Founding The Folks of Amsterdam, an independent journalistic platform that encourages authenticity and celebrates creativity.
Co-created with Jerome de Lint, Siji Jabbar, and Paul Roest.
Services
Brand Strategy
Brand Identity
Naming
UX Design
Visual Design
Event Design
Publishing
Result
Three sold-out events
Dozens of published stories
55.000 clicks per interview (average)
15.000+ followers
Limited edition table-book
Sharing and learning
as a community builder
The Folks of Amsterdam represents the glories and failures of everyone who launches a business. Each interview is designed to reveal insights into how the creative entrepreneur takes on the darker chapters of his/her life and career. As a result, the platform is a source of learning as each candidate shares their honest business story.
Sold out events
The Folks of Amsterdam started as a digital magazine. Soon after, I launched The Folks Talks; events where people could meet, share and learn. All events sold out immediatly.
Video portraits
By launching 30” video portraits, online visitors could browse through content quickly and get to know Folks in a hurry. To keep things authentic, most videos are a compilation of one-takes, portraying people as natural as possible.
Extra, extra,
read all about it.
In 2021, I created and published a table book featuring the best stories to inspire folks. The magazine is sold at famous independent magazine stores in Amsterdam, Berlin, the UK, and Zurich, such as Do You Read Me? MagCulture, and the Monocle Kiosk.
The Folks Magazine is the biggest project I’ve ever worked on. And I believe it is far from finished, as people want to open up as much as they want to learn. We're entering a new era where it's all about 'we' instead of 'me'’ and that's something we should continue to encourage. I’d love to share my thoughts and learnings with you.
Credits
Founder / Creative Director
Dorien Franken
Editor at large
Siji Jabbar
Photography
Jerome de Lint
Film and editing
Paul Roest
(RubenPaulRuben)
Writers
Daphne van Langen
Inge Oosterhoff
Dorien Franken
Siji Jabbar
Event Partners
Hans Brouwer, Massive Music
A’DAM&Co.
Wouter Wolters, QO Hotel
Freek Kroesbergen, BNO
Visit the project
Website
The Folks of Amsterdam