Toon van Tuijl in Kenia

Laatste bericht

2006-09-06T12:18:00.000-07:00

Een stapelstoel en een ligbed, dat heeft Toon van Tuijl tijdens zijn verblijf in Kenia ontworpen voor het bedrijf Sunny Daze. Op 26 juli had hij de ontwerpen voor het ligbed af, van de stapelstoel was inmiddels een prototype gemaakt. Zijn vrouw Cynthia Postma was voor de laatste week van Toons verblijf ook naar Kenia gekomen. Zij is grafisch ontwerper en zou Sunny Daze adviseren bij het presenteren van deze nieuwe meubels op de Europese markt.

Samen met Cynthia maakte Toon de week van 26 juli een mini-safari waar hij erg van genoot. De natuur en de dieren waren supermooi en Cynthia en Toon besloten ter plekke dat ze zeker nog eens terug zouden komen in Kenia. Ook was Toon onder de indruk van de open en vriendelijke mensen die hij tijdens zijn verblijf had ontmoet. Met de eigenaar van Sunny Daze Arif en zijn vrouw Rubeena klikte het heel goed. Met z’n vieren genoten ze die laatste week van elkaars verhalen en er werden interessante discussies gevoerd.

Op 29 juli gingen Toon, Cynthia, Arif en Rubeena uit eten. Bij terugkomst bij het huis van Arif en Rubeena werden ze het slachtoffer van overvallers die het vuur op de auto openden. Rubeena overleed ter plekke in de auto. Toon overleed later in het ziekenhuis.

Toon heeft tijdens zijn samenwerking met Arif goed geluisterd en zijn ogen de kost gegeven. Hij wilde niet als Nederlandse designer komen vertellen hoe alles anders moest. Hij vroeg zich zelfs af of bedrijven in ontwikkelingslanden wel echt een Nederlandse designer nodig hebben. Juist de authentieke producten getuigen van veel vakmanschap en traditie. Misschien zouden de bedrijven meer gebaat zijn met commerciële mensen die de productie begeleiden en die de producten uit kunnen zetten op de Europese markt. Toon had graag met de programmamanager van DDiD Stella van Himbergen bij terugkomst van gedachten willen wisselen hoe ondernemers in ontwikkelingslanden het beste ondersteund kunnen worden in hun streven naar meer onzet. Helaas heeft het zo ver niet kunnen komen.

In overleg met Cynthia zal bekeken worden of de stapelstoel en het ligbed die door Toon zijn ontworpen in productie genomen kunnen worden.

Als eerbetoon aan Toon en de grote waardering voor zijn betrokkenheid en bereidheid om zijn kennis en vaardigheden in te zetten voor een betere wereld, willen familie en vrienden van Toon een boek over hem te maken. Voor bijdragen aan het boek ter nagedachtenis aan Toon van Tuijl kunt u contact opnemen met Stella Van Himbergen van DDiD, stella@ddid.nl.

2006-08-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

DDiD en NCDO bereikte het afschuwelijke bericht dat Toon van Tuijl afgelopen weekend slachtoffer is geworden van een roofmoord in Nairobi, Kenia. Bij de gewelddadige overval kwam ook zijn Keniaanse gastvrouw, Rubina, om het leven.

Ook vanaf deze plaats wensen we de familie en vrienden van Toon en Rubina veel sterkte toe om dit verlies te verwerken.

Zoals hij in zijn weblog beschrijft, ontwikkelde Toon samen met een Keniaans bedrijf een productlijn voor meubels die geschikt zijn voor de Europese markt. Dit deed hij in het kader van Dutch Design in Development (DDiD), een initiatief van NCDO. Dit programma koppelt professionals uit de creatieve zakelijke dienstverlening aan producenten uit ontwikkelingslanden die exporteren naar Europa.

Mede op verzoek van de familie handhaven we deze weblog, als eerbetoon aan Toon en de grote waardering voor zijn betrokkenheid en bereidheid om zijn kennis en vaardigheden in te zetten voor een betere wereld.

