Kimberley van Dijk
Design for change and innovation
HKU Utrecht School Of The Arts
Specialisms: Design for Social Good / Design Research / Storytelling
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Kimberley van Dijk
First Name: Kimberley
Last Name: van Dijk
Specialisms: Design for Social Good / Design Research / Storytelling
Sectors:
My Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
University / College: HKU Utrecht School Of The Arts
Course / Program Title: Design for change and innovation
About
Meadow Glory is the personal branding of Kimberley van Dijk. She is a Chinese adoptee raised in The Netherlands by Dutch parents. As a social designer/ artistic researcher and artist, Kimberley uses creativity to connect personal experiences with social issues. After her graduation Kimberley has co-founded the art collective Snail's Houses for artists who have an adoption or fostercare background.
''Even from a young age, I've been interested in the influences of art, culture, and society on who we are and how we experience the world. I always knew I wanted to use my creative skills and qualities to impact others. That's why I studied BA Design for Change and Innovation (also known as Social Design) at HKU (School of Creative Transformation) in the Netherlands, Utrecht. I also have a design background in Graphic Design and Digital Media. As a creator, I want to cultivate change on a deeper level. I value to use creativity, art and design as a way to truly identify the underlying needs of vulnerable people in society. So, we might create more awareness about challenging topics and could address these issues together with a fresh perspective.''
Adoption fairytale – the found foundling
For this graduation project, "Adoptiesprookje – De Gevonden Vondeling (Adoption fairytale – The Found Foundling)," Kimberley made an art installation for the HKU Exposure graduate showcase (2025). To conduct her research on what the impact of adoption can have on the adoptees themselves, she developed visual interview tools, workshops and co-creation sessions. In which fellow adoptees could both reflect on, and rewrite the adoption story they grew up with. To give them a way to challenge or change the dominant narrative (that adoption is by default a positive experience, leaving no room for complex emotions such as ambiguous grief), if it's no longer seen as something explanatory or comforting to them. In order to help visitors experience the findings of the research so far, Kimberley used storytelling (audio-listening experience) and visual arts (such as riso-printing, chinese painting and bookbinding technics) to share both the collective stories and her own personal story. ''I really wanted to create a safe space where all these unique adoption stories can coexist and are simultaneously interconnected to one another (due to the universal underlying human need to belong). During the design and co-creation process I gained input from both lived experience experts and (mental) health care professionals. From the data I discovered the importance of adoption-sensitive aftercare. Where acknowledgement, healing, and connection take center when it comes to providing support for adoptees in need. Based on this vision, I have entered this global creative graduate showcase. To raise more awareness about the impact that adoption has had on the adoptee. By showcasing impression photo's and video's of the exposition and the creative process of this artistic research project.'' If you want to hear even more about this project or help with the further development, feel free to either mail (info@meadowglory.com) or connect with Meadow Glory social design & creative studio through (instagram and linkedin).
Competitions
