Fuck-up Meetup: Beyond Applause: Good Intentions Aren’t Enough

Doing good is not enough.

Social and circular initiatives often receive applause and admiration — but when the spotlight fades, the real struggle begins. How do you turn social impact into structural change? And how do you keep attention, hope and courage alive in times of war?

At this special Fuck-up Meetup edition of the EHV Innovation Café, we give the floor to designers who are hitting real limits — economic, social, emotional. Together we’ll explore how our Give-to-Grow community can help them move forward.

Isaac Monté & Eleni Karagiannidou – Social & Circular Designers, Greece
• Superpower: Turning wheat straw into social impact
• Struggle: Making social and circular design economically viable

Daryna Pasyuta, Marjo van Schaik & Fulco Treffers – Designers & Cultural Connectors, NL/UA
• Superpower: Keeping design alive under the threat of war
• Struggle: Holding attention and connection beyond the first wave of empathy
+ more Ukrainian speakers to be announced soon

This is not about sudden humanitarian aid workers stepping in, but about designers who claim their role by placing people and nature at the center. They work across borders — both literal and figurative — and continuously seek connection, using creation as their tool. That is what true social design looks like.

Join us for an honest conversation at this Fuck-up Meetup.
Together we’ll explore how to move from applause to action.

Moderated by Charlotte Grün

Monday during DDW, October 20th, Walk-in from 17:30 | Talks from 18:00
@ Kazerne, downtown Eindhoven
Free entrance, English Spoken, Open to All
Grab your ticket and come see the future in the making!

Isaac Monté & Eleni Karagiannidou
Turning wheat straw into social impact

Staramaki is a social and circular enterprise in Greece that turns wheat straw into sustainable products. Their story always inspires: circular economy, social inclusion, and beautiful design. But as co-founder Isaac Monté and Eleni Karagiannidou explain, inspiration is not enough. Once the applause fades, they face the hard truth: social and environmental value is rarely translated into actual revenue. Sustainable solutions are labeled “too expensive,” while the hidden costs of polluting alternatives remain invisible. The challenge: how to bridge the gap between social impact and economic viability? How to grow a community of ambassadors who support now, not “when prices come down”?

Daryna Pasyuta, Marjo van Schaik & Fulco Treffers
Keeping design alive under the threat of war

Ukrainian and Dutch designers share what it means to design in wartime. With contributions from Daryna Pasyuta, Marjo van Schaik, Fulco Treffers and Ukrainian colleagues, we hear personal and professional stories from the frontline. Almost four years into the war, the challenge is no longer emergency relief, but keeping attention, empathy and culture alive. Life in Ukraine is not hopeless — people continue to create, design, and resist. Yet here in the West, fear grows. How do designers, architects and artists keep going, and how do we stay connected to their struggles?

Be part of the conversation. Join us for drinks, talks, and new connections!

Our events are open to all. Expect an evening with inspiring ideas, critical questions, and imaginative alternatives to the status quo. Mark the event in your calendar and secure your ticket here. Walk in is also possible but the seats for the Fuck Up are limited. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

Also check out other Arts events in Eindhoven, Meetups in Eindhoven, Contests in Eindhoven.