Voor nadere vragen verwijzen we naar NCDO, afd. communicatie, 020 568 8755 of www.ncdo.nl

Toon heeft zijn weblog compleet gemaakt. Zodra we de afsluitende tekst beschikbaar hebben, zullen we deze plaatsen.

Verdere verhalen

2006-07-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

Day 9 (Monday 17 July)

The first day of the second week, and still I didn’t have a clew of what the designs for the European market must be looking. So I started with a week of working hard, making concepts and the production of a lot of sketches.
The most important issues are that the concepts must be ; easily transportable (in costs, weigth and size), suitable to produce in the workshop (most likely furniture), innovative and sustainable.
This day went very well. I had a lot of idea’s and planned that I would work them out tommorow and after that to start with the finishing of the design for a sunbed.
I’ve created a workspace in the showroom, between the african-antiques and outside furniture. In the begining I started to work outside. But after one day of working I realised that it wasn’t such a good idea. The musquitos are even active during daytime.

Day 10 (Tuesday 18 Juy)

Finnaly I saw “the bear on the road”.
It started with the design for the sun beds. The sun bed idea’s/concepts were in beginning good, but almost impossible to be finished into the technical drawings (for making a prototype) in a few days. The complexity of this piece was much more then I expected.
So I started on the designs I made yesterday for the European market.
The idea’s were easy to transport, easy to be made in the workshop, innovative and even sustainable. But I didn’t like the design to much. It must be a product that would sell in Europe (in particulare the Netherlands). The shape and materials of this product must not only be innovative but also have a commercial value.
I decided to start all over again. This was the only way to do it. But it took me a lot off effort and time.
Almost every day I’m having a discussion with Arif. These talks has given me a better view on the way Arif is handling the company and they are of very importance on deciding which designs are suitable for the company.
I think these discussions are very important for each designer who is doing the same thing I’m doing now. (Tip 1). To help the best way is by knowing the company you work for. The way to know the company the best is by talking and having an open discussion with the owner/director and offcourse to see the company (and especially the production part).

Day 11 (Wednesday 19 July)

After only 11 days I realised that I become a Nairobi inhabitant. The same old road to the workshop, the same old traffic (photo), the same places, and I like it.
This day I really worked a lot (from 9.00 until 20.00) inside the showroom and at Arif’s home.
At the end of the day I had two designs (with the technical drawings, side views 100 % and a presentation) that I would like to make a prototype off. One concept for a chair and one concept for a hall-table.
At home in my own office the total amount of time needing for making these concepts would have been half of the time I’ve spended here in Nairobi. But then you would not have the inspiration of Nairobi and the Kenian country and won’t be able to have the direct contacts and imput you have here.

Day 12 (Thursday 20 July)

Speaking about inspiration. Today I had a lot and it was amazing. We went on Safari for half a day in the Nairobi wildlife reservate. (photo) This Park is situated next to Nairobi. Some people even use it to get to there work faster and without any traffic jams.
This safari is a great experience. We (Arif, his son and myself) were on the road at 6.20. The first animal we saw was a giraffe just standing on the road. In these parks they have (sand-) roads on which you can cross the area.
I saw the beatiful environment of this park and the beautiness of the country. You could look very far to see the mountains and even the city. It’s very strange to see zebra’s, antilope’ and giraffe’s with on the background the skyline of Nairobi. We saw even a few rhino’s and a male lion only 3 mtr’s from the car. I can tell you that this experience is not the same as seeing these animals in the zoo or Safari-park “de Beekse Bergen”.
After this we went to the workshop where I was again surprised by the wood-dust in the air and the piles of wood I mentioned before. I examined the pieces of palm-wood and talked with the person who is making the cotton seatings in the chairs.
I would be here tomorrow with the drawings to explain these to them, so they can make a start with the production of the models.

