Ravi Naidoo (Design Indaba), Laurens van den Acker (Renault) and Wendy Plomp (Dutch Invertuals) are the ambassadors of the 17th Dutch Design Week (DDW). They are succeeding Winy Maas (MVRDV), Lonny van Ryswyck & Nadine Sterk (Atelier NL) and Marcus Fairs (Dezeen). The ambassadors deploy their network to create links, function as a sounding board for participants and visitors and initiate special activities during the week.
Every year DDW appoints parties from the design field as advocates of design in general and especially for the week. According to the organisation behind Dutch Design Week (DDW), the three form “a balanced and wide reflection of design in 2018”. Martijn Paulen, Dutch Design Foundation director: “Ravi Naidoo´s ambassadorship underpins the importance that our organisation attaches to talent development, inclusivity, and internationalisation. We see Laurens van den Acker as the link between people, innovation, technology, mobility, and industry. And with the appointment of Wendy Plomp, we stay true to our core values: innovation, research, and experiment.”
Here is the interview we had with Wendy Plompen prior to DDW 2016
Ravi Naidoo: ‘We bring our trademark activism to DDW.’
Ravi Naidoo (Durban, South Africa 1964) is the founder and director of Design Indaba in South Africa. Naidoo is part of the jury for the Index Awards, D&AD Impact Awards, IXDA Awards and Dutch Design Awards. In 2015 he received the Sir Misha Black Medal for his efforts deploying design to strengthen the South African education system and economy.
Ravi Naidoo has a strong reputation within the design world. He organises inspirational international design conferences, is known as an advocate of change and promotor of young talent, which he scouts around the world. In addition, he explores major social issues like the (potential) role of design for the future of Africa. Last year, Naidoo and DDW introduced the new platform Antenna together. His ambassadorship is in line with the importance DDW attaches to talent development and inclusivity and also underlines its international ambitions.
What do you expect from the coming Dutch Design Week?
‘Dutch Design Week is mainly aimed at experimenting, prototyping, R&D and speculative design – it really extends the scope of design. The event is less focused on the traditional trade fair models of most design weeks, but is rather a platform that gives insights into the future trajectory of design.’
Which aspect of design would you like to attract more attention to?
‘We think there has been a step change in the caliber of design graduates emerging from the leading schools in the world – and they are deeply concerned with how design can improve the quality of life. We want to help them realize their graduation projects. And it starts with listening.’
What can you contribute to the week from your specific experience?
‘At Design Indaba, we have transformed our Think Tank into a Do Tank and have become prolific producers of design. We are now bringing this trademark activism to DDW. This way, we hope to be able to help graduates convert their plans and ideas into tangible, viable projects.’
What would make your ambassadorship a success?
‘In one word: impact. If it has an impact.’
Laurens van den Acker: ‘A virtuoso soloist is often supported by a great symphony orchestra.’
Laurens van den Acker (Deurne, the Netherlands, 1965) has been the Senior Vice President Corporate Design with Renault since 2009. After completing his degree in Industrial Design at the TU Delft he held various positions with leading automotive companies in Germany, America and Japan. In his current position, Van den Acker is responsible for the design of the Renault, Alpine and Dacia, and for the car division of Samsung Motors. Van den Acker works and lives in Paris.
Within the technical design world, Van den Acker is considered one of the trendsetters for automotive design. From his position at Renault, he can provide, better than anyone, an insight into the future of mobility, a field on the brink of major change. For DDW he represents the connection between people, innovation, technology, mobility and industry.
What do you expect from the coming Dutch Design Week, in what way can or will it distinguish itself from previous editions?
‘I expect to see projects that surprise, amaze, intrigue and inspire me. I am looking for tangible solutions but also for magic. For high tech and crafts. For perfection and passion.’
Which group, or which discipline, which aspect of design would you like to attract more attention to?
‘Those in the field who are often in the background. Lots of people think that design is an exceptionally individual activity, but in fact, it is a true team sport. A virtuoso soloist is often supported by a great symphony orchestra.’
What can you contribute to DDW and the ambassadorship from your experience or field?
‘Mobility affects us all and is crucial for a properly functioning society. DDW is an excellent forum for testing new ideas and asking critical questions.’
What would make your ambassadorship a success?
‘If I am able to contribute to the creation of solutions.’
Wendy Plomp: ‘Companies and institutions are increasingly embracing creative spirits.’
Wendy Plomp (Wilnis, the Netherlands 1977) graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven (Man & Leisure). She is the founder, curator and art director of Dutch Invertuals. Under Plomp’s watchful eye, this continually changing design collective explores the limits of design throughout the year. Central to Plomp’s work is giving stories shape. She analyses our culture and spirit of the times, explores the sources of design and discovers new traditions.
Throughout the years Dutch Invertuals has repeatedly been one of the most striking participants. During DDW, but also at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. With Plomp’s never failing attention and efforts for young talent, she consistently delivers a prominent intrinsic contribution to the week. With the experimental Dutch Invertuals, she represents many of the core values of DDW, including the stimulation of new developments.
How will the upcoming DDW make its unique mark?
‘The attention for sustainability and circularity is increasing. The public at large is also ready for the “transformation”. Which is why I expect many material innovations that will subsequently find their way into all sorts of new applications. Designers are involved increasingly often in processes that had previously not had a design function. Companies and institutions are increasingly embracing creative spirits. They want to look at the world differently, from a higher level of abstraction.’
Which aspect of design would you like to attract more attention to?
‘Creativity is often not properly appreciated. The value of it is far higher than most people realise. A chasm has also opened up between commerce and designers. As a result, many talented designers do not survive. I want to change this imbalance. Which explains why at Dutch Invertuals we regularly stimulate and explore cooperation with commerce.’
What can you contribute to the ambassadorship from your specific experience?
‘I hope to create links between parties. I will be exercising my almost ten years of experience in the world of design to achieve this.’
