This year's theme, 'The New Intimacy' tries to connect this year, but also expresses how different everything is and captures the new sense of intimacy while living in a pandemic. The focus on future design is completely virtual this year. From a distance, the organizers try to give us the feeling that we can see everything up close.  

​

​

The virtual world of the Dutch Design Week offers many possibilities. On the program page of the website you will find an organized list where you can use a search function to filter on disciplines that interest you. Virtual tours give you the opportunity to view the concepts and designs in a three-dimensional way. I think the idea is better than the execution.

​

The tours are arranged as exhibition spaces, in which you fly through the space via arrows. This sounds very interesting, but in reality it is not able to convey the feeling of the design week. The separate spaces are in stark contrast to the physical location of previous years, in which almost an excess of design has been carefully selected, which leaves a world of impressions in your head. I didn't have that feeling, which I normally get a lot of inspiration from, with the virtual spaces. That is of course also quite understandable, due to the short time in which the entire program had to be changed.  

​

In addition to the tours, DDWTV gives you the opportunity to follow (live) broadcasts, in which designers talk to each other, clips about featured projects can be found and international guests can also be found. The great thing about this system is that, unlike traditional presentations on location, you don't have to miss anything online during the DDW.

​

Major recurring issues this year are disciplines in the field of sustainability, bio-design and the world of the future. New biologically and ecologically produced materials are frequently discussed. From contemporary objects to abstract designs. Living Coffin is a good example of this, in which Studio Hendrikx and Loop Biotech bring you into contact with living material. With his coffin, you as a person can once again participate in a circular life course. Subsequently, DDW Talks gives you the choice to delve into similar issues.

These themes were the highlight of the event for me this year. It fits well with my own design philosophy and interests. My hope is that this trend will return next year, so that I can experience it again with my own eyes.

​

​