Alweer een week in Kenia

2006-07-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Day 5 (Wednesday 12 July)

Today we went for the workshop to “work”. We left very early to get there in time before the traffic-jams would start. We still were in some of them.
First I have let Arif read this rapport and we spoke about the actions that could be done. He said that there were some good points in it. And he told me that he realized that a couple of the idea’s mentioned below were really important.
- Using the same parts for different furniture pieces.
- Paying more attention of the use of logo and house-style.
- Making a design which will be the eye-catchers.
- Improving the way people were working.
- The African or Kenyan culture that must be seen in the designing pieces.
I asked Arif what he thought, was the most important thing for him. I told him that I am able to help him with a few of the above mentioned points. But that the most important goal was to design a piece for the export-market. This could be my added value for his company.
We talked it over for a while, after which we decided that I first would concentrate on designing for the European market and second help him to upgrade his furniture program by the design of a few new pieces.
The program they have now, is working well. So what would be the point of changing it?
Then I started with the concept-phase. Trying to get a grip on what would be a good piece of furniture or even other kind of objects for “Sunny Daze”.
This took me a lot of time. Even the next day I hadn’t sorted out this question.

Day 5 (Thursday 13 July)

Arif and I agreed that I would work on myself today in his showroom. I needed the whole day for sorting out the right designs and objects/pieces.
It is a nice area where a lot of different birds and even monkeys can be seen. The monkeys are black and white and about as big as a 6 year old child and they make a lot of noise.
I came up with some thoughts and designs for a chair and a sun bed. The chair is a stapled chair which has a comfortable and updated appearance. This kind of chair could not yet be found at Sunny Daze.
The sun bed I designed has the same details and finishing as the chair. All sun beds Sunny Daze are now presenting have a classic style. So this concept could be opening new markets.
Both designs could enrich the family of furniture pieces of Sunny Daze.
I started to make the chair in CAD on the computer. So by the end of this day I had a 3d model to show him and with this file he could make the first prototype.
Arif was very busy, so I showed him the design much later (in the weekend).
Every time when we get home (I almost feel like home here of which I am very grateful) Rubina is cooking a meal, which we eat with the whole family. Arif and Rubina are Indian African, so the meals are very Indian like and very delicious. So “I fell with my nose in the butter” (Dutch expression).

Day 6 (Friday 14 July)

This morning I went with Arif and his wife to the showroom. We were well dressed, because we were invited on the French embassy later this day.
I started working on the design of the most important piece, the export item. And I stopped at about 12 o’clock so we could go the embassy.
Because of the celebration of the 14th of July we were invited for a banquet and some speeches.
The banquet was very nice and the speeches were amusing, In one of them a Kenyan politician called Jaques Chirac “Jacket”. It gives me another reason (besides the police and accident happening) to have doubts about the political way of working in this country.
The people in Nairobi, as well the natives as the ex pats, are open, interested and polite. You easily get a contact with a lot of people. I noticed that even on the streets of Nairobi-center.
After this celebration in the garden of the embassy, we went back to finish our work at the showroom.

Day 7 (Saturday 15 July)

This day I went with Arif to see another part of Kenya about 25 km from Nairobi called Limuru. The temperature here was around 14 degrees. This place is much higher then Nairobi (± 1800 mtrs height) so the climate is much colder. On this morning it was very foggy. After a while the fog went away and I could see the tea-plantations, the villages (a lot of wooden small houses) and the beautiful environment. But it was cold. And I was not dressed warm. Like a tourist who is going for a holiday, the first time to Africa.
In the evening we went to town to eat and see a part of the city by evening.

Day 8 (Sunday 16 July)

Together with Rahim (the 17th year old son of Arif) I went to a Masaai market and later to the city by a matatu (small dangerously driving bus for 20 euro-cent which will drive you, except nuts with their loud music, all over town). We walked around the city center and up to the museum (which was closed). I noticed that the city itself isn’t big, you could walk almost everything. But you have to be aware of not taking or showing anything of value.
It was a beautiful and sunny day. The first one since I’ve been here. And I like the atmosphere in and around the center. People here are very religious. On Sunday you will see whole family’s walking in there best clothes. Which is very colorful. And I like to see the young black kids.
So it was a real Sunday day.

