DUTCH DESIGN WEEK

highlights #DDW2012

 

 

Curious Mind by atelier NL photo by Mike Roelofs

Curious Mind by atelier NL photo by Mike Roelofs

 

While the Design Academy Eindhoven continues to be DDW’s central venue, an array of dynamic design events are taking place all over the city, stretching from Piet Hein Eek’s galleries to the Klockgebouw area and the innovative Sectie C.

 

Lidewij Edelkoort presented the concept for MoBA 13 (next summer’s Mode Biennale in Arnhem). She discussed the theme of Fetishism in Fashion in front of a large crowd at the Kolckgebouw on the first Sunday of DDW, outlining the various exhibitions and events she plans as the biennale’s curator. The fashion festival will also mark the 60th anniversary of the fashion department at ArtEZ and inspire cultural events all over the city. ArtEZ’s product design students showed their work in a creative installation at Schellensfabriek, another favorite DDW venue this year.

 

At the Design Academy, the graduation show attracted thousands of visitors interested in discovering the school’s latest design talent. One highlight was a focus on creative textiles: Anouk Haegens innovated new materials for public spaces, Lio de Bruin processed sheets of leather using old needlework techniques, Barbara Medo was inspired by the iridescence of insects when designing glittering fashion fabrics, and Judith Jans veiled the head in protective new sunwear accessories.

However the most striking Design Academy work was not at the school: Atelier NL delved into the Academy’s DNA in ‘Curious Minds’, mapping the progression of alumni since they have graduated. By tracing the paths of students with a red thread to illustrate how some students become independent designers while others work in the industry or in entirely other fields, Lonny van Ryswyck and Nadine Sterk have opened up a creative dialogue at the crossroads of design education and hybrid living. A series of beautiful films by Mike Roelofs visualized the project’s investigation of how creative thinking thrives in different ways after leaving the education system.

 

Another alumni couple making waves are Maarten Kolk & Guus Kusters: their ‘At Home’ exhibition invited visitors into the intimacy of their own apartment where they hosted private tours of their recent projects. The design duo have steadily and quietly expanded their powerful body of work, always staying true to their exploration of nature while innovating design processes for textiles and ceramics. A colourcard sampled by the designers from the seascapes in the Zuiderzeemuseum collection will become the institution’s new design palette, embedding its interior identity with its own very essence. This fascination with dissecting nature into design statements is intriguing many of their contemporaries, opening up an interesting and poetic chapter in design.

 

Philip Fimmano

 

 

 

"Leather Needlework" by Lio de Bruin

"Leather Needlework" by Lio de Bruin photo Philip Fimmano

 

"Insected" by Barbara Medo

"Insected" by Barbara Medo photo by Philip Fimmano

 

 

 

 

Rood by RENs

Rood by RENs photo by Philip Fimmano

Rood by RENs continues to explore the power of red, expanding its endeavors to include collaborations with designers such as Piet Hein Eek for this table and benches. During DDW 2012, a collaboration with Piet Bergman led to delicious red food being served to visitors. The designer’s exploration of natural dyes is now also innovating industries such as carpeting.

 

 

Dutch Invertuals

Dutch Invertuals photo by Philip Fimmano

 

For the third consecutive year, Wendy Plomp has curated one of Dutch Design Week’s most elegant highlights.

Dutch Invertuals is a platform for young designers working each year on a particular theme art directed by Plomp. This latest installment sees designers focus on material and process, mapping colour and experimenting with treatments with sophisticated results.

 

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International textile star Bart Hess set up a friendly pop-up environment where participants from the public were invited to work with him on his latest creations. Able to learn while also enjoying, visitors came to genuinely appreciate the intricacy of Hess’ craft and his studio’s time-consuming dedication – just like this young boy discovered while helping to make and model a garment that covers the body in thousands of fur-like pins.

 

 

Borre Akkersdijk , winner of the MYDA

Borre Akkersdijk , winner of the MYDA

Our Studio is very pleased that an international jury guided by Hans Wijers named Borre Akkersdijk as the winner of the MYDA. Other finalists are; graphic design duo Pinar & Viola and Studio Formafantasma. Borres’ work puts several disciplines together, such as graphic design, animation and fashion. In addition, he places existing materials in new contexts and experiments with ancient techniques for new applications.