Startup Utrecht Region — Studio Remco van Baren

A multidisciplinary designer based in Arnhem, recently graduated from the Artez Institute of the Arts. With a focus on blending graphic design, 3D modeling, audio, research practices, and accessibility, my work spans both digital and print media.

Feel free to reach out for collaborations / opportunities.

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Startup Utrecht Region

3D/ Branding/ Animation

2026

A Book Fell Off a Building, Exploded

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/// Startup Utrecht Region
Visualising Utrecht’s fertile ground for startups.

3D models, Shading & Motion Design
Created at Makepublic, 2026
3D visuals and animation by Remco van Baren

While working at Makepublic, I created the 3D visuals and animations for Startup Utrecht Region and Crossroads, including the logo animations for both brands. The identities share an idea of fertile ground: an environment where entrepreneurs, ideas and connections can take root and grow. My role was to give this concept a three-dimensional form and bring it into motion.

The objects take their inspiration from the ingredients of soil: minerals, sand, iron, calcium and organic matter. Each has its own silhouette, from angular, crystalline shapes to softer, rounded forms. Together, they translate the idea of a thriving startup ecosystem into a family of colourful objects, with a prominent role in the playful identity of Crossroads.

Minerals

Sand

Iron

Calcium

Organic Matter

I translated flat illustrations into 3D objects in Blender, giving each shape volume and depth while preserving its recognisable silhouette. I also created custom shaders to define how light interacts with the surfaces, combining translucency with the brand colours of Startup Utrecht Region and Crossroads. Through lighting and animation, I explored how these materials change as the objects rotate, revealing different facets, shifting highlights and colour combinations. The animations were prepared as seamless loops with transparent backgrounds, allowing the objects to be used across layouts and presentations.

The same objects become part of the typography in the logo animations: the mineral form takes the place of the “A” in Startup, while the orange sand form replaces an “O” in Crossroads. They rotate within the wordmarks before expanding to fill the frame, creating a transition from one brand to the other. This connects the two identities through movement and gives the 3D forms a role within the logos themselves.