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Dutch Design Week
BY
Ng Sijia
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Located in a strong economic region in Southeast Netherlands, Eindhoven is a city set amongst countries such as Germany, Belgium and France. With such an advantageous geographical location, it makes perfect sense for top-notch companies and professionals to converge there for exchanges of ideas on technology, knowledge and innovation, a term synonymous with design in recent years. In 2006, Eindhoven made a bold move by proclaiming itself European Design Capital 2006, and proved itself worthy of the title when the European Union commissioned the city as a developer of European Design Management in 2007.
Amidst such a strong atmosphere of design culture, the year 2007 sees the return of Dutch Design Week (DDW) with an excellent showing in the European design scene. From 20 – 28 October 2007, the 6th annual large-scale event organized by Design Platform Eindhoven provided international design enthusiasts and leading industry players such as Philips Design with the opportunity to attend 140 events in more than 40 locations around the city.
The theme of Dutch Design Week 2007 was ‘Design Works’ and covered virtually all design disciplines from product design to design management. Participants were classified according to locations in the city, namely, Strijp-S - Klokgebouw, De Witte Dame, Tu/e and Other. DDW Design Shuttles enabled ease of reach to the venues of choice with a small fee of 1.50 euros per ride or 5 euros for a day ticket.
One of the highlights of DDW was the inspiring and thought-provoking Graduation Galleries which exhibited works by Bachelor and Master students from the acclaimed Design Academy Eindhoven. Founded in 1947, New York Times described the academy as "without question, currently the best design academy in the world" and it was not difficult to see why. The talent and creativity of the young designers contained in a single space, De Witte Dame (a former Philips factory) provided a lucid insight into the promising future of Dutch Design.
Remaining true to the famed style of Dutch design, exhibited works ranged from technology-driven products to nostalgic articles, with most innovative in their own ways and pushing the boundaries of design. Challenging conventional notions of everyday objects, several designers have taken it upon themselves to transform the language of products used in daily life and introduced new perspectives on viewing them, be it in terms of aesthetical and/or functional value.
Of particular interest is the Ventilator: Movement, time and weight by Steven Kessels. With its operating mechanism based on clockwork in the bygone days and the blades of the design reminiscent of the wings of an airplane, the tasteful combination of old and new techniques blurs the boundaries of art and design. It is easy for one to imagine the Ventilator adorning the wall or ceiling as a beautiful ornament, in effect transforming the entire interior of its immediate surroundings. It is truly a design which has value in itself.
Equally exciting were the design activities held at Klokgebouw at Strijp-S (also a former Philips complex). The space ‘Dutch Living Room’ was notably for leading Dutch design industry professionals and bureaus that presented their latest developments. Based on the theme of Niche Vehicle Design, the Design on Wheels show from The Automotive Technology Centre proved to be a fascinating collection of more than 15 concept cars and exclusive models. Featuring models from renowned brands such as Audi, Peugeot and Spyker, designs of the automotives were visually arresting and evoked innovative use of materials and future technologies. The Citroen C-Buggy particularly strikes one as having a carefree personality in a sea of car models with businesslike attitudes.
Another notable exhibition was the HolyTac! Design Festival at the Temporary Art Center (TAC). 30 designers and other creatives were given blank slates to express their objects of admiration, worship and beliefs. Not a typical design exhibition, HolyTac! explored philosophical issues such as the design of belief and the belief in design. It was more of an interactive exhibition where visitors were encouraged to join in contributing their ideas. It also investigated religions and religious designs sans obvious religious messaging. Visitors at Holytac! were noticed to be significantly deeper in thought as though they retreated inwards to question their own beliefs.
Infusing technology with her own religious beliefs, designer Angela Jansen came up with the levitating chalice using technology from Crealev, an Eindhoven based company well-known for its levitation technologies. The clever use of technology results in a magical effect which is most apt for spiritual topics such as religion. Taking a different approach in expressing his ideas, designer Etienne Reijnders encourages people to have more faith in themselves simply by attaching his ‘Sacred Me’ lamp to their seats where users will instantly be flooded by a divine crown of light. It was indeed interesting to see the different interpretations of beliefs each designer held.
These were just a few of the many outstanding and inspiring events held at Dutch Design Week 2007. Dutch Design Week 2008 will certainly be awaited with much anticipation.
