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17-25 October 2026

DON'T MOVE THE FOUNTAIN

Ref. Gospel standard “Lord Don’t Move the Mountain” (Doris Akins). Welcoming adversity as a source of collective, creative power.

Hosted by Contextual Design Students

This project is now archived and was part of DDW24

Event type

Exhibition

Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland
DON’T MOVE THE FOUNTAIN is initiated by a group of designers from the Contextual Design department of DAE. They worked collectively around a timeless icon: the fountain. The installation will be shown at De Fabriek and will create an inviting atmosphere through the energy of flowing water.

The fountain as a symbol

Historically, fountains have been known as symbols of power and luxury. However, as a central element in various public spaces, the fountain is also deeply embedded within society. In this way, it serves as a medium for deconstructing the different contexts in which we as people operate. Furthermore, the fountain also embodies one of the most precious elements known to us: water. Water sustains life, draws upon a universal language and takes up ninety percent of our bodily matter. This water is our starting point for this project. In the construction of the fountain, this group of designers translates different notions related to water into different elements of the fountain. These elements, from the shapes and materials to the fluidity of its design, carries with it a narrative that speaks to our collective consciousness. Through this collaborative effort, the fountain becomes more than a structure— it becomes a symbol of interconnectedness.

Hosted by

Contextual Design Students
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About Contextual Design Students

DON’T MOVE THE FOUNTAIN is an installation in which a group of young designers collaborated through different narratives around water. This project is initiated by a group of designers who found each other in September 2023 in the Contextual Design department of Design Academy Eindhoven. From their varied experiences, they came together to express their vision as a group of young ambitious designers.

Colofon

Supported by the Communication Department of DAE and Contextual Design Department of DAE
Project management, overall design and organisation Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland
Core Team Alicia Borssén, Thibaud Boto, Christophe Boulmer, Lucie Briand, Phoebe Ho, Leto Keunen, Serim Kwack, Mijali Posades, Ise Weier & Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland
Exhibition design Natali Aguirre Montaña, Thibaud Boto, Christophe Boulmer, Derrick Crichlow, Jun Fujisaku, Léane Gorgette, Jonghoo Jeong, Sugyeong Lee & Christoph Wimmer-Ruelland
Graphics & photos Xi Chen, Serim Kwack, Yichun Liu & Ise Weier
Exhibition text Pia Gräwe, Derrick Crichlow & Mijali Posada
Social media Alicia Borssén, Thibaud Boto & Leto Keunen