Max van Lingen
Max van Lingen has a background in Communication Design, Strategic Brand&Design Management and Brand Innovation. Human Centered Design and Purpose Driven Social Innovation are important motivations for his work. With more than 20 years of experience in international fashion brand marketing, of which the last 5 years in West and Central African context, Max did develop a vision on the meaning of fashion beyond image and aesthetics. As a social innovator he utilises fashion as a tool to have a social meaning and impact. Van Lingen for instance affirms that fashion can be one of the possible solutions to youth unemployment in Africa, diversifying local added value industries and strengthening local small-scale creative makers-networks and start-ups. In this context, Max developed the concept of an “African Fashion Facilitation Ecosystem”, based on service thinking, knowledge transfer, insights sharing and value networks with traders, tailors, dressmakers, designers, stylists, entrepreneurs, media and consumers. Internet , social media and mobile technology plays an increasing role of importance, connecting Africa with the rest of the world.
Image from Max's research archives: Ethnographic consumer research, to observe and understand consumers in their real context.
“I see Africa as a source of inspiration for the rest of the world. New insights and new solutions can come from this expressive, creative, resilient and more-and-more connected continent.”