From revolutionary strollers to new market segments
For over 40 years, Modyn, formerly known as Van der Veer designers, has been a creative design studio bringing together brand strategy, product innovation, and technology. With a passion for mobility and a sharp focus on user experience, we develop products that move people, brands, and the planet forward. From groundbreaking strollers to innovative bike seats, Modyn has left a lasting mark on the juvenile market.
BabyWereld spoke with Modyn owner Gert-Jan van Breugel about his vision for children’s mobility products, the challenges of sustainable innovation, and the balance between technology and simplicity.
Driving Mobility Forward
Mobility has been at the heart of Modyn’s work for decades. Beyond the baby market, we design for industries such as cycling and public transport, while building our reputation with iconic products like the Quinny Zapp and Quinny Moodd. At a time when strollers were bulky and relied on simple 2D folding, we introduced a compact 3D-folding system in collaboration with Quinny founder Dick Quint, creating one of the smallest strollers with a bold, distinctive look. It was nothing short of a revolution.
From Insight to Impact
New ventures often begin with an entrepreneur spotting an opportunity but not yet knowing how to act on it. Together, we translate insights into strategy and product design, moving step by step from vision to realization. This approach defined our collaboration with Thule, guiding their entry into a new market: child car seats. By aligning Thule’s brand DNA with innovation in safety, ease of use, and experience, we helped create a complete line of car seats, equipped with unique features like the EasyDock system, now sold worldwide.
Flexibility for Families on the Move
As cities evolve and cars disappear from urban centers, families seek flexible solutions for daily mobility. Products must adapt to multiple contexts, sometimes merging stroller, bike trailer, and baby carrier functions. At the same time, ergonomics remain key: children should not spend extended time in passive positions, and specialized products must excel in their core purpose.
A New Generation of Parents
Today’s parents are better informed and more discerning. They look beyond convenience to consider health, safety, and sensory experience. Air quality, temperature, and noise all matter. This shift sets higher standards for the products we design.
Design, Color & Material Innovation
Our dedicated CMF team (Color, Material & Finish) ensures every product resonates with its target audience. Color trends have a direct impact on sales: after years of muted tones, fresh and playful palettes are making a comeback. These shifts often transcend industries, linking baby products with cycling and automotive design. Technology integration follows the same principle—functional, seamless, and always on-brand.
Sustainability: Opportunity & Challenge
Sustainability is central to our design philosophy. We explore natural and high-performance materials with suppliers, fully capable of designing 100% sustainable products. Yet challenges remain: higher costs often make premium, eco-friendly products less accessible. Market leaders tend to wait until smaller players prove success. Start-ups like Hummingbird, winner of the Baby Innovation Award 2025 in the Mobility Stroller/Buggy category, are paving the way.
Success Stories in the Juvenile Segment
Beyond compact strollers, our innovation in bike seats reshaped the market. Where heavy metal frames once dominated, we introduced lightweight EVA material from the footwear industry, soft, weatherproof, and colorful. The result was Yepp, a global success later acquired by Thule, and still a best-seller today.
Navigating Product Development Challenges
Not every idea reaches the market. Over-engineering or lack of a go-to-market plan can derail promising concepts. Starting small, gathering user feedback, and improving iteratively is often the smarter path.
The Future of Baby Tech
Smart technology is increasingly part of juvenile products, integrated lighting, air-quality sensors, and safety alerts are only the beginning. Like smartwatches, such features will soon feel natural. The challenge lies in integrating technology to enhance safety, comfort, and brand value without overcomplicating the product.
Beyond Mobility: Health & Wellbeing
We also look beyond traditional mobility, exploring health-tech opportunities: breathable mattresses, ergonomic rockers, and smart solutions for indoor climate in children’s rooms. As health and wellbeing rise in importance, new market opportunities emerge.
Between High-Tech and Back-to-Basics
Not every parent seeks more technology. Simplicity and calm are just as powerful. That’s why we develop future scenarios—one where high-tech dominates and one where minimalism prevails. Reality often lands in between, and we help brands make the right choices today for tomorrow’s market.
The juvenile market is evolving rapidly. Technology, sustainability, and flexibility drive innovation, while simplicity and timelessness remain equally valued. Whether through advanced solutions or back-to-basic design, one principle always guides us: products must add real value to parent and child, built on safety, comfort and sustainability.
