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Droog Design – 27.09.2003

Gijs Bakker from Droog Design studio will come to the Days of Design Designblok 2003 in Prague. Here is a brief introduction of Droog Design.

Droog Design was founded in 1993 by Gijs Bakker and Renny Ramakers and has its seat in Amsterdam. Droog Design presents a mentality, it makes a contribution to the international debate about design through projects, exhibitions, workshops, paper presentations and publications and it initiates and develops experimental projects, in which young designers can take part. Projects include: Dry Tech (1996,1997), Droog Design for Rosenthal (1997), Dry Bathing (1997), The Inevitable Ornament (1998), Couleur Locale (1999), do Create (2000), Me Myself and You (2001), Dry Kitchen (2001), Hotel droog* (2002), Restoring daily life (2002) and Your Choice (2003).

Droog Design is commissioned by international firms and institutions and invites young designers to participate. Commissions were given by Rosenthal (Germany), Salviati (Italy), Mandarina Duck (Italy), Bang & Olufsen (Denmark), Valli & Valli (France), Kulturstiftung Dessau-Wörlitz (Germany), KesselsKramer (The Netherlands), Documenta 11 (Germany), New York Times (USA), WE (The Netherlands), Levi Strauss (Europe), Sottsass Associati (Italy), Picus (the Netherlands), Valencia Biennial (Spain), San Francisco MOMA (USA), Hoogstad Architecten (The Netherlands), Mori Building (Japan), Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication (France) and Mojo Concerts (The Netherlands).

Droog Design works with designers from all over the world, not only with product designers but also with graphic designers, fashion designers and architects.

Droog Design selects innovative products for the Droog Design collection which at present consists of approximately 130 products. The products have either been chosen from the latest supply or initiated by projects. The criteria are flexible, shaped as they are by developments in product culture and by whatever designers are heading for. The only constant is that the concept has validity today, that it is worked out along lines that are clear-cut and compelling and of course product usability is an absolute must. Within this framework literally anything goes.

A substantial part of the Droog Design products are marketed worldwide under the droog label. These products are also available at droog & Co., The shop and gallery of Droog Design in the heart of Amsterdam. Droog & co. features exhibitions with droog products and work of national and international designers.

Droog Design products are part of the collections of numerous international museums. The Utrecht Central Museum bought the entire 1993-1999 collection.

Droog Design is featured in publications:

• Zijl, I. van Droog Design 1991-1996, Centraal Museum, Utrecht 1997.
• Ramakers, R., Bakker, G. Droog Design; Spirit of the Nineties, 010 Publishers, Rotterdam 1998.
• Ramakers, R., Weiss, T. Couleur Locale; Droog Design for/für Oranienbaum, 010 Publishers, Rotterdam 1999.
• Ramakers, R., Van der Zanden, J. do create, do & Droog Design, Amsterdam 2000.
• Centraal Museum Utrecht, Exhibition catalogue, Droog & Dutch Design, Centraal Museum, Utrecht 2000.
• Ramakers, R. Droog Design Catalogue, Droog Design & DMD, Den Haag 2000.
• Droog Design, The real life of objects, The Lighthouse and 55degrees, Glasgow 2000, DVD.
• me, myself and you, Droog Design, Amsterdam 2001.
• Hinte, E. van Pocket furniture. Droog Design for Picus, Droog Design, Amsterdam 2001.
• Ramakers, R. Less + More. Droog Design in Context, 010 Publishers, Rotterdam 2002.
• Hotel droog*, Publication, Droog Design, Amsterdam 2002.
• Ekel, F. Hotel droog*, Video Tape, Droog design, Amsterdam 2002, Video.
• Your Choice, Droog design, Amsterdam, 2003.