Dutch Design Week is a huge event in Eindhoven every October. More so this year, as Eindhoven is currently one of the finalists (with Helsinki) for World Design Capital 2012. Apparently 115,000 visitors checked out at least one of the 290 events at one of 60 locations (however I have no idea how that number was calculated, seeing as most events were free).
Best of the awards: During Brazil Contemporary I visited Museum Boijmans van Beuningen and quite liked its strange looking coat rack which spins around and coathangers bounce up and down. This so-called merry-go-round coat rack picked up the overall prize at the annual Dutch Design Awards. The Popular Choice prize was given to an enormous flying carpet that brings a little bit of green to a city centre.
Best-dressed: It didn’t occur to me that the town would be crawling with designers dressed up to the nines, but it was.
Things that were functional: A lot of things fitted into this category, including:
- A bed frame that can change into a single bed, a double bed or two singles. You’re looking at around €3000 for the frame and mattress set though.
- A chair with a built-in magazine rack. Very useful for waiting rooms.
- Ever been stuck at an airport for hours on end with nowhere to sit? Well, you might find a set of bizarrely-shaped suitcases which can be formed into a mini-couch useful. Although what happens if you’ve already checked your luggage in?
Things that are semi-functional: Douwe Egberts demonstrated a prototype of their touch-screen vending machines. Points for the first screen, which effectively became a giant iPod after you ordered, displaying local news and weather. The next two screens were rather pretty and pointless, while the last required you to jump up and down to “collect” the ingredients for your chosen beverage before it would spit it out. Apparently the coffee was quite nice — hot chocolate wasn’t on offer so I couldn’t try it out.
Possibly functional for someone but not me: Ever wanted to perform for your friends but have no musical ability? Then Mustick is for you. Kind of ditto for the Dancerail, although this was commissioned by a professional dance company who are using it in performances. Both were projects by TU/e Industrial Design students.
Taking the online to the real world: Coathangers with built-in LEDs — the hangers will light up depending on what you already have in your shopping basket. A “what other people bought” for physical shops.
Things that were pretty and have a use but you wouldn’t use them because they’re too pretty: Carola Zee makes gorgeous bowls and cups.
Things that were original but really had no functional use: A tie between the paper animals at MU (including imaginary animals made from newspapers) and the province flags at Krabbedans whose patterns were a punchcard representation of the provincial anthems.
Strange food: At Strijp-S there was a cafe serving only potato-based dishes. Potato muffins, potato bread etc. It was fittingly called the Potato Eaters. Didn’t get a chance to sample anything though. I also would like to know what one ate during a Dutch Design Dinner — it cost €135 (including drinks).
Sustainability/reusability: This was part of the theme for the Design Capital bid, so items such as bags and other products made from Colombian truck tyres, sustainable cable holders made from potato peel and corn, and electric cars and public chargers were on display.
After a whole week visiting something almost every day, I was exhausted and I wasn’t even involved. It was fascinating to see lots of different ideas in one go and many designers were on hand to demonstrate their products and explain the process. Now the wait is on for the announcement of World Design Capital 2012 in late November.
Dutch Design Week returns to Eindhoven 16-24 October 2010.
