FOR THE NOW returns to present 52 Belgium-based designers during 1 weekend.

On November 22 and 23, the Maison de la Poste at Tour & Taxis Brussels will once again be the place-to-be for design professionals and enthusiasts. For the seventh consecutive year, FOR THE NOW will showcase a curated selection of emerging and more established Belgium-based designers across a variety of disciplines.

Unique design showcase

For this 7th edition, FOR THE NOW (formerly known as Contemporary Design Market) will present 50 design projects, next to a 'binôme' duo collaborating and the Designer of the Year 2025. Visitors will discover some of the most interesting Belgian design initiatives today.

To build this edition, FOR THE NOW reached out to designers and creatives in Belgium from a wide variety of backgrounds. In doing so, FOR THE NOW wants to contribute to a more inclusive design world, making this event a truly unique opportunity to discover fresh designs.

The selection was curated by a distinguished jury of design and art experts, including artistic project director and multidisciplinary artist Alex Akuete, Head of design and architecture at Knack Weekend & Le Vif Weekend Amélie Rombauts, interior design and home decor content creator Paulien De Clercq, and founder of Yellow Window Design Axel Enthoven.

The binôme duo 2025: Robin Berrewaerts & Viva Sage

With the binôme project FOR THE NOW encourages experimentation and exchange between designers and creatives from different backgrounds or identities. The creative outcome of these collaborations challenges the conventional notions of design and is showcased at FOR THE NOW. This year the platform brings together young Belgian designer Robin Berrewaerts and Belgium-based photographer/ artist from Soweto Viva Sage.

When Viva Sage, The Dandy Artist, and Robin Berrewaerts, a material explorer and visual storyteller, began their creative dialogue, the result was never going to be ordinary. The duo brings together two distinct energies: Viva’s theatrical flair and obsession with narrative dressing, and Robin’s rooted, tactile curiosity for form, function, and tension.

At this time, the photos show only the unfinished prototypes, the finalised series will be revealed at FOR THE NOW.

Designer of the Year

The Designer of the Year is the prestigious award initiated in 2006 by lifestyle magazines Knack Weekend and Le Vif Weekend. Since the partnership in 2023, FOR THE NOW presents the Designer of the Year at their event. The collaboration stems from a shared commitment of providing a platform for Belgian design talent.

Maarten De Ceulaer studied at Sint-Lucas Brussels and graduated in 2009 from the Design Academy Eindhoven. During his studies, he gained international attention with his Suitcase Series, a sculptural cabinet inspired by stacks of travel suitcases. With this, he laid the foundation for a career that moves between handcrafted limited editions and experimental gallery work on the one hand, and larger design commissions on the other.

In the following years, Maarten worked on numerous projects with a pronounced aesthetic and sensitivity to materials. His projects often stem from a personal fascination with a form, a material, a technique. This intuitive approach has led to designs that are both rationally structured and emotionally charged.

Opening event 

On Friday 21 November at 17:30 FOR THE NOW will host a VIP opening event. Journalists can contact stefan@fdc.be to join the event.

The programme includes an inspiring interview by Amélie Rombauts from Weekend Knack/ Le Vif Weekend with the Designer of the Year 2025, followed by a talk with the binôme designers. Afterwards guests can enjoy a festive drink, meet with the designers, and be the first to discover all the works on display.

A resident DJ for BRUZZ radio will play, and cocktails and mocktails provided by The Mocktail Club will be served.

About FOR THE NOW

FOR THE NOW is a curated presentation platform for emerging and more established Belgium-based designers, working across various design disciplines and with a variety of techniques. It is a unique opportunity to discover new designs and meet emerging talent.

FOR THE NOW is organised by Flanders District of Creativity and supported by Knack Weekend/ Le Vif Weekend, BRUZZ, Brussels Design September and The Mocktail Club.