Meet Ditmar: our new design engineer

August 31, 2023

"I want to create intricate precision artworks"

An old acquaintance has returned to the Spark nest. Two years ago, Ditmar van der Burgh did an internship at Spark and then completed his studies in Industrial Product Design (IPO) at Hogeschool Rotterdam.

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As a team, you know more

"The welcoming atmosphere at Spark was a significant reason for coming back. I've worked on projects for many companies, but the team's ambiance and personal attention make Spark unique. You're given a lot of responsibility, and your input is valued. A project is truly a team effort. Everyone has their own specialty, and that's where the learning happens.

Precision work

My specialization is fine mechanics. I love creating small mechanical puzzles. It's fantastic when, after a lot of intricate work, the puzzle fits together; within Spark, these are often medical projects. The project I'm currently working on, the bionic pancreas, compared to making watches, isn't as delicate, even though it involves needles with a diameter of 0.5 mm.

Wearable design

My passion lies in watchmaking. I've always collected watches. They are wearable pieces of art. Alongside that, functionality and ergonomics are incorporated. And of course, it's useful if it's practical and you can tell the time. In the photo, you can see my 1950 Pontiac, of Dutch-Belgian origin. It's a chronograph watch with a beautifully symmetrical design. By today's standards, it's a small model that fits nicely on my relatively thin wrists. I made the strap myself, using very supple elk leather.

During my IPO studies, I started building watches on my own. And now, my ambition is to attend the prestigious watch design program in Milan. If I don't make it through the rigorous selection process, I'm very happy to continue pursuing my passion for precision mechanics at Spark.

Love for the old

In my free time, I'm still tinkering, but on a larger scale. Three years ago, I bought a 1968 Volvo 142 coupe. And I'm in the process of restoring it. Working on it in the garage or going for drives with friends brings me a lot of joy."

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