in Rotterdam

daringdesign is the sequel to the exhibition Taking a Stance, that travelled through China in 2010. It was put together by the Netherlands Architecture Insitiute (NAI) and commissioned by DutchDFA. For daringdesign the NAI has asked the 8 designers to present a new project or to elaborate their existing presentation further. Moreover, the exhibition will be twice the size of its predecessor through the addition of a specially designed contextual layer. On show from 1 July to 20 November 2011.

photo: Hella Jongerius, Taking a Stance 2010 @ Patrick Wack

The 8 designers in daringdesign have much in common. They are critical, raise questions, extend boundaries and do not evade commercially or politically sensitive issues. At the same time they are realistic. They look around them all the time and respond to contemporary developments. Their work emphasises concepts like context, tradition and craftsmanship, thereby giving design a new significance and more quality in a world that is increasingly dominated by globalisation, commercialisation and standardisation. The 8 designers are: 

From China: 

Ai Weiwei (architect/artist)

Urbanus (firm of architects)

TO MEET YOU (graphic design agency) 

Ma Ke (fashion designer). 

From the Netherlands: 

Rem Koolhaas/OMA (firm of architects)  

Hella Jongerius (product designer)

Alexander van Slobbe (fashion designer)

Irma Boom (graphic designer)

Each of them will present a project in which he or she takes up a stance in the design world. The eight installations are part of a spectacular open ‘landscape’ designed by TomDavid Architecten. A lot of attention will be paid to the context in which the 8 designers work. An impressive series of pictures offers visitors insight into the similarities and differences between China and the Netherlands. At first sight it is the differences that stand out, but there are correspondences too. All 8 designers rise to the challenge of the circumstances in such a way that they can learn from one another

More information on the website of the Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI)