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Preview: Dutch Design Week 2015

By Hannah Robinson and Aleksandra Szymanska 29 : 10 : 2015 Dutch Design Week 2015 : Dutch Design Week : Design

Eindhoven – True to form, the participants of Dutch Design Week 2015 set out to shake up the status quo.

Social impact design featured prominently
Designers expressed a desire to break down boundaries and borders

Universal Unconditional by Stefania Vulpi

In Limbo Embassy by Manon Von Hoeckel

Designers and curators sought to challenge assumptions about the material world, asking ‘what if…’ on a range of diverse topics including manufacturing, citizenship and communication.

Inspired by geopolitics, several designers examined national identities and immigration, while others, frustrated by the fashion industry’s repetitive production cycles, proposed alternative methods of apparel production. A number of designers focused on restoring agency to the individual, presenting themes of identity, consumption and communication.

Martijn van Strien’s Post-Couture Collective and Allison Crank’s Oculus Rift-powered The Reality Theatre: Shopping in the Ludic Century stood out from the festival crowd.

The Big Picture

The influence of Virtual Browsing was evident as post-internet aesthetics crept into the design and art direction of several retail-focused exhibitions. To learn more about the future design trends featured at Dutch Design Week 2015, read our Show review.