OUR TEAM

The development of experiences embraces all forms of creative disciplines. Our team provides holistic thinking and overview. We ignore traditional boundaries between the diverse disciplines. NorthernLight brings strategic thinking and creative planning to the table.

Our team embrace the skills of designers, architects, writers, artists, interaction designer, biologists, historic writers, social media experts, film makers and strategists; All passionately working on developing the coolest experiences. Our international team has 20 professionals working on:

Exhibition design
Interior architecture
Strategic consulting
Copywriting & scripting
Content creation

Graphic & Brand design
Interaction design
Multimedia design
Software development
Project management

Meet our team

Office tour

Dedicated and experienced team

In house, NorthernLight has a dedicated and experienced team of designers, project managers and content managers. Our designers include specialists in the field of graphic design, interior design, exhibition design and interaction design.

The NorthernLight design team is a mix of young and experienced designers. This guarantees that we can bring the latest media and technologies to our projects, without neglecting proven technology and conventional wisdom.

Complimentary to the design team, NorthernLight has dedicated project managers and content managers in house. The project managers can run complex design projects, as well as manage turn-key design-build projects. The content managers form a bridge between the client and the designers, making sure the content and stories – that form the backbone of each project – are researched and developed in detail.

Additionally – on a project basis – we work closely with a specially selected group of designers and technical experts, in the field of exhibition design, digital media, lighting and audiovisual hardware. If a project so requires, we will form a content team including specialists and science communicators to further develop the content and storyline.

NorthernLight

Co-Founders:

Peter Slavenburg

Peter is one of the co-founders of NorthernLight. In 1997 he decided to start up NorthernLight together with Steven Schaeken. Peter has worked as a project leader and creative director on over 50 projects worldwide. He has extensive experience in the world of museums, science centres, visitor centres and brand experiences.

In recent years, Peter has focussed on developing projects with a synergy between physical and digital experiences, using new media such as multi touch tables, augmented reality, RFID and smartphone apps. This lead to the start of a new NorthernLight business unit, “digital experiences”.

In 2008, Peter lived for half a year in China, coordinating the design of the new exhibition of the immense China Science and Technology Museum, as well a setting up the China office of NorthernLight.

Peter completed his MSc in Design Engineering summa cum laude at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. Prior to founding NorthernLight, he worked as a designer for the NEMO science centre in Amsterdam, where he developed and designed its exhibition gallery on human psychology. Before that, he worked for 2 years as a photographer for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), traveling to Albania, Kenya, Sudan, Malawi and Mozambique.

Peter’s Talks and Publications

2012

keynote speaker at Creative Industries China conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
keynote speaker at Creativity Now, Haarlem, The Netherlands

2011

Keynote speaker BNO Tallk Apps and Tabs, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Keynote speaker PICNIC presentation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Pecha Kucha Ecsite Annual Conference, Warsaw, Poland
Keynote Speaker at Creative Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2010

Keynote speaker Ad Monday presentation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Pecha Kucha Ecsite Annual Conference, Dortmund, Germany

2009

Keynote speaker at Xmedia Lab, Hilversum, The Netherlands

2008

Keynote Speaker at Hong Kong Business of Design Week, Hong Kong, China
Keynote Speaker at Pinc Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Keynote speaker Holland House Conference during Olympics, Bejing, China
Interview Chinese radio (January)

2007

Publication “Seven Commandments” in European Museum Scenography Yearbook
Pecha Kucha, Shanghai, China

2006

Keynote speaker at ECSITE Conference, Mechelen, Belgium

Steven Schaeken

Steven started his professional career at the Nemo Science Centre in Amsterdam, where he designed award-winning educational gaming environments on banking, telecommunication and transport. In 1997, Steven co-founded NorthernLight and is currently director of the company, together with Peter Slavenburg. As such, Steven has overseen the design and development of a wide variety of visitor attraction’s, museums and expo’s in Europe, the Middle-East and the Americas.

Steven and Peter both studied industrial design engineering at Delft Technical University. In a legendary study trip to Barcelona their paths crossed, this was the start of a long term collaboration.

NorthernLight is a cross-media experience creation company, that designs and develops unique informative environments where virtual and real reality blend. “ As I child I spent my time creating fantasy worlds and cartoons. I adored the early Disney period. My dream was to travel the world to discover new cultures, cities and animals; As a teener I had to balance my interests in art, history and technolgy; As an adult I got lucky to be able to be in developing all of these disciplines through my profession as experience designer.”

Always on the look-out for new creative ventures, Steven, is also involved in new startup and initiatives.

Steven’s Talks and Publications

2014

Keynote 3C’s development for social change. Science Centre World Summit, Mechelen 2014; Public engagement for a better world.
Keynote Library Amsterdam; the library of the future; from building collections to making connections.
Partner Touchpoints persuasive design tools program. Applied University Utrecht

2013

Santos Ecolution Week, Brazil. Developer School sustainable design workshops
Advisor to Amazon Live Foundation
NHTV Breda University of applied sciences in Master in Media Innovation, member of the advisory board and external examinator
Keynote Experience Design Event Eindhoven – design for social change

2012

Elected Delegation member of Creative Industries Sector at the biggest Dutch Trade Mission supported by H.R.H Prince Willem Alexander and H.R.H. Princess Máxima
ITEMS design magazine publication; the future of experiences
Artez Institute of the Arts, masterclass Gamification

2011

NHTV Breda University of applied sciences in Master in Media Innovation, guest lecturer and student coach
Keynote Speaker at Creative Urban Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

2010

Comittee member of the international evaluation proces, Czech Republic ‘Research and Development for Innovation’ Programme
Jury member for materia experience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Participant of innovation industries’ Silicon Valley Mission, USA

2007

Médellin science centre, Colombia leader of a 5 days workshop and masterclass for the Explora design team