Top 4 Experiences at Dutch Design Week // 2019

Colorful and quirky and future-forward, 2019 Dutch Design Week made us think on the theme waste not, want not in all facets of design. Running from Oct. 19 to 26, DDW hosted over 2,600 designers in 120 locations throughout the city of Eindhoven.

Here are our top 4 experiences from last week’s DDW:

Stilled Life: Rive Roshan x Moooi Exhibit at Galerie KRL

Rive Roshan likes to blur the boundaries of art and design. It’s an experimental studio that plays with graphic, interior, and product design to create multi-faceted products. At this year’s DDW, the studio partnered with Galerie KRL to launch Stilled Life, and exhibit showcasing Rive Roshan’s recent collaboration with Moooi Carpets. Stilled Life was a sensory exhibition focused on touch and sight. In an ethereal and meditative setting, visitors walked around textural installations and objects including 3D-printed sand objects, carpet installations, and glass sculptures.

Creative Chef’s Interactive Lunch

Creative Chef is the brainchild of Dutch artist Jasper Udink ten Cate whose work focuses on connecting humans through food and spatial design. Entitled Stimulus Interactiva Number 1, the interactive lunch featured a puzzle-like landscape of interlocking dinner tables. Each participant stood inside a table, surrounded by surfaces laid out with vegetarian ingredients - unique and rare Dutch vegetables farmed by Jasper and his team. Participants were instructed to assemble the ingredients into a larger bowl as they desired and then offer it to a fellow diner. Everyone was encouraged to eat and interact and discuss the experience. Delicious.

First, second, and last images are from creativechef.nl

Studio visit with Vij5

Vij5 is a Dutch design label based in Eindhoven. Founders Arjan van Raadshooven and Anieke Branderhorst source and partner with designers in the NL and beyond to curate an array of interior products. Our particular favorites included brass lighting by David Derksen, polished and tempered steel boards by Max Lipsey, the newspaper wood surfaces, and textured ceramics by Lotte de Raadt. Vij5’s DDW event “We’re Open” was an effort to educate visitors to the composition and origin of the Vij5 collection. Arjan and Anieke believe strongly in business transparency, so produced a clever map that showcases where their designers work and source materials. And you know it’s worth a stop when The Future Perfect’s famed founder David Alhadeff joins your studio tour….

Second and third images from Vij5.com

Piet Hein Eeek’s Studio and Compound

Eeek’s set-up is impressive. Beyond the enormous workshop and office space, the iconic designer has installed a high-end restaurant and cozy cafe within an old factory building he calls home. During DDW, Eeek showcased a mix of emerging and established designers throughout the location. Our particular favorites were metal pieces by innovative designer Floris Wubben, large-scale art installations made from wasted materials, and BLOCBIRDS by Studio 212 Fahrenheit.

And if you wonder whether or not Piet still rolls up his sleeves to get the job done, we witnessed him building a fire, handing beers to visitors, and welcoming guests during the after-party. Class act.