Dries has graduated at the Design Academy Eindhoven, department of Man and Living in 2002. Together with Claire Warnier, he has founded the design studio Unfold. He also works as a mentor at the Master’s Department at the Design Academy Eindhoven and previously held positions at Colorado State University (United States); LUCA School of Arts, university college of art and design (Belgium) and at the ICT & Media Design department of the Fontys University of Applied Sciences (the Netherlands).

Antwerp based design studio Unfold has a strong multidisciplinary approach to design, technology and art. What is the role of the designer and how is it changing in a time when design and manufacturing become increasingly more digitised? This question is key to understanding their work, as the studio develops projects that investigate new ways of creating, manufacturing, financing and distributing in a changing context

A context in which we see a merging of aspects of the pre-industrial craft economy with high tech industrial production methods and digital communication networks. A context that has the potential to shift power, from industrial producers and those regulating infrastructure to the individual designer and the consumer.

Their approach is investigative and humoristic, rich in experimentation; more about the process than the final piece; about design, but also everything around it. Unfold often collaborates with a vast network of kindred spirits and specialists.

In one of their projects, “l'Artisan Électronique”, the duo has developed a 3D printing method for ceramics, situated at the intersection of craft, industry, and digital making.

In 2014, they have co-edited the book “Printing things, Visions and Essentials for 3D Printing” - an inspirational and understandable exploration of the creative potential of 3D printing that introduces outstanding projects, key experts, and the newest technologies.

Work by Unfold has been presented internationally at numerous museums, from the Z33 House for Contemporary Art (Belgium) to the New Museum, New York (United States), and has covered internationally in publications such as New York Times, International Herald Tribune to Designers or Makers by Stephen Hoskins.