John founded Doors of Perception as a conference in Amsterdam in 1993: it now organises festivals and projects around the world in which grassroots innovators work with designers to imagine sustainable futures - and take practical steps to realize them.   John was the first Director (1993-1999) of the Netherlands Design Institute. He was programme director in 2007 of Designs of the Time (Dott 07) a new biennial in North East England. In 2008 he was commissioner of City Eco Lab at Cite du Design in St Etienne, the most important French design biennial. John is a an Associate of The Young Foundation, UK; senior advisor on sustainability to the UK Design Council; and an advisor on sustainability indicators to Agence France Presse.