Open Call: Designers in Residence Kortrijk 2026 - MUTATION
Designregio Kortrijk and NERDLAB are joining forces and invite you to apply for Designers in Residence Kortrijk 2026, themed “MUTATION.”
Call for young designers and artists!
In 2026, Designregio Kortrijk and NERDLAB will organize a new edition of Designers in Residence Kortrijk. This residency starts from the shared ambition of both organizations: creating space for experimentation and critical design research while developing new formats that bring design and digital culture to a broad audience.
3 designers/makers will be invited for an intensive residency from 7 September to 5 December 2026.
They will develop an experimental project situated at the intersection of design, technology, and society, with a public presentation during WONDER Festival and Mutation Festival.
Theme: Mutation
We are looking for designers who use technology as a critical and cultural starting point.
The residency aligns with the theme of Mutation Festival “Why Tech”: we critically examine how technology adds value and focus on topics such as human–machine interaction, digital identity, speculative futures, and the digital layer of public space.
The residency aims to foster new hybrid design and tech projects with social relevance.
Mutation is an art, tech & maker festival where these three scenes come together to evolve within social and non-social structures. Expect a diverse programme packed with AI, Bring Your Own Beamer, hackathons, textile technology, biology, music and more. Organisations, artists and makers collaborate to lay the foundations for shared (r)evolution and tangible innovation. Art and technology are increasingly moving towards one another, each with its own power to influence the way we see and experience the world. Whilst art brings emotion, imagination and humanity into play, technology offers us the tools to go beyond the boundaries of the physical and the conceivable. Together, they bring about ‘mutations’—profound transformations that change both our social structures and our inner world.
WONDER Festival brings together creative talent from across Belgium in a unique discovery trail through Kortrijk, UNESCO City of Design, from 27 October to 8 November 2026. WONDER is a festival celebrating design, innovation, technology and art, but above all, it stands out as a vibrant platform and connector for creative, innovative, sustainable, digital and social ideas, projects and products.
In a world that speeds, yells and grinds, our creative minds offer a counterbalance. They encourage reflection, foster open-mindedness and boldly inspire us towards a better future. In 2025, the festival welcomed over 18,000 visitors along a route of 34 venues, with more than 500 participating designers, companies, students and artists exhibiting in 60 exhibitions and installations. WONDER is organised by Designregio Kortrijk.
Your hosts
Designers in Residence Kortrijk has been organized since 2014 by Designregio Kortrijk, a platform for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship in the Kortrijk region. This region is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and breathes design thinking, visible through its design education programs, innovative maker industry, international events, and inspiring public spaces.
NERDLAB is an arts-education organization that believes young people will change the world. They provide creative, technical, and social skills, make things together with young people, and share knowledge with everyone working alongside them. They also support organizations and companies with innovative challenges.
Residence
Over the course of 3 months, the selected designers will work on prototypes, installations, performative formats, or interactive concepts.
The residency offers:
- Reimbursement of travel expenses
- Accommodation
- Fee
- Expertise and practical support from Designregio Kortrijk & NERDLAB
- Access to NERDLAB in Ghent
- Access to Budalab in the Kortrijk Deelfabriek + studio space
- Presentation opportunities during WONDER Creativity Festival (Kortrijk) & Mutation Festival (Ghent)
The work in process will be visible and interactive. Exchange with the community is an essential part of the residency. Projects will be presented as installations, performances, interactive prototypes, or artist talks. Both festivals serve as platforms for showcasing the work and as critical testing grounds during the development phase.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking young, driven designers and artists (national and international) who are open to collaboration, experimentation, and research. Affinity with the theme and an experimental design approach are strong assets.
Selection Criteria
You are eligible if:
- You have recently graduated
- You are a team player
- You have manual skills (conceptual, craft, production, fabrication)
Apply via the link below, where you can submit your portfolio in PDF format (max. 6 MB and 10 pages): it must include a biography, a CV and a statement of purpose relating to the theme.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is Friday, 22 May 2026. Participants will receive a response by 12 June 2026.
This project is an initiative of Designregio Kortrijk and NERDLAB – Graphics by Windwaait.
Lise Van Tendeloo
Every year, Lise invites promising international designers to Kortrijk for exciting residency projects. She is also responsible for the research and experimentation part of the organisation.
