Meet Joachim Froment of futurewave

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joachim Froment.

Hi Joachim, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Foundations and Early Lessons
My trajectory began at La Cambre in Brussels, where I cultivated my core design sensibilities. I then deepened my expertise with a Master’s in Product Design from the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 2017. This academic foundation was crucial and I was honor to win the Rado design prize during the London design week that same year which boosted my career. But it was my time in Copenhagen at Skibsted Ideation that shaped my professional rigor. Working with iconic Scandinavian brands taught me the delicate balance between functional excellence and clean, timeless aesthetics, a lesson that remains at the heart of my work today.

The Evolution: Futurewave
In 2020, I founded Futurewave, with the firm belief that technology should never be disconnected. By leading a multidisciplinary team of 20 talented creatives and technologists, I oversee the end-to-end realization of products that defy the traditional boundaries of manufacturing. We treat every project as a dialogue between poetry and technology, ensuring that even the most complex technical systems possess the soul and tactile elegance of a luxury object.

Whether collaborating with global leaders like LVMH, Adidas, Renault, or Swatch Group, our methodology remains consistent: we strip away the friction of modern tech to reveal its essential, human value. We don’t just design hardware; we redefine how users integrate and experience the technology that shapes their daily lives.

At Futurewave, my role as creative director allows me to collaborate with industry-leading luxury and technology brands worldwide. We operate at a unique junction: we don’t just design objects; we bridge the gap between artistic expression and industrial feasibility. Our mission is to move beyond mere aesthetic trends, focusing instead on creating physical products that are technically advanced, sustainable, and emotionally resonant for the 21st century.

Where I Am Today
Today, I am proud to see this philosophy recognized through various accolades, including recent honors like the iF Design Award, the CES Innovation Award, the Core77 Award, Good design Award and others. These milestones represent more than just individual success; they validate a collaborative approach that combines scientific rigor with a human-centric perspective.

Having spent years refining our approach to industrial feasibility and artistic expression, my current focus is expanding this vision within the US technology landscape. I am deeply invested in the next frontier of design:

Tech Wearables: Creating devices that feel like an extension of the body rather than an accessory.

Robotics: Infusing human-centric design into autonomous systems to make them approachable and harmonious.

Transportation: Reimagining the mobility experience through the lens of both sustainability and high-performance craft.

I am eager to partner with more forward-thinking US brands to push the boundaries of what is possible. By aligning our deep technical expertise with a commitment to emotive, high-end design, we can go beyond mere innovation, we can imagine and build the future together.

My work is rooted in the idea that industrial design can create a meaningful physical improvement for the 21st century. He combines scientific rigor, advanced manufacturing technologies, and artistic sensitivity to create durable, sustainable, and forward-thinking objects.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
While Futurewave skyrocketed in its first five years, that rapid ascent forced us to confront the inherent complexities of building high-end hardware within the European landscape, where traditional manufacturing often struggles to match the velocity of modern tech. Navigating this gap taught us how to be masters of both technical feasibility and aesthetic rigor, but it also made it clear that our ambition for radical innovation outpaced our geography.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Futurewave is an award-winning design & technology studio.
We design intelligent physical objects that turn technology into human experience. Futurewave is collaborating with design, luxury, and technology companies, such as Sony, Renault, LVMH, Adidas and others to develop forward-thinking physical products.
We help teams define, design, and validate technology-driven physical products by aligning product vision, system architecture, and feasibility before industrialization.
Our multidisciplinary team, combining creatives and tech experts, is specialized in physical tech products such as smart wearables, robotics and transportation, from early concepting to prototyping and pre-industrialization.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Going to fairs and participating to conferences in my sector.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.futurewave.eu/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/futurewave_design/