Tuesday September 6th was the official opening of the Academic Year. In a constantly changing, challenging and sometimes problematic and chaotic world all speakers felt the need to bring the role of design and design education in relation to major current issues in the world.
Jan Boelen, Head of the Master course Social Design, claimed that today we look at the Earth in a more humble way than 40 years ago. Now we understand that the Earth is finite. The designer should be aware of how the world is represented and how it shapes, mediates and affects our thoughts, behaviour and worldviews. How can designers take action to intervene or reshift and reconfigure the construction of the world? These questions need to be addressed as an agent in the world.
See the full speech below
"Unlearning is looking in the mirror and seeing the world."
- Jan Boelen, Head of Master department Social Design
Thomas Widdershoven, Chairman of the Executive Board and creative director of the academy, got inspired by the book of Robert Musil – the man without qualities. In his speech he refers to the books’ questioning of reality, and that we should not only embrace realism but also possibilism.
See the full speech below
"In the Academy we see an artistic and optimistic embrace of possible scenarios that can truly create a different type of world."
- Thomas Widdershoven, former Chairman of the Executive Board in his last speech in official DAE opacity
For Thomas Widdershoven it was his last opening, as he announced his departure from Design Academy Eindhoven before the Summer Break. Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board Gitta Luiten addressed Thomas in a speech and thanked him for his contribution to the positioning of the academy as an outstanding institute in the cultural environment. She presented him with a gift designed by DAE alumnus Olivier van Herpt.
Jurrienne Ossewold, Director Education and Research and Member of the Board, shared her perspective on the future of design education, and future designers, as well. Her education renewal, that has been developed and researched this past year, is being launched this Fall. In the new program, 3rd year Bachelors can look forward to inspiring and contemporary Minors such as ‘Narrative’ and ‘Storytelling’. Focusing on alternatives, these minors are integrated with one of man’s greatest virtues – compassion.
Now more than ever, Design Academy Eindhoven is teaching humanity in design – offering alternatives and solutions and, with that, elevating new perspectives.
See the full speech below
"Compassion leads to the capacity to embrace what’s there, to accept and experience a gratitude that enables us to connect to ourselves and others and be vulnerable and resilient at the same time."
"Let’s start this courageous countermovement if we are serious about wanting to create alternatives for this world."
- Jurriënne Ossewold, Director Education and Research and Member of the Board
This year, the opening of the Academic Year was even more lively as the ceremony also presented the winning 2016 Graduates their Awards: the Gijs Bakker Award for the most outstanding Master project, Milky Way Award for the Bachelor Graduate with the most creative approach and René Smeets Award for the Bachelor with the most professional attitude. The work was juried by Pierre-Yves Panis (Design Director Benelux at Philips Lighting), Mirjam van Coillie (Director marketing at Royal Dutch Gazelle), Gerard Baten (Senior designer at DAF trucks), Alain Dujardin (Creative Director of Greenberry) and Yasmina de Takacsy (Head of Partnerships and Development at Eyes on Talents) for the Bachelor Awards; the Gijs Bakker Award was juried by Saskia van Stein (director of Bureau Europa) and Max Bruinsma (editorial designer).
Cheered on by their peers, the lucky graduates accepted their awards; after which the students, tutors and employees toasted on the new academic year.