Katerina Vershinina: “The making of” is the headline of the 15th Dutch Design Week-2016. The anniversary event is dedicated to activities, creative ideas, the making process and creators.

Between 22 and 30 October, 2500 domestic and international designers showed their latest designs and the best of what the world design can offer today. All the events of the week were held within the same concept and philosophy: Design with your heart. And one could feel it in every work, project and location.
We've visited a variety of exhibitions, events and workshops in 5 days. From product design to digital, human centred and music — here no distinction is drawn between the fields in education and in future work. DESIGN is all that you can create for the benefit of the man and society. It is difficult to describe all the impressions in a single article. Here is what impressed me the most:
The solution to the city problems.
One should know the history of Eindhoven to understand. For a long time it was an industrial city, where Philips was the principal employer and mainstay, with all its production facilities located here. About 30 years ago, the corporation moved the production and commercial base to the East, mainly to China. Huge industrial areas and premises were left empty and unused. In 30 years time, with the efforts of the municipality, the activists (they are called "activators" here) and the legendary personalities like Cees Donkers, Li Edelkoort and others, this problem was solved. The city has taken on a new lease of life, though not as an industrial center, but as the World Design Capital. The industrial space was given to the designers, for shops, offices, housing, exhibitions and experiments.

The recycle and production of recycled material trend.
Lost but refound. One phrase describes the whole concept of works of Piet Hein Eek – the King of recycle. He has long been known around the world, evoking genuine designer awe and delight. There are no combinations of materials, textures, shapes and functions more daring and functional than his. It is so logical – why throwing windows when they can be functional cabinet doors? Same story is with the old wooden floors, metal and glass. Everything is working. I'd live in his exposition. And his business is a story in its own right. He builds houses for his employees around the shops (or rather shops of many kilometers long) where interior items and objects are processed and produced. A small town has already been built ... It's simple. It is more convenient to everyone ... more convenient for work.

Attention and sensible approach to absolutely everything. To the product concept and philosophy, to humans, to space, to the working conditions and exhibitions at the locations, to visitors and organization.

Navigation and branding of the event and space.
The DDW logo branding is on traffic lights. Identical geolocation icons have shops, exhibitions and workshops participating in the Dutch Design Week.
Free municipal taxis traveling between the locations have a special mark – they save time when going around vast industrial areas. The taxis are branded with designer objects and information: at what location and in what hall you can see the object and the designer’s whole exposition. The huge industrial depots, hangars and workshops are impossible to get lost at, as all exposition areas, entrances and exits are marked. It all conforms to the special map of Eindhoven, which shows the event locations. You can get the map in any hotel and museum and at any location.

Openness and availability of information + love for experiments.
In absolutely everything. All your questions will be answered, you will be shown and told about any project with great pleasure and given a tour of the office. This is the philosophy of the creative process, any design is more efficient and progressive in this environment. It lies at the basis of new business models, for example, the “Founded by all” agency – a design hub, workspace and company, with all who work there being its founders. And any designer can join the community.
Эти These details create a unique atmosphere for visitors and participants.
Thank you, wonderful Eindhoven, for the inspiration and an incredible experience!