Cultural Strategist focused on brand positioning and mediating between creative talent and industry.

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About

With over a decade of experience in agencies, retail, various industries, and cultural institutions, Willem has learned to adapt to any environment while developing a strong specialization. In his work, he challenges the balance between commerce and creativity, pushing for collaboration on new ideas that shape the future. His skills include brand strategy and designing, art direction, copywriting, and curation.

Profile

Willem Schenk (b. 1990) began his career at the trend forecasting agency Trend Union / Studio Edelkoort, where he served as a curatorial assistant for the Arnhem Mode Biennale. He worked on repositioning the Swiss watch brand RADO, co-founded New York Textile Month, and helped establish a new MFA in Textiles at Parsons School of Design. He then joined de Bijenkorf, a Dutch department store that was part of the Selfridges Group, where he analyzed trends and market developments, translating them into multi-channel activations and tailored creative briefs for the campaign and visual merchandising teams. At Ornamenta 2024, an art and design development program in Germany’s Black Forest, he facilitated innovative collaborations between emerging designers and local businesses and industries, including La Biosthétique and BINDER Gruppe.

Press

The press generously covered his work, from designboom, FRAME, Women’s Wear Daily, Washington Post, Ming Pao Daily, Fugas, De Groene Amsterdammer, Harpers Bazaar China, Design Miami’s The Buzz, Vice to local Dutch and German newspapers such as Pforzheimer Zeitung and Het Parool