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Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven
20-28 October 2007
Photos and text courtesy of Ng Sijia
TAXI Design Network is honored to have been in Eindhoven on 20-28 October 2007 to partake in this prestigious event.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2003-2008 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.
Amidst such a strong atmosphere of design culture, the year 2007 sees the return of Dutch Design Week (DDW) with an excellent showing in the European design scene. From 20 – 28 October 2007, the 6th annual large-scale event organized by Design Platform Eindhoven provided international design enthusiasts and leading industry players such as Philips Design with the opportunity to attend 140 events in more than 40 locations around the city.
The theme of Dutch Design Week 2007 was ‘Design Works’ and covered virtually all design disciplines from product design to design management. Participants were classified according to locations in the city, namely, Strijp-S - Klokgebouw, De Witte Dame, Tu/e and Other. DDW Design Shuttles enabled ease of reach to the venues of choice with a small fee of 1.50 euros per ride or 5 euros for a day ticket.
One of the highlights of DDW was the inspiring and thought-provoking Graduation Galleries which exhibited works by Bachelor and Master students from the acclaimed Design Academy Eindhoven. Founded in 1947, New York Times described the academy as "without question, currently the best design academy in the world" and it was not difficult to see why. The talent and creativity of the young designers contained in a single space, De Witte Dame (a former Philips factory) provided a lucid insight into the promising future of Dutch Design.
Remaining true to the famed style of Dutch design, exhibited works ranged from technology-driven products to nostalgic articles, with most innovative in their own ways and pushing the boundaries of design. Challenging conventional notions of everyday objects, several designers have taken it upon themselves to transform the language of products used in daily life and introduced new perspectives on viewing them, be it in terms of aesthetical and/or functional value.
Of particular interest is the Ventilator: Movement, time and weight by Steven Kessels. With its operating mechanism based on clockwork in the bygone days and the blades of the design reminiscent of the wings of an airplane, the tasteful combination of old and new techniques blurs the boundaries of art and design. It is easy for one to imagine the Ventilator adorning the wall or ceiling as a beautiful ornament, in effect transforming the entire interior of its immediate surroundings. It is truly a design which has value in itself.
Equally exciting were the design activities held at Klokgebouw at Strijp-S (also a former Philips complex). The space ‘Dutch Living Room’ was notably for leading Dutch design industry professionals and bureaus that presented their latest developments. Based on the theme of Niche Vehicle Design, the Design on Wheels show from The Automotive Technology Centre proved to be a fascinating collection of more than 15 concept cars and exclusive models. Featuring models from renowned brands such as Audi, Peugeot and Spyker, designs of the automotives were visually arresting and evoked innovative use of materials and future technologies. The Citroen C-Buggy particularly strikes one as having a carefree personality in a sea of car models with businesslike attitudes.
Another notable exhibition was the HolyTac! Design Festival at the Temporary Art Center (TAC). 30 designers and other creatives were given blank slates to express their objects of admiration, worship and beliefs. Not a typical design exhibition, HolyTac! explored philosophical issues such as the design of belief and the belief in design. It was more of an interactive exhibition where visitors were encouraged to join in contributing their ideas. It also investigated religions and religious designs sans obvious religious messaging. Visitors at Holytac! were noticed to be significantly deeper in thought as though they retreated inwards to question their own beliefs.
Infusing technology with her own religious beliefs, designer Angela Jansen came up with the levitating chalice using technology from Crealev, an Eindhoven based company well-known for its levitation technologies. The clever use of technology results in a magical effect which is most apt for spiritual topics such as religion. Taking a different approach in expressing his ideas, designer Etienne Reijnders encourages people to have more faith in themselves simply by attaching his ‘Sacred Me’ lamp to their seats where users will instantly be flooded by a divine crown of light. It was indeed interesting to see the different interpretations of beliefs each designer held.
These were just a few of the many outstanding and inspiring events held at Dutch Design Week 2007. Dutch Design Week 2008 will certainly be awaited with much anticipation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dutch Design Week
Eindhoven
20-28 October 2007
Photos and text courtesy of Ng Sijia
TAXI Design Network is honored to have been in Eindhoven on 20-28 October 2007 to partake in this prestigious event.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© 2003-2008 by TAXI Design Network. All rights reserved.