The pictures you see here are showing; the showroom and the workshop (two views).

tweede posting

2006-07-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Sunny Daze Nairobi 12/7/06
Zoals in het begin geschreven wist ik niet precies hoe het zou beginnen.
Nu inmiddels wel (het is woensdag 12 juli, ik ben al 4 dagen hier).
Omdat ik de briefings e.d. in engels schrijf is het voor mij makkelijker om dit ook te doen in mijn weblog. Er zullen wel wat fouten in staan, ik hoop dat jullie mij dit vergeven. Dus vanaf nu into English.
Day 1 (Saturday 8 July)
I was very well received. Arif told me a lot about the company and the way of working (and living) in Nairobi. That evening he introduced me to his wife Rubina and two business -friends of him, Rouben and Jousouf (both from Mauritia) and both having a furniture-factory in their country.
Day 2 (Sunday 9 July)
Arif told me in the morning this was a resting day. So we visit the exhibition of the Sunny Daze-furniture pieces in a shopping mall, not so far from his place in Nairobi. This was the first time to see the pieces and get a look at the way they made it and look at the details.
You can divide the furniture-pieces of Sunny Daze into two parts. The antique one (real and renewed
antique) that consist of in- and out-door furniture parts and the new only outdoor furniture pieces. The difference between the European style and these last mentioned pieces wasn’t much. Besides a few details and way of fabricating it had the same appearances as they have in Europe.
We were talking about the way they fabricate and what could be renewed/redesigned. I have givven
him some advice and made a few propositions about what I think he has to do to optimise the production-effectiviness.
This was the first thing I could do for Arif, but I realized that it wasn’t the priority for which I came to Nairobi. This would be making new designs for Sunny Daze. But on what way? Or on what manner? So I decided (like I’ve written in my plan) that these first days I would be like a sponge and absorb all the impressions I got from the company, Kenya and off course Arif himself.
Day 3 (Monday 10 July)
I realized that in Africa it can be as cold as in the Netherlands in spring or in autumn.
This day I went to the gallery/store of Sunny Daze. A kind of garden with a gallery/housing in which the furniture is coming out very well. It is a very nice and quiet place to look at the furniture
and antique. You can feel and see that this is a place for the people who can afford exclusive pieces with high quality. It is a place on the right spot, because it is a part of Nairobi where a lot of ex pats, Mzungu (white people) and the more wealthy African lives.
I was thinking that these customers do have high wishes and demands. So Sunny Daze must radiate these feelings.
They do in this garden, but I miss the following:
- A professional and straight (almost rigid) way of using logo and house-style.
- One or more furniture-pieces which are unique. The eye-catchers and way of telling the public that “this is what we are standing for”. What that is will be the big question on which I think I have to give an answer.
After that Arif took me to the factory (he calls it workshop). It was not far from the airport and easy to get to from this side of Nairobi, but very hard to get there from the other side because of the
enormous traffic jams they have here during day-time, especially at times when everyone goes to or leaves there work. Badly enough Arif lives on the other side of Nairobi.
I liked it very much to see the workshop. Now I could see where it is all about. How they work, which machines there are available, how big it is and so on.
In this workshop you can roughly divide the activity-area’s in: the upholstery section (umbrella’s, sittings, etc.), finishing section, sawing and planning section, assembling tables, pre-sanding section,
polishing and after-sanding section and a separate steel area (for welding etc.).
The sections/area’s were not really separated but mixed and reaching into each other.
The machinery is in a good state for producing the furniture. The way people were working could be improved.
I realized that the African culture not only has got his positive but also has his negative effects on the furniture-business.
The African or Kenian culture can and must be something that has to be seen on one way or another in the furniture which has to be designed for the European (and even American) market. That can be the specialism of crafted work, the selected wood, the details, the basic-concept (like some way of putting stools or other furniture together) or even a restyled African-antique furniture piece.
I will tell more about the workshop in the next days.
On the way back I saw car accidents, road-blocks and traffic-jams caused by matatu’s (small private
transport busses) and the police themselves. If traffic is like this, the way of doing business must be the same (hard!!). I noticed (and Arif told me) that in order to run a company here, you must be a fighter.
After almost one and a half hour we were at Arif’s house. I forgot to mention that I have my domicile
here. It it is a nice and beautiful place to stay. And the family (I also met Arif’s daughter this morning) is very hospitable. I feel almost like home.
Day 4 (Tuesday 11 July)
This day I wanted to use for writing and getting a good overview on the things I have seen and the activities that has to be made. We went to the showroom/store, where I started writing this.
Here I got the time to work things out and to make a view for what I could do here.
I think we can separate the working-issues into four parts.
First: redesigning the existing furniture to get lower costs and better design.
Second: the making of a new design for both having a piece or pieces for a “spotlight” and approaching
the market abroad.
Third: making a plan for the branding of the company in the way of using the house style (logo) in print (posters, advertising, direction-bords, on the company/showroom/shop and even on the trucks/cars) and the branding of the furniture itself. Cynthia could help us to make some proposals.
Four: restyling antique in order to fabricate the pieces on a better and more cost-efficient matter and to get your own style and with this a force (is it antique or is it quality furniture with an old appearance?)

