UTDLDDWDutch Design Week 2023
Janjaap Struis
Cristina Ionas
Janjaap Struis
Cristina Ionas

UT at Dutch Design Week 2023

WELCOME!

Dutch Design Week (DDW) is an annual event in Eindhoven, Netherlands and it is the largest design event in Northern Europe. It takes place from the 21st until the 29th of October 2023. The event is a platform that presents projects and ideas made by thousands of designers. University of Twente participates in the programme as part of one of the four technical universities of 4TU.Design United, DRIVE and a unique experience at the Ketelhuisplein. Read on if you're curious to know more and how to get tickets!

PICTURE THIS

Every programme may have its unique themes and different ways of showcasing, but they all align with this year's Dutch Design Week theme: 'Picture This’. We can all imagine where society might be heading, but how can it be different? Should it be different? What does change look like? Dutch Design Week wants to achieve the best possible presentation of the power of design that will get things moving. Within narratives like, for example, 'our equal society' and 'our health & wellbeing', UT researchers and students showcase their projects as frontrunners within design research.

People present in the video: The Explanation of the Cookery: Alexandru Amarei - DesignLab Coordinator. Second, Design United floor manager: Charlotte Hak (UT student), Third, UT Researcher: Jodi Sturge part of project Age-Fi, Fourth, UT Student and Design United Floor Manager: Pim van Everdingen from project MAACQ Oase Birdhouse, Lastly, Design: Estefania Jiminez Moras from project New Earth. 

The four programmes

Ever-Changing Relationships
- 4TU.Design United

Ever-changing Relationships is organised by Design United, the 4TU. research centre of design, with representatives who work at the four technical universities in the Netherlands: University of Twente, TU Delft, Wageningen University and Eindhoven University of Technology. With the ever-changing relationships of our society, planet, alongside the continuous development of technology, the design research community is always in a state of transition.

The 5 themes that will be addressed:

  • More than human

    Further developing the concept of human-centered design to accommodate the eco-age that crosses natural, social, and artificial. It challenges designers to look for values in future environments for the life and growth of both humans and non-humans that feel normal.

  • Climates Future Now

    Design is a practice focused on the future. Looking at the vision of potential futures on a planet facing challenges, speculating tomorrow's practices. 

  • Politics of Design

    Exploring the intricate relationship between design, power, and social justice. Diving into how designers address the correlation between social structures, biases, domination, cultural differences, and stereotypes.

  • Making Matters

    The discussion regarding the importance of the future and its approaches in the direction of making. In light of the rapid advancement of enabling technologies and the idea behind how crafters can shape and transform a new everyday reality.

  • Disentangling AI, Design & Society

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is essential to shaping the upcoming societies. Understanding the role of AI in the context of design is crucial; how designers can effectively collaborate with AI, incorporating multiple perspectives and stakeholders, while still maintaining responsible and ethical approaches.

UT researchers and students represented
Read more

DRIVE - Design Research & Innovation Festival

The DRIVE festival provides a stage for architecture, designers, artists, social designers, game developers, researchers, clothing designers or communication professionals, who have recently conducted project-based research or have new insights within design. During the sessions, they bring you inspirational and inspiring examples of innovation that are in and for the creative industry. Each session is dedicated to one of the themes: System & Societal Innovation, Future Living Environments, Designing the Circular Economy, Digital Society. On the last day, there will be a big DRIVE 10th year anniversary party. 

UT researchers Jodi Sturge and Julieta Matos Castaño will participate in this edition on Monday 23rd October 2023 and Tuesday 24th October 2023 regarding the topic: "Systems & Societal Innovation" and "Future Living Environments". 

Design for Transition - What's on your Menu?

‘Design for Transition – What’s on your Menu?’, or simply ‘The Cookery’, is an interactive exhibition that depicts the state of transition of design practices and society, taking people through different stages of reflection. Emphasis has been placed on one area of design research: futuring. The visitors take steps to enable the collective shaping of futures, illustrated through the metaphor of cooking.

Read more about the cookery & its challenges
click me!

Renault Design Rides -
Mycelium: A network for individuals to flourish together

This installation illustrates the stakeholders in society and how they should maintain their connections using the metaphor of the mycelium for a people's network. Mycelium assists plants in sharing nutrients in a forest. We should all exchange information in order to build a society where we may all prosper together!

For nine days, 'our mushroom' will drive around Eindhoven on a Renault car.
Last year, some even stopped the car to take pictures!

Ticket page and other links

DDW tickets are now available! In Eindhoven, you will get a wristband in return, which will give you access to most exhibitions and presentations throughout the nine-day event. Soon, we will announce all the UT researchers and students involved in Dutch Design Week 2023.

DDW 2022

Eager to see what we did last year? Watch the video below, read the news item to get a summary, view the picture gallery, or watch the video below to see a selection of the UT projects that were built and exposed.

Any questions? 

Kris Pals-Krukkert, project manager UTxDDW 2023, would be happy to answer them!

Kris Pals-Krukkert