DUTCH DESIGN WEEK 2024
Last week I spent 2 days at the DDW – I returned home with my head completely overloaded full of inspiration from all the designs and underlying thoughts and design research.
Some examples that inspired me personally and/or professionally because they were useful, fun, special or educational to me.
FRIENDLY FENCE | Ezra Vollmeier
Inspired by the idea of building sites as playgrounds, this project transforms metal fences into interactive, engaging installations. By cutting, bending and welding, fences are transformed into benches that invite interaction and connection.
URBENCH | Cara Jacobs
This modular street furniture system consists of three elements, one straight and two curved. On normal days they can be used as a standalone bench or picnic table. During activities or interventions, the elements can easily be arranged as a suitable arrangement in the public space.
GRAFKIST | Abel Kamps
This coffin is made of approximately 15,000 beer coasters. The work addresses the discussion of how to make complex and often avoided subjects – such as death – discussable with simple objects.
“Resting in the irresponsible enjoyment of others”
Depth Array – Reflections | Robin Beekman
Depth Array creates an immersive and constantly changing audiovisual environment that challenges the perception of depth. The interplay of light and shadow in combination with the sound had a slightly hypnotic and even soothing effect for me at a certain point.
NESTLE – Superuse
Turning a nacelle and cone — the core housing for the rotor, generator, and other machinery – of a windmill into a tiny house. The internal wooden structure with kitchenette, bathroom, sleeping and living area can operate autonomously. Powered by solar panels and a battery, collecting rainwater and it can be connected to conventional utility networks if necessary.
During the EU placemaking week in September, we saw that Woodwave in Rotterdam was working hard on this object. It’s great to have seen the result now, which I was already curious about then.
HOMOHOOLIGAN | Davy de Lepper
The Homohooligan Protest Scarf is a wearable symbol of strength and solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. De Lepper opted for the football scarf as an alternative symbol for the ‘standard’ rainbow. Homohooligan’s message grew into a larger counter-movement of love for the queer community than the neighbourhood in Eindhoven where this project originated.
Re-glow Tiles | Studio Rens
Unique experiments with color and material studies make the annual visit to Studio Rens always special. This year I was captivated by the colours and applications of the Re-glow Tiles. Using a manual painting and glazing method, out-of-date collections are turned into bespoke series of hardware, adding a dash of colour to every office or home interior.
