SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES

Looking for an inspiring speaker for your conference? Or an interactive, hands-on workshop to spark fresh ideas? We’ve got you covered! Below, you'll find a list of our speakers. Want to learn more or book directly? Just send us an email!

In addition to speaking engagements, TIOC offers expert consultation services for educators, businesses, and universities looking to embed creativity into their programs and operations. Get in touch to find out how we can help!

SPEAKERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

JEROEN DISCH 

Art Director | Educator | Workshops & Lectures

With over 20 years of experience in brand identities, digital design, and AI, Jeroen Disch has led design teams at top agencies like GRRR and Bravoure. Now working as an independent art director and design educator, he is passionate about sharing knowledge. Through lectures, workshops, and his bi-weekly newsletter Halfvet—read by 2,500 Dutch creatives—Jeroen continues to inspire and guide designers.

Generative AI is reshaping the design world. But what does this mean for the creative process? How will the role of designers evolve? And why are human vision, emotion, and intuition still irreplaceable?

In this talk, Jeroen explores best practices, recent research, ethical dilemmas, and practical tools for integrating AI into daily design work—sharing insights from both the industry and his personal experience.

Duration: 1 – 3 hours

Group Size: 10 – 250 participants

Pricing: Available upon request

Want to learn more about Jeroen? Check out his in-depth interview on our website or contact us for more details about available workshops and lectures.

REY NODE

Creative Consultant | Speaker | Author

Born in the Netherlands in 1986, Rey Node dropped out of two art schools before co-founding a creative agency in 2008. Over 15 years, he completed more than 1,200 creative projects, working with everyone from local mom-and-pop shops to global mega brands and ambitious startups. In 2022, he left agency life to pursue a freelance career and became an author.

After making a sold-out keynote debut at Dutch Design Week 2024, Rey now speaks at international design conferences and leads in-depth workshops for creative teams. Rey works closely with creative teams—both agency and in-house—to refine their skills in concept presentation, client communication, and strategic briefing. His workshops focus on practical methods to help designers and creatives charge higher prices without losing work, while also maintaining a balance between creativity, commerce, and efficiency. 

For larger audiences, Rey delivers thought-provoking talks at businesses, creative agencies, and industry conferences. He explores themes such as creative identity, the balance between artistry and commercial success, and the challenges designers face after art school. 

Duration: 20-45 minutes (talks), half to full day (sessions)

Group Size: from 10 people (sessions) to hundreds (talks)

Pricing: Available upon request

Looking to book a talk or workshop? Get in touch to discuss availability!

DONALD ROOS

Creative Entrepreneur | Author | Workshops & Lectures

With a background in graphic design, Donald Roos is a creative entrepreneur and the author of Don’t Read This Book – Time Management for Creative People (translated into seven languages). His latest book, If You Don’t – Saving the World by Doing Nothing / Economics for Creative People, explores how doing less can lead to greater impact.

Donald’s workshops are built around his game Don’t/Do This, where limitations become a source of creativity. Using the simple yet powerful ToDon’tList philosophy, participants learn how to improve their time management while also making a difference in the world.

Duration: Flexible (from 3 minutes to 3 days)

Group Size: 10 – 100 participants

Pricing: Available upon request

Want to learn more about Donald? Check out his in-depth interview on our website or contact us for more details about available workshops & lectures.

SEEMA SHARMA

Executive Creative Director | Author | Speaker & Moderator 

Seema Sharma, author of The New Creatives and Executive Creative Director at Woedend!, explores how AI is reshaping the creative industry—highlighting both its challenges and opportunities. With a keen focus on innovation and human-centered creativity, she helps brands, marketers, and creative professionals navigate a tech-driven world while staying true to human value.

In her talks, Seema challenges audiences to rethink creativity beyond algorithms, emphasizing emotional intelligence and our collective fascination with ‘finding the new real.’ As a dynamic speaker and moderator, she brings energy, insight, and a future-focused perspective to every stage.

Seema’s sessions are fully customizable—whether it's a keynote talk for a packed auditorium or an intimate, interactive workshop for a marketing or communication team. She has spoken at large-scale events like Selfmade Summit, engaging audiences of hundreds, and frequently delivers inspiration sessions for teams of 20-30.

Duration: customizable

Group Size: 10 – 250 participants

Pricing: Available upon request

Looking to book a talk or workshop? Get in touch to discuss your needs!

Want to learn more about Seema? Check out his in-depth interview on our website.

BART-JAN STEERENBERG

Designer | Researcher Creativity | Speaker 

TIOC's Founding Father. Bart-Jan is a creativity researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Digital Media and Creative Industries (FDMCI) in Amsterdam. With extensive experience in media production, applied gaming, sound engineering, and immersive environments, he's been involved in the creation of sponsored films, animations, documentaries, advertisements, apps, and more.

With a passion for unlocking the power of creativity, Bart-Jan is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and insights with others, and inspiring the next generation of creative thinkers and doers.

Bart-Jan is an experienced speaker. He gives keynote talks but also conducts hands-on creativity sessions, which are fully customizable.

Duration: customizable

Group Size: 1 – 500 participants

Pricing: Available upon request

Looking to book a talk or workshop? Get in touch to discuss your needs!

Want to learn more about Bart-Jan? Check out his in-depth interview on our website.

ANNELOES VAN GAALEN 

Writer | Branding & Concepting Consultant | Speaker & Moderator

With a diverse skill set and a wealth of experience, Anneloes is a true powerhouse in the world of marketing and creative branding. She is a co-founder of The Insitute of Creativity.

Throughout her career, Anneloes has worked on a wide range of projects, from developing brand strategies for small startups to managing global PR campaigns for large corporations. Her expertise in marketing, branding, and storytelling has helped businesses of all kinds to tell compelling stories and connect with their audiences in meaningful ways. She brings her unique blend of creativity, insight, and expertise to every project she undertakes.

As both a keynote speaker and moderator Anneloes has given lectures and moderated debates on such diverse topics as (independent) entrepreneurship, personal branding, street art and the Ridiculous Rules that govern the world of design, fashion, advertising, web design and typography.

Past clients included: TEDXAmsterdam, WomenINC, Pakhuis de Zwijger, MINT, CreativeMornings, TOMS, Modefabriek, BrandedU, Amsterdam Fashion Institute, Willem de Kooning Academy, Humanity House, Harper's Bazaar Network Academy and Pecha Kucha.

Duration: customizable

Group Size: from one on one coaching to - 500 participants

Pricing: Available upon request