Header: EXIT26 © The Swedish School of Textiles / Photo credit: DDW
Under the theme R.A.W (Rebel Authentic Worth), the Dutch Design Week (DDW) highlights unpolished and experimental designs with a strong focus on materials, biodesign, and AI. The upcoming 26th edition will present a whole spectrum of design across the city and several new venues between October 17 and 25, 2026.
Program highlights
Heleen Herbert, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, will officially open the 26th edition of Dutch Design Week today, on Friday, October 16, at Radio Royaal, Ketelhuisplein 10, Eindhoven. Dirk Duif will display furniture, objects, and installations that powerfully explore form, scale, and function. Building TT, alongside the newly opened Building TX, will become a new hub for collective design along the route to Piet Hein Eek. In the Strijp-S neighbourhood, Building SFF (Bosch) and the Next Nature Museum will host an exhibition focused on digital design and AI. The AI art event Prompt will feature a conference and a book presentation on how AI is reshaping the world.
3D-printed houses and AI-written biography
transparent.citizen project by Mees Boeijen uses AI to track every moment of his own life, including vital functions, location, movement, heart rate, water use, browsing history and bank statements. The printer turns these data into a continuous biography visitors can read at Amaranth Studio.
TAM Industries will present the House of Light, a full-scale 3D-printed house made of recycled plastic. The installation explores additive manufacturing’s influence on the building industry. We Harvest Wind installation by environmental artist Thijs Biersteker explores renewable energy and tangible materials.
Products made of fungi and agricultural byproducts
The Biodesign Warehouse – Department Store for Life by Emma van der Leest showcases materials and products made from living systems including bacteria, fungi and algae, and agricultural byproducts. Group show entitled The Collective Response – Design for Shared Action will gather works by Yamuna Forzani, Questions Collective (Tessel Brühl), Extra Practice, and Bureau Burgerberaad, focused on collaborative community building and creative action.
Emerging talents and young designers
DDW will host more than 30 design schools from the Netherlands and abroad, including the Swedish School of Textiles and Aalto University in Finland. The event will present 20 graduation projects and two open lab sessions to mark the 25th anniversary of the TU/e Department of Industrial Design. The HEMA design competition, celebrating its 100th anniversary, will showcase works by ten finalists and invite visitors to vote and help select the winner.
Secrid Talent Podium will highlight impactful works of over 50 young designers driving social and environmental change. Dutch Design Awards Class of 2026 comprises designs by fifteen emerging talents, including Ori Orisun Merhav’s collectables made of palm fibres and insect resin. The awards will honour the Class of 2026 on October 17.
This October, Eindhoven, the city in the south of the Netherlands, will be overtaken by more than 2,500 designers, studios, educational and cultural organisations. Companies and organisations will present their creative partnerships with designers. From established names such as Isabel + Helen, Crafts Council and Rive Roshan to emerging talents, the city will offer a programme packed with seminars, exhibitions, presentations, networking events, outdoor installations and workshops.
