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About DDW

In October of each year, Dutch Design Week (DDW) takes place in Eindhoven. One of the biggest design events in Europe presents work and ideas of more than 2600 designers to more than 350,000 visitors from home and abroad. In more than 110 locations across the city, DDW organizes and facilitates exhibitions, lectures, prize ceremonies, networking events, debates and festivities.

Although during the event every imaginable discipline and aspect of design is on offer, the emphasis is on experiment, innovation and cross-overs. Exceptional attention each year goes to work and development of young talent.

DDW concentrates on the design of the future and the future of design. It is our objective to show how designers from around the world shape a positive future and to strengthen the position and meaning of Dutch designers.

Focus points for the coming years

1. The future requires international thinking and acting
We realize that Dutch designers by definition act in an international environment. Designing the future is an international objective. With Dutch Design Week we therefore want to become the major international hub where the future is shown, explored and discussed.

2. The future requires connection
If we want to strengthen the position and meaning of Dutch designers, we do that best by connecting them to a world of clients. That is why we strengthen our role as matchmaker. DDW offers a podium and network to designers and clients. In the coming years we will make more and more matches, also with international clients.

3. The future requires responsibility
As designers we are optimists, but we also want to take responsibility. Even more because we believe in the power of creative minds. That is why we want to connect designers to social issues more actively in the coming years.

Dutch design

DDW does not just see Dutch design as a label for a certain group of designers or design aesthetic, but as a permanent reflection of a culture and attitude that is characteristic of the Netherlands and of Dutch people. We identify with a solution-oriented approach, functionality, humanism, free thinkers, brutality, humour, ability to put things into perspective, single-mindedness, not hindered by thinking in terms of hierarchical barriers, the unconventional. But also the readiness for taking stakeholders seriously and involving them in the solution, in the creative process. Dutch design is an attitude and does not by definition refer to a nationality.

History

In the late nineties, amidst a wave of renewal in Eindhoven, Dutch Design Week came into existence. This initiative, originating from the design community, started as Design Event, later transforming into Designers Present, and eventually evolving into Dutch Design Week. It emerged organically, driven by the necessity for a comprehensive platform for design, catering to a diverse audience.

Initially, approximately 20 designers showcased their work during this event. The VoE Vormgeversoverleg Eindhoven, a collective of designers that regularly organized lectures and activities, took on the role of organizer (a precursor to Capital D, later rebranded as Dutch Design Foundation). Concurrently, the 'Dag van het Ontwerp' also existed, offering a portfolio day for both budding and seasoned designers but at a different time of the year.

In 2001, the annual Graduation Show of Design Academy Eindhoven made its return to the city after being held in Amsterdam since the nineties. These developments, coupled with various other initiatives initiated by and for designers, contributed to the substantial growth of Dutch Design Week (DDW) into the renowned event it is today.

Mission and Vision

DDW is optimistic and believes in the problem-solving capabilities of designers. They have demonstrated that they dispose of the inventiveness and flexibility of mind that can lead to innovations that our rapidly changing world so craves. 


Our ambition has three pillars:

1. Offering a platform to designers, irrespective of origin or nationality, with a Dutch design* attitude: our organisation reinforces Dutch design through offering a leading international stage.

2. Offering designers opportunities: helping them move forward through introducing media, commerce and other sectors to designers and their work - in the form of publicity, network expansion and assignments.

3. Talent development: our future-oriented vision is not limited to tomorrow. Which is why one of our organisation’s spearheads is the stimulation and support of the new generation.

* Our definition of Dutch design can be found under the header 'Dutch design' in the text above.

Ambassadors

Since 2009, DDW has appointed two parties from the design field to champion Dutch design in general and the week in particular. They fulfil a representative task and utilize their network to create links and provide fledgling designers with a helping hand.

2022: Marjan van Aubel, Formafantasma

2021: Floris Alkemade, Natsai Audrey Chieza, Christien Meindertsma

2020: Lidewij Edelkoort, Sabine Marcelis, Sean Carney

2019: Stefano Boeri (Architetti), Alice Rawsthorn, Jalila Essaïdi, Lonneke Gordijn & Ralph Nauta (Studio Drift)

2018: Ravi Naidoo (Design Indaba), Wendy Plomp (Dutch Invertuals), Laurens van den Acker (Renault)

2017: Marcus Fairs (Dezeen), Winy Maas (MVRDV) & Lonny van Ryswyck en Nadine Sterk (Atelier NL)

2016:  Maarten Baas & Bas van Abel

2015:  Makkink & Bey, Koert van Mensvoort

2014:  Scholten & Baijings, Arne Hendriks

2013:  Daan Roosegaarde, Piet Hein Eek

2012:  Robert Bronwasser, Joost van Bleiswijk & Kiki van Eijk

2011:  Miriam van der Lubbe, Bruno Ninaber van Eyben

2010:  Roland Bird, Marijn van der Poll

2009:  Leonne Cuppen

Themes

Since 2012, DDW has set a theme for each edition of the event to support the publicity campaign that attracts the general public. 

2023: Picture This

2022: Get Set

2021: The Greater Number

2020: The New Intimacy

2019: If not now, then when?

2018: If not us, then who?

2017: Stretch

2016: The making of

2015:  What if...

2014:  UP

2013:  Now Future

2012:  Enter a Brave New World

Future DDW

2023
21-29 October

2024
19-27 October

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