Category: Dutch Design week

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven 2017: 304 by Nick Beens

Modular lighting is a seldom encountered genre, and when it is encountered, then invariably in a very technical form, a form that implies the computer software has taken a greater role in the creative process than the designers understanding of form-giving,

There are however exceptions…..

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven 2017: High Five!!

Although as an event Dutch Design Week has always had a focus on presenting design in context, design in practice, our feeling is that of late that focus has intensified, something we thoroughly approve of as it helps make tangible that design is, can be, more than pretty objects; does however mean that you increasingly need to take more time with you to Eindhoven. Or accept that you are going to miss a lot of, potentially, interesting and thought provoking presentations.

Necessity meant that this year we followed option two.

But that still left us more than enough time to discover projects to get cross about, be confused by or simply quietly admire.

Or indeed vocally admire: our Dutch Design Week 2017 High Five!!

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven 2017: Dutch Invertuals

As we believe we’ve noted before, the joy in that exhibition format in which designers present objects which are important and/or relevant to them, is that no matter how often it is repeated it is always new.

Same, same, but different.

For their 2017 show Dutch Invertuals are presenting collections of objects from 45 alumni which have an importance to/relevance for them, or which simply represent an object of wonder and inspiration to the relevant designer. And because it’s Dutch Invertuals they have taken things a step further and each collection is also the starting point for the development a personal container.

Exposing yourself and then using that as the basis for visibly enclosing yourself. A double encapsulation, If you will.

Dutch Design Week 2016: Functionals at Kazerne Eindhoven

Although one primarily goes to Kazerne Eindhoven to experience experimental, challenging, yet invariably accessible and pertinent design, during Dutch Design

Dutch Design Week 2016: High Five!!

It goes without saying that picking a “best of” from an event such as Dutch Design Week is impossible. Too

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Dutch Invertuals – Cohesion

Cohesion is a concept with which we are very familiar. Largely because it is a state we never achieve. Much

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Ontwerpduo – Impossible things before breakfast

One of the highlights for us of Dutch Design Week 2014 is and was the showcase of works by Eindhoven

(smow) blog Dutch Design Week Special: Leaning Bench by Izabela Bołoz

The presentation of Dirk Vander Kooij’s current collection during Dutch Design Week 2014 took place at Kazerne – the new

(smow) blog Dutch Design Week Special: TAB Studios – Studio Mieke Meijer, Daphna Laurens, OS ∆ OOS, Studio Maatwerk and Bogaerts Label

For us the passion, indeed interest, for living in a shared flat ended approximately 18 months before we moved out

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Dirk Vander Kooij

Back in the day when the CD was new and exciting we remember watching a breakfast TV host spread honey on one to demonstrate how indestructible they were. Other CDs were attacked with keys, dowsed in hot coffee and stood on.

These days we all know much better. CDs are destructible. We’ve seen the light.

And at Dutch Design Week 2014 you can can see the light a recycled CD emits.

Or at least the luminescence produced by a mass of recycled CDs in the thoughtfully and intelligently formed Fresnel Suspension Lamp by Dutch designer Dirk Vander Kooij.

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Sectie C

Proving that Eindhoven is full of old factories, but that they are not necessarily all former Philips factories, Sectie C

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Blumenampel Edition by Zascho Petkow and Birgit Severin for Atelier Haussmann

It is very rare that one comes across an object where a manufacturer has combined two independently developed products into

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Lumist by Teresa van Dongen

In 1951 the German designer Wilhelm Wagenfeld created a glass punch bowl for Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, WMF: the clou of which is

(smow) blog compact Dutch Design Week Special: Design Academy Eindhoven – Graduation 2014

Despite what popular myth may have you believe, the Design Academy Eindhoven is not alone responsible for Eindhoven’s current status

(smow) Blog Best of 2011: Dutch Design Week

Design weeks are part of the daily grind of our profession. For those outwith the industry it all just looks

Dutch Design Week: Area 51 Skate Park

Every year at Dutch Design Week we always take time out to escape the design circus and visit Area 51

Caught in the Act II

Obviously in his old age our colleague with the camera is getting a little slower. He’d only just recovered from

Dutch Design Week: Made Out Portugal #4

One of our highlights at Dutch Design Week 2010 was Made Out Portugal #1, and so logically we were keen

Dutch Design Week: Great Taste for Waste

Inspiration for a design exhibition can come from the most unlikely of places. Even the rubbish your dog picks up

Dutch Design Week: Atelierdorp “In Between”

Pretty much half-way between Piet Hein Eek’s design wonderland and Sectie C, with among other tenants Nacho Carbonell, is Atelierdorp.

Dutch Design Week: Onomatopee – Copy Nature #2: Elementary Sentiments

During Dutch Design Week the Eindhoven based design platform Onomatopee is hosting an exhibition looking at ways of adding cultural

Spring: Excellence, Talent and Inspiration in Design. Premsela at Designhuis Eindhoven

During Dutch Design Week 2011 Premsela, the Netherlands Institute for Design and Fashion, opened an exhibition in the Designhuis Eindhoven

October (Five Weeks that Exhausted the Design World)

We’ve long since accepted that there are more design weeks in a year than actual weeks. But we still can’t

Vivienne van den Dungen

In the history of (smow)blog only two designers have contacted us to comment on our comments. The first was Brooklyn

Design Marathon 2010 Review: Dutch Design Week

Eindhoven is Philips. Eindhoven used to be much more Philips; but in course of the inevitable restructuring of the last