Joris Vanbriel’s professional experience started as a product designer in Italian design studios. In 2008, he designed and co-founded Holocube, an internationally known producer of holographic displays. In 2011, he partnered with Vanessa Yuan and they created their own design studio VYDC. Since 2016, Joris and Vanessa have managed their own brand ecoBirdy, which is based here in Antwerp.

ecoBirdy is an award-winning design brand, established with the commitment to respect and cherish the earth’s precious resources. They collect plastic toys at schools, first sorting them manually at workshops to make sure they don’t contain materials such as batteries and textiles. All plastic toys that can be recycled are then transported to professional recycling centers where they are grinded in large volumes and transformed into second-life products. By collaborating with local workshops, ecoBirdy strives to create social added value. They create design products that enable kids to experience creativity while raising awareness about sustainability.