Dutch Design Week 2020 cancels physical events – Dutch Inveretuals @ DDW 2019, photo by ©Boudewijn Bollmann.
Dutch Design Week 2020 – Over 350.000 people from all over the world gathered to Eindhoven last year. But in this year.“When I see the increasing numbers of infections in our city, with the images of the overflowing healthcare system in spring still vividly in mind, I cannot decide otherwise than to prioritise fighting the virus and preventing new infections,” Eindhoven’s mayor John Jorritsma announced.
- RELATED STORIES: find out more about Dutch Design Week 2020 on Archipanic.
Design Academy Eindhoven Grad Show 2019 – Photo by Max Kneefel.
“Welcoming or facilitating large groups of people who visit DDW in the city, is not part of that.” Indeed, organisers have responsibly scaled up the digital programme of events which includes also a relevant virtual matchmaking programme for designers and a Design Academy Eindhoven’s digital Grad Show. Dutch Design Week 2020 will be only virtual.
“Of course this cannot replace the live week, but we are going to scale up the virtual programme to support the design field as much as possible in creating relevant connections,” said Martijn Paulen, director of DDW organising body Dutch Design Foundation.
De StraatMakers exhibition by Atelier NL @ Dutch Design Week 2019 – Photo by Ralph Roelse, courtesy of DDW.
The new intimacy is the main theme of Dutch Design Week 2020. The 19th edition of the large festival taking over Eindhoven will explore a new equilibrium in a time when, due to Covid-19, the creative world has been accelerating the exploration of different ways of relating to each other and the world around us.
GEO-DESIGN Junk exhibition @ DDW 2019 – Salaula by Lotte de Haan.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has accentuated the urgency of major social challenges we have been aware of for quite some time, such as climate change, inequality and poverty. This has compelled us to find ways to relate differently towards each other, the world around us, our stuff, our health, our data and our government at an accelerated pace.” Say at Dutch Design Week.
“Our scope has become smaller and more intimate, while the connection with others is further removed than ever before. The search for a new equilibrium has commenced. A balance in which important values such as intimacy and affection are not to be lost. A challenge that requires knowledge, imaginative power and inventiveness from designers.”
Formidable Lighting by Esseline Keeven @ Design Perron, DDW2019 – Photo by ©Nick Bookelaar.
