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Maxime BenVenuto
Maxime Benvenuto is a researcher, writer, and editor based between The Netherlands and France.
His work focuses on issues regarding cultural and historical aspects of design, with a particular interest for how most recent developments (e.g. socially engaged works, research-based practices, inter/cross-disciplinary approaches) come to question the disciplinary and historical status quo of the field.
He looks at different levels of design discourses: from field work and practice to theoretical and historiographic studies. Through navigating in between these different spheres of discourses, he aims at unpacking how theory and practice might critically inform each other despite the gap that exists between them. As such, he works as much with practitioners as he does with academics.
As an educator, he is currently one of the writing tutors at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Master of Social Design and has been a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Design and Architecture of the University of Brighton in Design and Ideology.
He has hosted, moderated, and/or participated to various public events and debates on issues regarding design practice and culture, social design, design theory and history.
In January 2017, he was one of the co-founders of Foundation We Are, an organisation for collaborative and social design.
Picture by Max Kneefel
EVENTS,
PUBLICATIONS & ExhibitionS
Upcoming:
"Histo-recall," Introduction for the publication HistoricALL! directed by Cecilia Casabona, to be published by Onomatopée!
2023:
Lecture Décolonialités de Savoirs et Design ‘Social’: Résistances Épistémologiques et Disciplinaires at the Université Panthéon-Sorbonne as contribution to the Critical Design Theory Research Seminar.
Meetings without encounters, publication co-directed with Daeun Lim, co-authored with Camille Guibaud, published by Foundation We Are, May 2023.
2022:
Uncommon Knowledge, Arena Panel, 23/10, Eindhoven (NL) – Contributor for the panel on the topic of Design Education with Josef Grima, Kay Schuttel, Emma Sfez, Eva-Lotta Landskron, and Julia Urreaga Aizarna.
'Pataphysical Design, Elevator Radio, 29/10, Eindhoven (NL) – Host and moderator of a radio discussion about 'pataphysics and design with Huibert H. Spoorenberg (from the Dutch Institute of 'Pataphysics), Holly Kruger, Sean Fisher, and Alejandro Cerón.
Mental Health and Design Seminar, 27/10, Eindhoven (NL) – Host and moderator of the seminar organised in partnership between GGzE and Design Academy Eindhoven.
Graduation Show, 22/10–30/10, Eindhoven (NL) – "Looking into the Constructs of a Magic Shitshow: Part 018 The Rhinoceral Bodyworks of Design History" & "Part 019 Grieving the Unicorns of Design Histories."
2021:
Designing Society, DDW Talk, 20/10, Eindhoven (NL) – Lecturer: "How to (not?) use design for societal issues?"
Beyond Papanek, Design Museum Den Bosch (NL) – Public program (podcast) created around the exhibition "Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design" presented at the Design Museum Den Bosch with the Critical Inquiry Lab.
Beyond Papanek, Design Museum Den Bosch (NL) – Contributor for the online tour of the exhibition.
2020:
DDW TV, 18/10, Eindhoven (NL) – Host and moderator for The Arena panel "Methods of New Materialism" with Martina Muzi, Lukáš Likavčan, Anastasia Kubrak, Studio Plastique, Jan-Micha Gamer, and Willeke Segers.
Self-Design Academy, MU Art space, 18/09–22/11, Eindhoven (NL) – Karaoke Discourse (experimental online program developed with Ward Goes, Cream on Chrome, and Arvid & Marie for the Dutch Design Week)
Talent Tour, MU Art space, 18/09–22/11, Eindhoven (NL) – Interview and video produced by Studio Moniker
2019:
GEO-DESIGN: Alibaba, From Here to Your Home. Milano Design Week, 08/04-14/04, Milano (IT) - Political Atlas of Alibaba
2018:
GEO-DESIGN: Alibaba, From Here to Your Home, Van Abbemuseum, 12/10-11/11, Eindhoven (NL) - Ali-Atlas & Ali-Diplomatique
Various Talks on Design, Human Rights, Democracy and Diplomacy. Campina Frabriek, Dutch Design Week 2018, Eindhoven (NL)
The New Newsroom, MU Art space, 12/10-16/11, Eindhoven (NL) - Comparative Lexicographies of News and Propaganda
We Are Human Rights, Sectie C, Dutch Design Week 2018, Eindhoven (NL) - Refracting Propagandas
2017:
Inside/Outside, SFSU Design Gallery, San Francisco (USA) - Ministry of Humanism
Embassy of Intimacy, MU Art space, Dutch Design Week 2017, Eindhoven (NL) - Secret Cookie Factory
We Are Human Rights, Sectie C, Dutch Design Week 2017, Eindhoven (NL) - Pre-project presentation
2016:
In Need of..., Graduation Show, Eindhoven (NL) - Ministry of Humanism & The Atmospherical Potential of Boredom
Peace & Justice, Museon, Den Haag (NL) - Ministry of Humanism
2015:
Embedded, Veenhuizen (NL) - Lexicography of Nothing
Embedded, Eindhoven (NL) - Lexicography of Nothing
Veenhuizen Design Factory, Eindhoven (NL) - Co-Art Director of the Exhibition with Lucandrea Baraldi
New Horizon, Evoluon, Eindhoven (NL) - Secret Cookie Factory
2014–2012:
Dutch Design Week, Coffee You, Eindhoven (NL) - The Story Storage Project
Self Unself, Salone del Mobile, Milano (IT) - Secret Cookie Factory
Winter Salon, Amsterdam (NL) - Secret Cookie Factory
Glow Festival, as Guest of Volière Décibelle, Eindhoven (NL) - Secret Cookie Factory
Graduation Exhibition, Sèvres (FR) - Magma Pots & Pipe Vases
Work & Teaching Experience
2022–Ongoing: Writing tutor in the master program of Social Design at Design Academy Eindhoven.
2016–Ongoing: Freelance Design Researcher (NL)
2020: Guest Lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the University of Brighton in the department of Design and Ideology.
2017–2019: Co-founder and curator at Foundation We Are (NL)
2017: Guest Lecturer at Design Academy Eindhoven on Research
2016: Workshop on the theme of Peace and Tolerance for the Graphic Art department of the International School of Geneva (CH)
2015: Internship at TAF Arkitect Kontor, Industrial Design and Interior Design (SE)
2011–2012: Communication Assistant of Marilyn Vince (FR)
2011: Internship at Marilyn Vince, Ceramics (FR)
Education
2020–2022: Design Academy Eindhoven (NL) - Critical Inquiry Lab (MA - Cum Laude)
2012–2016: Design Academy Eindhoven (NL) - Man & Leisure Department (BA - Cum Laude)
2010–2012: Lycée Jean-Pierre Vernant (FR) - Ceramic and Digital Crafts (BA - Summa Cum Laude)
2007–2010: Lycée Camille Claudel (FR) - Applied Arts
grants, residencies & Awards
2022: Nominee for the Gijs Bakker Award - Looking into the Constructs of a Magic Shitshow
2020: Residency at the Werkplaats FHJ (Fontys Journalistiek) within the journalism department of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg (NL)
2019: Talent Development Grant from the Stimuleringfonds for Creative Industries (NL)
2016: Honorable mention for the Social Design Talent Award 2016 - Ministry of Humanism
2016: Nominee for the Melkweg Award - The Atmospherical Potential of Boredom
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