Hotel Droog, Amsterdam
20th August 2014
Last week I took a trip to Amsterdam with some good friends and I was very excited when I learnt that Droog, the Dutch design company, had a shop and permanent exhibition in the centre of the city. I studied the work of Droog throughout university and concluded my course by using the company for the focus of my dissertation. By studying their work it allowed me to explore two design topics I am very passionate about; sustainable and emotional design.
The Dutch company is a collaboration of designers formed by Renny Ramakers and Gijs Bakker in 1993. It is a continuously changing group of designers who stand out because of there non-conformity to the mass produced consumerist style. During the time I studied there work I had a strong interest in their exploration of both emotional and sustainable design in their work and loved analysing the unusual association of these two topics in my dissertation.
The exhibition in Amsterdam in ‘Hotel Droog’ presented some of Doog’s most famous works as well as single bedroom for residence, an additional exhibition, tea rooms and a shop. Droog creates very interactive and fun designs and I enjoyed being able to wander around the exhibition trying all the products including even being able to have a cup of tea from one of the famous ‘Tea for Two’ sets by Richard Hutten (above).
Some of their work clearly promotes sustainability. For Example Tejo Remy, ‘Chest of Drawers – You Can’t Lay Down your Memories’ (above). The unconventional chest of drawers was made from a variety of discarded drawers kept in their original condition. The drawers were then encased in maple wood and bound together in a visually random arrangement by a jute strap. The design displays sustainable features by reusing drawers and postponing their disposal by giving them a second life.
This design also has an interesting emotional connection with regards to Memories. The drawers all had previous uses and draw upon reflective design and how this reflection can create a strong emotional connection to a design.
Droog’s designs are bold and fun, often leaving you thinking of new and interesting ways of approaching design. The exhibition rekindled my interest in more exploratory and sustainable designs as well making me ponder what my next design project could be. Amsterdam as a whole was an amazing place and I would recommend the city to anyone, particularly those with a creative flair. It is full of interesting and inspiring places from vintage markets to the design boutiques and galleries to graffiti and I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
