging, socially engaged designers teamed up with experts from local organisations to explore where young design can make a real difference. Together, they took on urgent questions around loneliness and mental health in Eindhoven.

The results are now part of the exhibition: from a vending machine offering therapeutic objects developed with GGz Eindhoven, to colourful mosaics that reshape student housing environments, and a soft, comforting object designed to ease loneliness. At Foundation We Are, these projects come together in an exhibition that invites visitors to experience how design can open up conversations and build connection. In the months ahead, the designers will continue activating the space with workshops, interventions, and more.

Featuring works by:
& ( )
& Nathan Ramos ( )
& Susan Maas ( / )

Opening hours: 11:00 – 18:00 daily
Dates: 24 April – 30 August 2026
Location: Foundation We Are Torenallee 22-04 5617 BD Eindhoven

18/03/2026

Last week, we hosted the fifth edition of our Common Grounds talk series. This time, we focused on children and the world they are growing up in, guided by the question: How can you make your town into a playground?

The day featured a mix of activities, including a film screening by .vignaux and lively conversations with our guests and audience. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who came and joined us for this special edition!

A special thank you goes to .hu.ha, (), , , , , Rian Dings (.nl) and to our moderator for guiding the event and moderating the discussion.

We are already preparing the next edition, more on that soon!

📸 Images by

16/03/2026

What if some ‚impossible‘ climate projects are not so impossible at all, but our financing system falls short?

After publishing our podcast series and hosting a Co-Design session, the report about the „Impossible Projects“ is finally out. A report on reimagining the future of transformative climate research funding‘.

In collaboration between Foundation We Are and Klimaatonderzoek Initiatief Nederland (KIN), the New Ways of Funding team set out to push the boundaries of what is considered possible in transformative climate research funding. In our recently published report, we dive into this complex landscape, share what we discovered, and present a new approach to funding that aims to better enable transformative work.

Read the full report via the link in the bio 📖

Many thanks to the New Ways of Funding team: Alex Szwaj, Kornelia Dimitrova, Jonas Torrens, Mattijs Taanman and Stephanie Holst-Bernal.

10/03/2026

Since its launch last year, the Common Grounds series has been creating moments where different perspectives on social issues in the city come together. Rather than a traditional panel, each event fosters an open and participatory dialogue. Visitors are not just listening—they are encouraged to ask questions, share insights, and actively engage with both speakers and fellow participants. Through interactive exercises and guided discussions, Common Grounds helps strengthen the bonds within local communities and highlights the agency we have as citizens and inhabitants in shaping the city we live in.

Each event invites a different moderator, bringing their own experience and approach to cultivating a welcoming space. So far, we have hosted four events: moderated by (Common Grounds 1 and 2), (Common Grounds 3), and (Common Grounds 4). These moderators guided reflective exercises, encouraged moments of pause, and shared their expertise—all while fostering meaningful dialogue between participants.

Whether discussing the city’s architecture, stories of walking in the dark, or the relationship between citizens and institutions, Common Grounds offers a chance to slow down, listen closely, and explore how shared conversations can shape a more connected and caring city.

Our next Common Grounds event takes place tomorrow, focusing on children and the world they are growing up in. We’ll explore how children express themselves, navigate challenges, connect with nature, and develop a healthy relationship with technology. This conversation highlights creativity and the role we all play in creating supportive environments for the next generation.

🎟️Reserve your free ticket, link in bio.

Images by

17/02/2026

[Tickets via link in bio]

Will you join us for Common Grounds?

During the fifth event of this series, we invite children and their parents to join us for an afternoon of exploration and discovery. Together, we will meet with educators, curriculum developers, facilitators, and game and tech designers whose work helps children grow into confident, creative individuals—children who know how to express themselves, handle setbacks, connect with nature, and develop a healthy relationship with technology. Join toghter with your child or alone as a partent, caretaker or a person curious about how to make your city a playground!

We will be joind by: Jorg van den Kieboom & Hidde Brouwers (), Etje Hendrikx (), .hu.ha (), Rian Dings (), Marvin Corneille(educator) and (moderator), along with a film screening of ‘An Imaginary Playground’ by artist .vignaux. Joining the conversation is the alderman for public spaces, , , with whom we will reflect on the role of children in the shaping of public space in the city.

09/02/2026

Building Democratic Spaces

The Common Grounds event during Dutch Design Week 2025 highlighted the power of designing inclusive and democratic spaces. Held alongside our Designing Democracy exhibition (on view until 15th of March), the event explored public institutional interiors—spaces that are often experienced as hostile, surveillant, and uninviting, rather than welcoming and empowering for citizens. Research by Matthijs Bosman and Tim Outshoorn shows that the design of hearing rooms, for instance, can profoundly shape citizens’ experiences of justice, influencing whether people feel respected, safe, and truly heard.

At Foundation We Are, we believe that spaces which feel inclusive and democratic (where people feel seen, heard, and valued) can have a transformative effect on democracy and citizen participation. Design interventions can shape how people experience their surroundings, build trust in institutions, and encourage active engagement in the systems that shape their daily lives. By designing spaces with care and intention, we can create environments that empower citizens to participate, connect, and contribute to the democratic life around them.

We also believe that community spaces play a vital role in fostering connection and collaboration. Our own office is located in The Village, an open co-working space that reflects these values, offering a shared, accessible environment where people can meet, exchange ideas, and collaborate freely.   At the moment we actually have some desks and studio spaces available in The Village. Reach out to [email protected] for more information.

Images by
Images: Common Grounds #3: How do we democratise the city?

Foundation We Are

25/05/2026

18/05/2026

14/05/2026

11/05/2026

05/05/2026

18/03/2026

16/03/2026

10/03/2026

17/02/2026

09/02/2026

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