Are you a designer based in Wallonia or Brussels looking to develop your practice in a real-world professional setting, whilst expanding your international network? The 10th edition of Vitrine pour un·e Designer (VP1D) might be of interest to you.
For the past 20 years, this initiative, led by the Rotary Club of Roubaix, has been connecting young designers with businesses in the cross-border region of northern Europe – spanning Paris, Lille and Brussels – as part of a 12-month innovation residency.
An opportunity with an international dimension
VP1D is part of a particularly rich Franco-Belgian ecosystem, bringing together businesses, design schools, museums, institutions and industry professionals. The programme brings together partners from a region stretching around the Lille – Kortrijk – Tournai Eurometropolis and beyond, offering participants visibility and opportunities for collaboration on a European scale.
For designers from Wallonia-Brussels, this residency offers the chance to:
- work directly with a company on a real-world project;
- develop new skills in innovation and product development;
- expand their professional network on both sides of the border;
- benefit from the guidance of recognised designers and experts;
- gain visibility amongst international players in the design and textile sectors.
A 12-month professional programme
Following a call for applications launched in autumn 2026, several designers are selected to join a partner company. Over the course of a year, they develop a project from concept to prototype, before it is showcased to the public at a renowned cultural venue.
The programme places particular emphasis on textile design and flexible materials, whilst viewing design as a driver of innovation for businesses and a springboard into professional life for young talent.
A recognised network
Over the course of its various editions, VP1D has supported more than 100 designers and collaborated with numerous leading design schools, including La Cambre in Brussels, alongside French and Belgian institutions. The projects developed are exhibited in prestigious museums and enjoy significant media coverage.
This call for entries represents an opportunity not to be missed for designers from Wallonia and Brussels wishing to strengthen their international collaborations, test their ideas in partnership with industry and raise their profile on the European stage.