Opportunities for Dutch designers are increasingly found abroad, both in far-away emerging economies and in neighbouring countries. How to best make use of these opportunities? In a foreign country, even the most established agency has to start over. Nevertheless, an increasing number of Dutch designers is exploring these new territories. For this reason DutchDFA is developing made-to-measure local support systems, such as incubator-type office spaces and mediating business desks.
On 28 October 2011, at Dutch Design Week, DutchDFA will present an update on the Workspaces and Design Desks in China, India, Germany and Turkey, while designers who are active in these countries will share their experiences.
In recent years, DutchDFA has developed various instruments to support Dutch designers in doing business abroad. The Dutch Design Workspace in Shanghai has become well known. A similar WorkSpace will open in Mumbai this fall. In addition, a mediating Design Desk has been launched in Guangzhou, and there are plans for Design Desks in Germany and Turkey. DutchDFA will present these initiatives and activities during Dutch Design Week. Dutch design professionals who are active and successful in these countries will share their experiences in doing business abroad. You will be able to meet Design Desk and WorkSpace employees, Dutch professional designers working abroad, and DutchDFA country coordinators.
Date: Friday 28-10-2011, during Dutch Design Week 2011
Location: Auditorium Design Cooperation Brainport, Torenallee 22 -08, Strijp-S, Eindhoven. Time: 10.00 am – 12.30 pm, doors open 09.30
Programme
from 9.30 am Arrival and reception
10:00 – 10:10
Welcome: Christine de Baan (director DutchDFA)
Opening: Rob van Gijzel (Mayor of Eindhoven)
Moderator: Gert Staal
10.10 – 10:40
China: Workspace Shanghai, GPRD Design Desk
Vanessa de Groot: GPRD Design Desk
Deborah Meijburg: Five Spices
10.40 – 11.10
Germany: Opportunities and challenges, design desk Germany
Lodewijk Reijs: Germany coordinator
Marc Maurer: Dutch Design Desk Europe, Maurer United
11.10 – 11.40
Turkey: Opportunities and challenges
Yonca Özbilge: Turkey coordinator
Marcel Vroom: MVAVD
11.40 – 12.10
India: Workspace Mumbai
Jeanne Tan: India coordinator
Anuradha Gupta: Workspace Mumbai
ADDIKT: Design Movement
12:10 – 12.30
Network opportunity and light lunch
From November 1st until December 23rd 2011, the exhibition ‘Van Stokstraat naar A2′ will be presenting the Maastricht tradition of renovation and re-use in the field of sustainable city development. The exhibition shows eight different approaches on different scales and is organized by the ‘Biënnale Leegstand en Herbestemming 2011‘. The exhibition is located on the vacant attic space of the central train and bus station. The project, including a publication (’50 jaar Herbestemming in Maastricht’), is curated and designed by Maurer United. 
