Ellen Van Meerbeeck
Industrial Design MA
Kolding School of Design
Specialisms: Design for Social Good / Industrial Design / Product Design
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Ellen Van Meerbeeck
First Name: Ellen
Last Name: Van Meerbeeck
Specialisms: Design for Social Good / Industrial Design / Product Design
Sectors:
My Location: Antwerp, Belgium
University / College: Kolding School of Design
Course / Program Title: Industrial Design MA
About
Hi! I’m Ellen, a Belgian designer with a
background in Product Development and a specialization in Design for Play. I see the world through a playful lens, exploring how design can spark joy, imagination, and connection across all ages. My work blends curiosity and creativity, moving from idea to execution to craft experiences that are both meaningful and memorable. For me, play is more than a fun activity, it’s a tool to inspire, connect, and support well-being.
NÆR: A child-centred cemetery experience
Cemeteries can feel overwhelming and unwelcoming to children, leaving them passive and emotionally disconnected. Nær transforms that experience by giving children ownership, comfort, and gentle structure during visits. It features a multifunctional bag that children can pack with meaningful items to bring to the cemetery. Once there, the bag unfolds into a blanket and pillow, creating a safe space for rest, reflection, and personal rituals. Accompanying the bag are inspiration cards with illustrated prompts that suggest gentle activities and meaningful objects to bring. These cards act as invitations, sparking imagination, offering comfort, and guiding children toward personal, child-friendly ways of remembering their loved ones. Co-created with grieving children, the project draws directly from their struggles and wishes for cemetery visits. It challenges traditional norms by offering a warmer, more approachable experience for children, showing how cemeteries can be reimagined as catalysts for more compassionate and inclusive approaches to grief.
Competitions