Voor vertrek

2006-07-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

Nou, de aftrap moet nog beginnen, maar de voorbereidingen zijn in volle gang.
Ik zal mij even voorstellen.
Ik ben Toon van Tuijl, 46 jaar. Ik woon in Eindhoven en heb hier een eigen ontwerpbureau " burovantuijl".
Meer informatie over mijzelf en mijn bedrijf kun je vinden op www.burovantuijl.com.

Het project waar ik aan ga werken is in kort uitgelegd het volgende:
Het bedrijf "SunnyDaze" produceert zelf ontwikkelde tuinmeubels en tuin-accessoires. Dit bedrijf zit met de huidige ontwerpen tegen een maximaal haalbare omzet aan en dit stagneert. Het bedrijf wil dit doorbreken door het afzetgebied te vergroten en een ruimer aanbod van meubels aan te bieden. Er is gepraat over o.a. de Europese markt. De bedrijfsleider heeft echter te weinig ervaring met het ontwikkelen voor o.a. deze markt, en in eigen land is er te weinig kennis op dit gebied. Hiervoor is dus DDID benaderd om een ontwerper/vormgever in te schakelen.

Waarom ik dit project ben aangegaan? Een goede vraag, waarop ik kan zeggen dat ik met mijn kennis iets terug wil doen voor het goede doel en meer ervaringen op persoonlijk- en beroeps-vlak op zal doen. Maar dat vind ik te makkelijk.
Natuurlijk wil ik hulp bieden aan dit soort landen en zal het "hopelijk" een onvergetelijke ervaring worden. Maar ik ga er vooral heen omdat ik het kan, qua kennis, ervaring en natuurlijk gezondheid.
Ik weet ook dat het project niet in drie en een halve week gedaan kan worden en dat er na deze periode veel contact nodig zal zijn om het geheel een kans van slagen te geven. Gelukkig leven we in het computer-tijdperk.
De eerste dagen zal ik zo veel mogelijk alles in mij op moeten nemen, zodat ik een goed beeld krijg van de situatie daar. Vooral werkwijze, manier van omgang, fabricage-methoden en wijze van presentatie (product-branding) zijn de hot items. De dagen daarna zal ik me concentreren op het maken en aandragen van voorstellen/concepten/oplossingen. Uitwerkingen hiervan zullen pas na overleg met Arif (bedrijfsleider van Sunny Daze) gemaakt gaan worden.

Het volgende bericht zal vanuit Kenia geschreven zijn. Hopelijk vinden we niet teveel beren op ons pad.

2006-05-15T02:23:00.000-07:00