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 immersive experience
Following a selection process scheduled for early 2027, the successful designers will be paired with a partner company as part of a 12-month residency. They will develop an innovation project, from research through to prototyping, with the aim of demonstrating the potential of design as a driver of development, innovation and transformation for businesses.
This residency offers a particularly valuable opportunity for designers wishing to test their approach in a real-world business context, develop a prototype, expand their professional network and gain practical experience of innovation through design in a Franco-Belgian environment.
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.
An anniversary edition dedicated to design and innovation
The 2026–2028 edition marks the 20th anniversary of Vitrine pour un.e Designer. The programme has already supported nearly a hundred designers and developed a unique ecosystem bringing together businesses, schools, cultural institutions and design professionals on both sides of the Franco-Belgian border. This anniversary edition is sponsored by the design duo paulineplusluis, finalists in a previous edition and named ‘Designer of the Year 2024’.