Katja Gruijters

Katja Gruijters is a pioneering food designer and innovator dedicated to creating a more sustainable food landscape and culture. With over 22 years of experience, she emphasizes the connections between food, science, technology, culture, nature, and design. Katja, who was the first to label herself as a food designer, began her journey at the Design Academy Eindhoven, using food as a medium for visual expression. Her work, inspired predominantly by nature, aims to address complex food issues like waste, obesity, climate change, and potential food shortages. By rebalancing the distorted food landscape, she seeks to foster innovation through intuitive and engaging design, focusing on identifying blind spots in food behavior. Collaboration is key, as she engages with a diverse range of specialists, from chefs and scientists to filmmakers and corporate professionals. In 2001, she established her own food design studio in Amsterdam, creating concepts for various companies and organizations, including the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Albert Heijn supermarkets. Katja is also active in education, conducting workshops, lectures, and guest lectures internationally. In 2014, she relocated her studio to the forested Veluwezoom nature reserve, which provides a conducive environment for her sustainable design work and creative exploration. Throughout her career, sustainability and the beauty of natural ingredients have increasingly influenced her food designs and concepts.