DDA announces 27 nominations in the main categories
The 27 nominated projects for the 15th edition of the Dutch Design Awards have distinguished themselves through their daring. They dared to take the initiative, responsibility, and think about the long term, while having the courage to opt for social relevance. Independent design experts nominated projects in which they recognise these characteristics for the six main categories: Product, Communication, Habitat, Fashion, Design Research and Service & Systems. The work of all the nominees can be seen in the retrospective exhibition during Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven (21-29 October). The winners will be announced on 28 October.
During the last 15 years projects have been awarded prizes that we use today or experience as our daily reality. This year’s nominated designers have the intention and potential to shape the future too. It has struck the committee that the Dutch designers can be characterised by their social engagement and the competency with which they offer solutions to complex problems. On the other hand the committee wonders if the emphasis on responsibilities of designers regarding social issues is desirable. In addition to relevancy there is a need for good designs that, visibly and invisibly, find their way to functional, daily use. This discussion also colours the list of 27 nominations.
In addition to the main categories DDA presents special prizes for young talent (Young Designer Award) and clients (Best Client Award). In cooperation with BNO the biannual Piet Zwart Award will be presented again in this anniversary year. The most promising design for the future will be crowned with the Future Award.
Finalists
These are the finalists for the Dutch Design Awards 2017:
PRODUCT
Industrial design or limited editions that improve people’s lives and/or make life easier.
Bugaboo / Max Barenbrug & Jaap den Boer // BUGABOO BOXER
Fatboy the Original i.s.m. Marijn Oomen // LAMZAC® THE ORIGINAL 2.0
Sheltersuit / Bas Timmer // SHELTERSUIT 4.0
Miniot // WHEEL
Quooker // QUOOKER FLEX
​COMMUNCATION
New media, or new applications of existing media that improve and/or alter communication in original ways.
Studio Puckey, Moniker // RADIO GARDEN
Mevis & Van Deursen // ED VAN DER ELSKEN POSTER
Michiel Schuurman // VLISCO UN à UN EXPOSITIE
Jeremy Jansen // ORNITHOLOGY
Richard Niessen // THE PALACE OF TYPHOGRAPHIC MASONRY
HABITAT
Design and furnishings for the private and public space that improve the quality of life.
Civic Architects // INTERACTIEVE PASSAGE TILBURG
NL Architects en XVW architectuur // DEFLAT KLEIBURG
MVRDV // DE TRAP
Ensemble van studio’s, designers, stadsmakers, instituten // STADSLAB BUIKSLOTERHAM CIRCULAR
Sander Breure & Witte Van Hulzen // HOW CAN WE KNOW THE DANCER FROM THE DANCE
We Are Here & Stichting Noodzaak 
// VLUCHTMAAT
​FASHION
Fashion in which wearability is not a requirement.
Das Leben Am Haverkamp // BRAVADO: A PRETENTIOUS, SWAGGERING DISPLAY OF COURAGE
Sies Marjan (Sander Lak) // HERFST-WINTERCOLLECTIE 2017
United Nude voor Issey Miyake // ROCK SHOE
​DESIGN RESEARCH
Scenarios and concepts which, based on solid research, present an insight to the future. By this we mean speculative design, applied research, materials research and ideas that offer a perspective to new products/solutions. The emphasis lies on the research phase.
AtelierNL // ZANDGLAS
Envisions // ENVISIONS X FINSA
XML // PARLIAMENT
Think Big Act Now // DE VERBORGEN IMPACT: ALLES WAT JE WILT WETEN EN WAT JE KUNT DOEN OM ECO NEUTRAAL TE LEVEN
​SERVICE & SYSTEMS
Services and methods in which the designer creates added value in an innovative manner. These projects aim to provide citizens or consumers with new insights, to raise their awareness, or to guide or inform them. This includes a tangible (offline or online) result.
Me You And The Robot // GUIDE LINES FOR THE HUMAN FACTOR
Ermi van Oers // LIVING LIGHT
Chloé Rutzerveld // STROOOP!
Studio Richard Vijgen // WHITE SPOTS
YOUNG DESIGN AWARDS
The incentive award for young and talented designers that graduated no longer than five years ago. In the judging process the designer plays a central role; the jury assesses the quality of the entire portfolio.
Super Local // SUPER LOCAL
Anouk van Klaveren, Christa van der Meer, Dewi Bekker en Gino Anthonisse // DAS LEBEN AM HAVERKAMP
Frank Kolkman // FRANK KOLKMAN
Committees
Three committees comprising a total of twenty design experts selected from all the submissions and scouted projects. They evaluate projects based on the criteria aesthetics, impact, innovation, method of manufacture and collaboration. The determining factor for a nomination is the degree to which the design is innovative and/or makes a relevant contribution to society. These are the design experts forming the committees this year (in alphabetical order): Angelique Spaninks, Anne Hoogewoning, Bas Raijmakers, Bert Hagendoorn, Carolien Ligtenberg, Eline Strijkers, Erwin van der Zande, Ewoudt Boonstra, Iris Ruisch, Joost Alferink, Karin van den Brandt, Lonny van Ryswyk, Matthijs van Dijk, Michiel van Schie, Milou van Rossum, René Boer, Richard van der Laken, Roosje Klap, Sabine Wildevuur and Ulf Hackauf. An international professional jury chooses the winners from the nominees in October.
Dutch Design Awards
Since 2003 Dutch Design Awards (DDA) has rewarded Dutch designers for their most impressive, innovative and ground-breaking projects. In this anniversary year DDA celebrates the future with a new batch of designers, the publication of archives and the telling of stories behind 15 years of the best of Dutch design. With the competition, the awards show, a (travelling) retrospective exhibition and the publication of Dutch Design Today, Dutch Design Awards is a unique platform for Dutch design. Since 2008 DDA has had its office in the design capital Eindhoven. DDA forms the highlight of Dutch Design Week each year.
You can find more information about the finalists here.
