Jules van den Langenberg is currently graduating at Design Academy Eindhoven. His fascination for how design arises has led to establishing a nomadic production house in which he initiates and curates design products and projects. In collaboration with designers, producers, craftsmen and experience experts of all kinds Jules carefully intertwines the potential, qualities and dreams of all individuals involved in co-creation processes.

During Dutch Design Week 2012 – a major event hosted in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, committed to showcasing the country’s burgeoning design and technological innovators –  Jules will share with us some of his discoveries and “coup de coeur”.

Fascinating things can happen when the visiting public is able to experience the physical- and mental impact of the work of designers. It enriches the imagination of both user and maker. There were some Dutch Designers that managed to achieve this.

Bas Geelen and Erik Hopmans collaborated and present a production method as part of the ‘C-fabriek’ exhibition. They propose a scenario in which crafting objects equals shaping bodies. “Nowadays we don’t have those hard labor factories anymore in the Western world. And if production is still based in Europe, automatic machinery took away the hard labor. By the disappearance of physical labor, people started exercise somewhere else to get their physical activity. For example in the gym. We want to bring the physical labor back to production as a workout. The gym is used to stimulate and exploit the desire of the individual to keep fit, have fun and improve them self. This desire we wanted to put in the production, the desire to improve.

We use production methods where time and devotion define the level of quality and the appreciation for the end result.” Geelen en Hopmans adjusted three gym machines in which they visualize their theory; besides exercise the machines can, at the same time, also be used for sanding wood, polishing metal and tumbling bricks. Visitors could literally experience the physical labor needed to craft an object. For now the production line of the designers results in a mirror-like product. The outcome needs to get into better shape over time.

In the same building Harm Rensink created a one centimer deep indoor lake with in it’s center an inflatable sauna space. The designer shares his vision on relaxation for people living in cities with high population densities. With his ‘Urban Spa’ he aims to create a sensory activity that relaxes the minds of city inhabitants. In the grey factory Rensink’s warm cloud of steam enables people to gradually disappear from the hectic urban environment. During Dutch Design Week, at the end of every day, visitors can reserve a sauna visit and enjoy the urban spa experience. Rensink provides them with highly tactile bathrobes, towels, slippers and soaps he created. And let’s people dream away from daily work.

Jules van den Langenberg

www.c-fabriek.nl

www.harmrensink.nl