KUMOCHARI

PROJECTS

collaborations in order: [ strp x spacemakers | dutch design week | rhdhv ]

personal design/writing projects: [ "easy as pie" | "poe-tea" | "bus stop" ]

ABOUT ME

Hi, I'm Yona van Rooij, a student at SintLucas in Eindhoven. I'm passionate about using my skills in illustration and writing to bring awareness to social matters and support meaningful causes. My work is driven by a deep interest in people and society, and I strive to reflect this focus in everything I create. I'm constantly seeking new perspectives and opportunities to grow, as I believe continuous learning is key to making a positive impact.If you're wondering where my handle "Kumochari" comes from, it is a blend of my middle name and caffè mocha— representative of the fact I am always willing to discuss any possibility and thought over a good coffee.Furthermore, for communication purposes, I’m fluent in both Dutch and English.

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE

Spacemakers x Iris van der Meule

Many people feel a sense of hopelessness when faced with the topic of climate change, often asking, "What can one person really do for the planet?" How do we navigate this overwhelming feeling of doom, and how do we talk about it productively?The VR experience "What a Time to be Alive" explores these questions by guiding participants through different emotional stages of climate anxiety. It features interactive elements like a "Climate Doom Bar," conversation tables, and a confession booth, all designed to help break the ice (so to speak) and encourage open discussions about this issue.

Photo credit to Max Kneefel

Our team brought diverse perspectives and insights to the topic, which was invaluable in developing effective conversational methods. Recognizing that many people feel judged when discussing their environmental impact, we focused on creating a more humorous and non-judgmental approach, rather than a bleak or accusatory one.

I was initially involved in the physical installation aspect of the space. In addition to this, I was later asked to design a foam board game to serve as a conversational tool. The game included questions about participants' awareness and opinions of their impact, sparking open discussion in a somewhat playful style.

I also proposed the idea for the "Climate doom Bar" as a way to accommodate guests in our thematic setting. My design of the menu was made to match the board game's style and I took on the role as one of the bartenders during the event, making conversation about people's drink of choice. This project not only helped sharpen my skills in collaboration but also reinforced my commitment to using creativity to address social issues.

"UNFINISHED"

Dutch Design Week

In my project for Dutch Design Week, I aimed to highlight how the pursuit of perfection- and perfectionism itself- often becomes our greatest obstacle. My hopes were that passersby would take a moment to reflect on their own definition of perfection, either prompting introspection or discussion.

Feautured on: Erno Mijland and Pierre Pas' Tikkiepodcast (Dutch)

Photo credit to Erno Mijland

"MOBILITY"

With RHDHV

Royal HaskoningDHV partnered with us to develop an engaging approach for involving a broader age range in neighborhood improvement meetings.

Our team brainstormed ways to increase participation and concluded that incorporating physical activities could likely increase engagement! We pitched a concept where participants gathered on a carpet to express their opinions- such as "Agree/Disagree" or "Important/Unimportant" in response to statements, and then use objects to facilitate turns in speaking while suggestions are noted down by the designated note-taker.Following approval of our "carpet" concept, My contributions aside from contextualizing was designing the illustrations, inspired by existing RHDHV icons provided in their design guide.

EASY AS PIE

A plate of progress

This poem was born from months of introspection where I learned that finding joy in the process makes an experience truly worthwhile to me. Especially as I have been very fixated on achieving specific outcomes. This work connects with my Dutch Design Week project, as I still often grapple with perfectionism. What I wrote is a reflection of the personal growth I experienced during this time, and my goal was to encapsulate that through both words and a collage-like visual style!

POE-TEA

Experimental blend

Another Eve in the Garden of Eden
In a paradise of fruits,
You would still pick the Belladonna

Along with the seasons
I love seeing your new leaves after every Winter

Autumn leaf life
The wind draws me into a dance,
A long twirl,
I swim in a sea of color,
A whirlwind of dancers

Watering my plant
I wring myself dry to make you grow

I challenged myself to write ten poems, each based on two associations, which all happened to have a nature theme. If you're interested, you can view the full collection of poems here. From this set, I selected a few poems to feature on tea sachets, incorporating not only a visual and written element but also taste and scent. Each sachet contained a different blend of tea, providing a different sensory experience. My intention was for people to choose sachets based on whichever sense resonated with them most- whether it was the smell, the visual design, or the words of the poem.I often felt that my personal work was limited to visuals alone, so this project was an experiment in engaging multiple senses. From my observation, most people were initially attracted to the sachets by their scent. Then, they began to make their selections based on their personal aesthetic preferences. Whether it was the visual design or the feel of the packaging. Interestingly, many took the time to read the poems afterward, and some even mentioned that the words helped solidify their choices!