We ventured to Eindhoven, the Netherlands for Dutch Design Week (DDW). This is a list of some of our favorite exhibitions, individual works, and collective themes from the week. For more coverage of DDW, follow us on Instagram.
Sweater Chair by Gijs Kuijpers
Gijs Kuipers—a designer from the southern part of the Netherlands—fashioned a chair that fits and sits like your favorite sweater. Displayed at the storefront of Eigengijs, the chair is the final product of his graduation project and the starting point of his very own design studio.
Fundamentals by Dutch Invertuals
Dutch Invertuals curated an exhibition showcasing designers’ personal collections and identities. In doing so, founder Wendy Plomp creates an archive of the “Fundamentals” (design process). Each of these handpicked items shed light on the various design practices, reflecting diverse personal visions.
ZandGlas by Atelier NL
Ambassadors of DDW, Atelier NL, presented ZandGlas, a collection made up of hand-blown glass objects formed from fused sand as part of a larger project and discussion on where sand goes and what sand means around the world. Each set contains a carafe and three drinking glasses. The natural glassware is created from the sands of Zandmotor (a huge artificial peninsula created to reinforce the Dutch coastline), honoring the currents, winds, and rivers of the Netherlands.
The Young Collectors by Studio Thier & vanDaalen
In the home of two young design and art collectors, Studio Thier & vanDaalen curated a “voyeuristic exhibition’” in a refurbished thirties house where they had previously redesigned the kitchen. For DDW, they displayed a permanent collection of art and design, furnishings, and a selection of work from other designers throughout the house—including seats by Max Lipsey and Tessa Koot, a table by Maarten Baptist, vases by David Derkse and more.
In4nite by Low & Bonar
The Arnhem-based materials company Low & Bonar invited ten local designers to create designs with the company’s “Colback” technical fabrics. Normally, the filament-based, non-woven material is used in automotive vehicles, flooring, carpeting, and other non-decorative applications. The exhibition showcases the work of interdisciplinary designers who all expanded the material’s possibilities.
Current Currents by VANTOT
As a part of an ongoing exhibition aptly dubbed “Envisions,” a Dutch collective showcased their designs in a transitory state, as concepts, process work, and so on. VANTOT featured their new collection, Current Currents, which experiments with the perception of electric current and touch. Their light fixtures implement electronic components as part of the design, instead of hiding them.
