Curator’s Choice: meet Giulia Principe & the work of Roelof Knol

Introducing you to one of our Dutch Digital Design curators. Our panel of creative experts who scout new digital and interactive work. Work that caught their eye, and - according to them - deserves to be in the spotlight. Together they select the amazing cases you will find on our Dutch Digital Design website, and are promoted on our social media channels - Instagram and LinkedIn - and other (international) media platforms like The Drum. This time it is Giulia Principe’s turn. Multimedia artist and art director at Amsterdam-based Capitola - an innovation-driven digital agency and one of our partner agencies. Giulia talks with us about her work, what drives her and why she loves the work of digital artist Roelof Knol.

Giulia’s journey - from Naples to Amsterdam

Born in Naples, Italy, and now living in Amsterdam. But why leave a beautiful country like Italy?

‘Jobs in tech were hard to find in Naples. So, after attending several creative media colleges in Naples, I went to the London Film Academy to fulfil my passion for film making and moving images. Here I was hoping to learn and find further ways to express myself visually. This was also the place where I became enthusiastic about editing and post-production, and got to grips with CGI (Computer Generated Imagery). A way to start combining storytelling and technology. However, London was not my place, and I moved to Amsterdam. A smaller city more suited to me and my way of living and working.

In Amsterdam I studied Game and Interactive Media Design at the SAE Institute. An institute that provides niche media programmes across the world. In 2014 I got myself an internship at EMS FILMS in Concept and Storyboard Art, and worked on a film called ‘Holland: Natuur in the Delta’.

However, my hunger for working with different media wasn’t fulfilled yet. I was amazed by all the things that could be done whilst editing. The world of media and technology was my oyster. There were so many applications. All the possibilities were insane. It felt like entering a different world. Like Alice in Wonderland: down the rabbit hole. Discovery after discovery.’

What makes Giulia tick

‘Some people might describe me as hyperactive, but I just have a lot of passions and interests, and don’t want to miss out on any developments and changes in technology if it can help me create more beautiful things. It makes me want to keep searching for more. I am a curious person by nature, and there is a lot to explore. But I do, of course, also love to chill and relax. I practise yoga, love music, movies, travel and photography. I have my own dark room and am exploring ways to use sustainable chemicals to develop my images.

Work is one of my passions. It is fun. I love mixing the analogue and digital world. To keep looking for tools that are the best to do this. From digital design and interactive animation to VR/AR and AI - from visual concept and design to exploring how it all works - the technology behind it all.

And with all of this, I am going with the flow, and seeing where this is all taking me. Of course, I would love to keep working on digital projects, but I would like to focus on projects that can make a difference and have a cultural impact. This is also why it is great working at Capitola: they have a good balance between commercial and cultural projects. For example, the fab AR project for Move Amsterdam and an interactive experience for The Mauritshuis Museum. I think it is great that we can raise awareness for social and cultural events/issues/projects with the help of digital technology.

So what technologies are currently rocking my boat? I’m into all the opportunities extended reality is offering us, like AR, VR and AI. How software programs like Blender and AI integration with Adobe Products help me improve my workflow. Technology enables me to find and create shortcuts. It keeps me on my toes because I’m always looking for ways to improve the way I work and the output I create.

Introducing Roelof Knol - digital artist

‘I first came across Roelof Knol’s work at the Nxt Museum - a museum dedicated to new media art - in 2021. Even though his installation ‘Connected’ was made before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was so relevant at that moment in time. Roelof created an incredibly impactful way to make people aware of their own private and shared space. How do we move together?

Each visitor is represented by an interactive visual on the floor, around their feet. This polygon merges together with other visitors’ polygons. Creating new networks of connections between visitors who are navigating through the exhibition. Turning private space into public space. Really impactful.

I then started following Roelof’s work. He is a new media artist in real-time interactive projection mapping. I don’t know him personally, but he is incredibly clever with technology, and pushes the boundaries of interactivity. Also highlighting that there is no interactivity without humans. He experiments with this human element: his art installations give total freedom to the user. Roelof won’t know exactly what his installation will look like: it is all down to the user. How the user interacts with it. He is a genuine source of inspiration to me. Using technology in a visually appealing way but always with a message. Do follow him on Instagram: roelofknol.’

Giulia & Capitola

‘Capitola’s mission is to create work that pushes the boundaries of technology, but always with a focus on creating something useful. We specialise in Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality, and are always searching for new technologies. A group of beautiful people. Driven. The perfect match for me: culturally and professionally.’