Hi! I’m Michelle, and I am a maker. I work for the Waag Fablab, Textilelab and Maker Education Lab as a maker educator, and for the Utrecht University of the Arts as Textile Workshop manager (until December 2023). I’m based in Amsterdam (personally) & Utrecht (where my studio is located). I graduated from ArtEZ in Fashion Design in 2019, and I did the Fab Academy in 2023.

I like technology that is absurd, machines that are erratic, and software that is used out of context. Machine-made does not equal perfection, because a lot can go wrong: that unpredictability is what makes it so valuable. This ‘ghost in the machine’ is at the heart of what I do. My goal is more collaboration between designers and machines. A machine is not just an instrument: it can be a partner in the process, coming up with great design proposals.

I am a big fan of learning-by-making: diving into something with a good dose of enthusiasm, optimism and overconfidence can go a long way. I bring this spirit to the various labs and projects at Waag, the HKU and various freelance workshops. My work can be placed at the intersection of textiles, craft, sustainability and technology. I like to stay busy with a variety of projects such as upcycling techniques using embroidery machines, spinning yarn with wool and conductive thread, or weaving hats around lasercut molds.

You can find my portfolio website with my work outside of Fabacademy here.