Riz Vermeulen

As part of the cast for COC Nederland's first TV commercial on NPO, I shared my experiences with online hate as a queer person. The messages I've received are highlighted in the video to show the things people dare to say online, and to show the real human impact behind them.

By bringing real messages to the screen, we wanted to prove that online hate never stays online. Being part of this cast allowed me to share my story, highlight the human impact of cyber harassment, and advocate for a safer online space.

Working as a barista and all-round employee at Popolo, combining kitchen and bakery tasks, made-to-order sandwich preparation, and front-of-house service.

Worked as a barista and front-of-house employee at Club Gelato, combining sales, gelato scooping, and opening/closing responsibilities.

I was responsible for creating and managing daily content across all social media platforms, maintaining the organization’s websites, and managing webcare. I supported our project leaders with campaigns such as Remember the Future and Paarse Vrijdag, and collaborated within alliances with other NGOs to strengthen our collective message by different projects. Additionally I also maintained the internal contact across the COC Federation to help keep volunteers and local member associations connected.

Volunteered as part of the core organizing team for the first Pride The Hague in five years. Focused on setting up and structuring communication channels and strategy, and developed and produced the Storytellers concept: a video series giving queer residents of The Hague the space to share their stories, identities, and relationships, focussed at giving visibility to a community that had remained invisible in the city.

Spoke as a panelist during the official opening of Pride The Hague, discussing the importance of representation, the stories behind the Storytellers series, and why Pride remains necessary in today's society.

Participated as a panelist in a talk organized by the City of The Hague ahead of Coming Out Day, part of a wider program of activities for and by the LGBTQIA+ community. Moderated by Dounia Jari, the conversation brought together myself, Lionel Jokhoe, Alejandra Ortiz, and Stevie Stunner to discuss the experience of being queer in The Hague and what the city still needs to become more inclusive.

I started with Media and Entertainment Management (MEM), which evolved into Creative Business during my studies, shifting the focus from theoretical education towards experience in the professional field. As a result, I completed my degree not with a traditional thesis, but with a practical end-product for a client's immediate use, combining research with creative execution to translate ideas into media concepts and formats that carry real meaning for people, brands, and society.

My graduation project reflected this: a market research and crossmedia campaign plan commissioned by Voyager Media for their podcast production Biologica, covering strategy, creative campaign assets, cost estimates, rollout, and monitoring. Everything came together here: societal impact through making science accessible to a broad audience, strategic thinking, creative design work, and a hands-on production component.