This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

Christiaan Maats is a designer and entrepreneur who challenges the way we look at product design. Going beyond form and function he shows us how products carry deeper layers of meaning and how those layers can connect us to a bigger reality. In this Talk, Christiaan Maats explains how meaningful products can embody the change we want to see in the world and sheds light on his own vision of a circular society that integrates industrial society with its natural roots.

Christiaan Maats was born and raised in Groningen, though he studied Industrial Design Engineering at Technical University in Delft. His keen interest in the psychology behind product- and brand experience took him to Sydney, Australia where he conducted a case study titled "Storytelling through product design." Good product design is good storytelling, according to Christiaan. His creation of the world’s first biodegradable shoes that bloom is a perfect example of his philosophy. Christiaan considers himself a practical idealist. He is driven by his passion for innovation and creating products and brands that inspire a better future by making you smile, think and wonder. His refreshing ideas on sustainable innovation disrupt the status quo. Christiaan's diverse background and enthusiasm are great ingredients for an inspiring TEDx Talk that focuses on the society of the future and how to get there.