WONDER opening event

For the opening of the WONDER Creativity Festival 2025, we joined forces with OVAM. Every year, they present the OVAM Ecodesign Awards for students. This year, they were presented at our opening event, a fantastic match!

We also celebrated 20 years of Designregio Kortrijk. Twenty years of dreaming, daring and doing. Twenty years ago, we started with one clear ambition: to strengthen our maker culture. Not by clinging to the familiar, the existing, but by giving space to new ideas, fresh concepts and collaborating with designers, and by believing in this formula for success as the path to a better future.

And we never did it alone.

From day one, we built on a unique partnership. Government, knowledge institutions, entrepreneurs, people and the environment together form the beating heart of our ecosystem.

What started as a local initiative in 2005 has grown into an international player. From pioneer in the Leie region to proud UNESCO Creative City of Design since 2017. But no matter how far we reach, our roots remain firmly anchored in this region.

Twenty years of Designregio Kortrijk – that's twenty years full of energy, innovation and connection. Hundreds of projects and thousands of encounters: think of the 5X5®, Design Drinks & Talk, Design in shops, De Wonder Club, ... co-creation has always been central.

Our baseline evolved from 'creating better futures' to 'creating better futures TOGETHER', and that says it all.

After 20 years, we are stronger than ever. Together with our founding partners, we are writing a new chapter – Designing better futures together – with young people as active builders of that future.

Not only to make them and our region stronger, more resilient and even anti-fragile in a rapidly changing world. Young people see opportunities where we sometimes get stuck. That is why we give them a platform.

But we cannot do this alone. So: become a testing ground, invest in young talent. Join us. Co-create with us. Together, we will turn this region into a creative engine.

And because 20 years deserves more than just words...

...we are proud to invite you to the premiere of our documentary:

"20 years of Design Region Kortrijk" – a journey through two decades of creativity, collaboration and impact.

Thanks to WONDER partner Omer Vander Ghinste for the delicious refreshments at the reception!