ontwerpenders

Ontwerpenders is a Dutch term that refers to people who engage in design. The standard Dutch word for this profession is ontwerpers; ontwerpenders is a less common variant or neologism that some writers use to emphasize the activity or collective practice of designing.

Ontwerpenders work across design domains such as product design, graphic design, interaction design, service design, urban design, and fashion. Their work typically includes identifying user needs, researching context, generating ideas, building prototypes, testing concepts, and communicating design decisions to stakeholders. They often collaborate in interdisciplinary teams and may work in design studios, agencies, in-house design departments, startups, or as freelancers.

Education and training for ontwerpenders generally occur through formal programs in design schools at universities, complemented by studios, projects, and, in some specializations, design research. Typical deliverables include sketches and diagrams, digital and physical prototypes, user journeys or service blueprints, and production-ready specifications or style guides.

In contemporary Dutch design discourse, ontwerpenders are associated with human-centered and participatory design approaches, design thinking, and iterative development. However, the term is not widely standardized, and ontwerpers remains the common label in most contexts.