SOLAR INITIATIVE – ABOUT US

Solar Design Studio is one of Solar Initiative’s divisions. Solar Design Studio offers a full service in the field of visual communication through research, strategic advice and design. Solar Design Studio is set out as an inspiring environment where conceptual thinking, research, visual power yield new ideas. Where talent and experience contribute to design innovations and where development never stops. Solar Design Studio integrates several creative disciplines and is dedicated to unique solutions in graphic design, interactive design, motion design, environmental design and photography.

Solar Initiative is known for its continuous pursuance of autonomous quality and a sharp analytical capacity in the area of visual communication. Solar Initiative combines an active interest in client and product with conceptual and commercial insight. Solar Design Studio combines creativity with good business practice. We balance the advantages of a large design studio — continuity and service — with the qualities, involvement and passion of the individual designer — unique solutions. Working closely together with clients and with respect for the products we represent, we dedicate ourselves to a distinguishing visual language in character and communication which translates into a practical and usable product.

Solar Initiative consists of two divisions; design and photography. Design division handles graphic design, covering print, identity development and publications, as well as interactive design, motion graphics and environmental design. The photography division delivers photography consultancy on ‘visual identities’ and image bank development, as well as photography productions. The Solar Photography Agency represents a group of 14 photographers.

Colour by Ambrose and Harris, Ava Publishing sa, 2005; This Gun is for Hire, Die Gestalten Verlag, 2005; International Yearbook Communication Design, Avedition 2004–05; Dutch Design Awards, 2003; Apples and Oranges, Best Dutch Graphic Design, Bis, 2001; and newspaper articles in De Volkskrant, NRC Handelsblad and Trouw.

3 Red Dot Awards in 2008 Category Corporate Communication
3 Red Dot Awards in 2006 Category Corporate Communication
Red Dot Award 2005 Category Corporate Communication
Red Dot Award 2005 Category Art and Culture

Solar Initiative was founded in 1999 by Jeannette Zuurbier, Marieke Müskens van Bemmel and Miguel Gori, and was set out to meet the market’s need for true integration of strategic advice, design and photography. All three partners have extensive experience within the creative field as well as in the field of marketing and communication, on both national and international level. Since 1999, Solar Initiative has grown to a team of 16 people and represents 15 photographers. Within Solar Initiative the partners hold strategic and creative responsibility for projects in the fields of design and photography. Next to the team of experienced in-house specialists, Solar Initiative uses a solid network of professionals in copywriting, dtp and environmental design.
Click on directors names below for their biographies.

Directors
Jeannette Zuurbier, Miguel Gori

Team
Romée Beernink, Esther Bleesing, Maarten Borst, Guido Cilissen,
Marcel van Doorn, Dees van Geer, Rob Giesendorf,
Annemiek van Grondel, Charissa de Koning, Loranne Roozendaal,
Adrie Smits, Kate Snow, Mara Spruit, Matteo Venet.

Photographers
Blommers/Schumm, Sema Bekirovic, Victor Bergen Henegouwen,
Sabrina Bongiovanni, Kim Boske, Elspeth Diederix, Marnix Goossens,
Yvonne Lacet, Krista van der Niet, Hans van der Meer,
Gerco de Ruijter, Jaap Scheeren, Ingmar Swalue, Qiu Yang.

Like us, our clients have many questions: they are in search of a new image for their company or product, fresh ideas for advertising campaigns, ways to adopt current or future trends, or original creative solutions for special projects. Often, they want the advice of a creative consultant. Future files, a service to our clients, are a creative process of concept development, aimed to research and develop strategic visual design proposals in the field of marketing and communication.
Future Files assignments result in a visual dossier that can be best described as a conceptual book. Apart from our findings and specific ideas, solutions and advice in comprehensible writing, our future-file use mainly images to make its content thoroughly visual. The images range from photographs to illustrations to sketches. The future-file is aimed inspire clients in dealing with their own innovation process, and helps to make clear decisions.

Ahold∗, Akzo Nobel, ArchitectenWeb, Arup, BV/Blauwhoed BV,
BNO Beroepsvereniging Nederlandse Ontwerpers, CBK Deventer,
CBK Dordrecht, De Bijenkorf, Delta Lloyd, Delta Lloyd Group∗,
Delta Lloyd Groep Foundation, Kraaijvanger-Urbis Architecten, KPN,
L’Empresse, Les Editions Jalou, Mecanoo Architecten, ModeDesign,
New Amsterdam Development Consultants NYC, NewStyle Magazine,
Nike Women, No Apology, Orla Kiely Fashion Ltd. London,
Papiergroothandel ModoVanGelder, Poëzie Festival Dicht aan het IJ,
Premsela Stichting, Sanoma: Kèk magazine, SeArch Architects,
Sic Magazine, Stichting Kunstwerk Loods 6, Stichting Roots & Routes,
Stichting Utrecht Biënnale, Stichting Via Milano, The Hilt BV
(Eager Beaver en Rags Industry), THT Consulting, TNT Post,
Tridion, Vesteda Project, Vijf Advies
∗ in collaboration with Proof Communication

Solar has a limited number of internship opportunities available throughout the year. These are divided in periods of 3 or 6 months.
Students who are interested in an internship at Solar Initiative can send an e-mail with C.V. and a concise portfolio in pdf to Rob Giesendorf at this mail address