We are delighted to look back on a wonderful “Dutch Design ” Week. Our exhibition, titled “Why Product Design Matters,” was a harmonious addition to DDW’s overarching theme, “Picture This.”
Not only did we present new products, but we also shared the in-depth stories and visions of the Designers behind these creations. This gave visitors a deeper insight into the added value of product designers, how they play an important role in various ways in 2023, and how they broaden our perspectives with their Design.
During DDW, we specifically showcased four new additions to the Vij5 collection: the “OER Servies Eindhoven” by Lotte de Raadt & Kirstie van Noort, the “Stainless Steel Mirror” by Theodora Alfredsdottir, the “Foarme ” porcelain by Idwert Petter, and a preview of the new “Tube Cabinet” by Maarten Baptist as a taste of things to come.
Significant added value
The value of the craft of a product designer extends beyond simply coming up with creative ideas or beautiful designs. Our exhibition was a tribute to this craft and offered a unique glimpse into the world of these Designers.
A Process of Change
As DDW so aptly puts it: “Aesthetics and beauty are incredibly powerful ways to open the door to meaning and inspire people to take action. Designers are experts in articulating and visualizing different perspectives, which allows them to guide people through a process of change and break through stagnation.”
Understanding the Added Value of Product Designers
Especially for DDW, we made space in our workshop for the “Why Product Design Matters” exhibition. In this exhibition, organized around various relevant themes, we presented a series of new products and explained the vision of the Designers behind them. This provided a deeper understanding of the added value of product designers. The following products took center stage:
New product: OER tableware, Eindhoven
To turn groundwater into drinking water, it undergoes intensive filtration. During this process, various byproducts are released. One of these is naturally formed iron oxide-containing water, also known as “oer.” This substance is characterized by by a deep reddish-brown color colour.
At the production site in Eindhoven, there is currently no Application for the iron sludge, so this iron oxide-containing water is treated as waste and flushed back into the sewer system. For the OER project, Lotte de Raadt & Kirstie van Noort are drawing this cloudy water from the water production company’s so-called buffer pond to use in their products.
The iron sludge is processed into pigment in their own studio. First, it is filtered again and dried. This creates chunks that are ground and sifted into a rust-colored powder. This pigment is mixed with liquid porcelain clay by and poured into plaster molds. The products are then fired in a ceramic kiln at 1250˚C. by Under the heat, the iron pigment changes color to a beautiful beige colour with small dark brown flecks.
The OER tableware set consists of six different shapes that can be mixed and matched; naturally, it is food-safe and dishwasher-safe.
WHY (this product is important)
To raise awareness about the use and origin of our raw materials, and to help people recognize the value of waste streams. The OER used to “ colours ” the porcelain represents a step toward greater awareness. It refers to one of our planet’s most important resources: water.
New product: Stainless Steel Mirror
The Stainless Steel Mirror is carefully crafted from a sheet of stainless steel with a high-gloss finish. First, it is laser-cut, and then bent twice to create depth. Afterward, the brushed section is finished by hand.
In this way, an industrial stainless steel sheet is transformed into something with more character, while adding or subtracting as little as possible to its original shape. This takes both the usability and character of the material to a higher level.
With this product, designer Theodóra Alfreðsdóttir aims to encourage people to take a greater interest in how things are made. by By helping people understand how everyday objects are made, she hopes to foster greater respect for the materials used and encourage us all to take more responsibility for our choices as consumers.
With its remarkable design, this mirror adds a beautiful graphic element to any interior. The semicircle forms a soft, organic contrast to the straight lines creating a fascinating geometric shape.
WHY (this product is important)
This project raises people's awareness of our material world, teaches them to appreciate what they have, and inspires them to use materials and products responsibly and respectfully.
New product: Foarme porcelain
Foarme ’s double-walled porcelain offers an innovative solution to unnecessary waste in the porcelain production process. In traditional production processes, many things can go wrong: cracks, warping, and scrap are often the result. Consequently, a large portion of the production often fails to meet the standards required for sale. The “ Foarme ” series, on the other hand, prevents this waste by by thinking in terms of the material itself, not just the shape.
This unique series is sustainably designed and crafted from coloured porcelain, featuring a gradient created by by Idwert Petter at colours. The double-walled porcelain incorporates lines of tension into its form, resulting in a sturdy product that always comes out of the oven as intended.
Foarme, the Frisian word for “shaped,” was the result of Idwert’s graduation project at the Design Academy
in Eindhoven. For this project, she conducted thorough research into both desired and undesired deformations in porcelain. The series consists of espresso cups and coffee/tea cups, as well as a matching
tray.
WHY (this product is important)
This project not only highlights the importance of traditional craftsmanship, but also the need to be bold enough to make changes in the interest of greater sustainability and energy efficiency. It demonstrates that the world of design is constantly evolving, allowing old crafts and new ideas to coexist.
Preview: Tube Cabinet
Maarten Baptist follows a unique design philosophy: he likes to showcase the production process without making too many alterations. His goal is to create functional and reproducible items that emphasize the beauty of simplicity in form and function.
The Tube Cabinet is a wonderful example of this approach. It features a unique design, made from 3D laser-cut aluminum tubes and sturdy solid wood shelves. Precision is essential in its production, and advanced 3D laser-cutting technology ensures that each piece is perfectly shaped and suited for its intended purpose.
What makes this cabinet so special is that you can customize it completely to fit your space, thanks to the adjustable lengths of the tubes and shelves. You can even add side and back panels or doors to the front to create a closed-off section if you’d like.
Whether you're looking for an elegant place to display your favorite books, plants, or artwork, or need a practical storage solution for your home office, this cabinet is the perfect choice.
WHY (this product is important)
Optimizing production processes and striving to minimize waste contribute to a more sustainable future. Customization and flexibility in design are also consistent with sustainability principles by to reduce waste and extend the lifespan of products.
Vij5 Showroom
During the week, our showroom was, of course, also open to visitors so they could see, touch, and experience a large part of the Vij5 collection in real life . There were also a number of sneak peeks at products we were currently working on: a new version of the Angled Cabinet, the Tube Cabinet, and an upholstered version of Chair 18×36. An installation featuring the colored special editions of the Alf wall hook was also on display. On the showroom wall were the beautiful“ colours ” “THORGRØN,” and “LYSNING” from the Aqualinum series by the Danish brand“Linolie & Pigment,” for which we serve as ambassadors.
DDW 2023 RECAP
Did you miss “ Dutch Design ” Week this year, or do you want to relive the experience? “ Dutch Design ” Week put together a recap of all the design areas featured during the festival. You can find an overview of all the videoshere, or watch the video of Hallenweg—including the “ Vij5 ” exhibit—right below: