For the fifth consecutive year, the digital and physical design platform Isola joins the Dutch Design Week 2023 taking place in Eindhoven (Netherlands) from October 21st to 29th, 2023, and presents two main exhibitions inspired by Isola’s theme of this year, Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens.
Isola is gathering designers and design professionals with a joint mission: to go beyond mere sustainable design thinking and really make something happen. The founders call on all designers and studios to implement a concrete change in their modus operandi, bringing them closer to the concept of regeneration.
“Since embarking on our journey in the Netherlands back in 2019, we proudly boast an impressive community of Dutch designers within our network, enjoy the support of numerous local partners, and have even had the honor of a visit from Her Majesty the Queen during the last Milan Design Week. This year, we are excited to present two exhibitions that encapsulate the essence of our recent endeavors, which will shine a spotlight on exceptionally talented designers and their pioneering approaches to projects.”
affirms Gabriele Cavallaro, co-founder and CEO of Isola Design Group.
NOTHING HAPPENS IF NOTHING HAPPENS
Part of the “Something Bigger” event, hosted in the Schellens Fabriek, a former factory space in Eindhoven’s city center, close to the well-known Van Abbemuseum, Isola takes over a 400 sqm space by showcasing innovative biomaterials, circular products, and collectible design pieces.
The collaboration continues between Isola’s creative director, Elif Resitoglu, design studio IAMMI, and Italian start-up ReMat, focused on mattress waste recycling, for the creation and design of the exhibition layout. The elements in recycled polyurethane, previously shaped for the Londonese set-up, will be reused and repurposed, raising the commitment to truly sustainable design. Different thematic areas will characterize the exhibition, from material research to collectible design and sustainable and circular products.
Isola is pushing the level of sustainable exhibiting even further in its partnership with The Good Plastic Company, which will incorporate its Polygood® material crafted entirely from 100 percent recycled and recyclable plastic, into various aspects of the exhibition, including panels, signage, and the setup. This marks the second installment of a three-part journey, where the materials first featured in the exhibition at the London Design Festival will be repurposed and transformed into innovative creations. The Polygood® panels are supplied exclusively by CDUK.
Thanks to these collaborations and the generous support of Isola’s sponsors, the Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens exhibition in London, Eindhoven, and Dubai will be close to zero waste. This is made possible through the use of sustainable materials that will be reused in each event set-up.
Within the material area, the Dubai-based material library Colab will showcase 12 innovative and sustainable materials. Moreover, a space featuring the New Normal New Standard project will be dedicated to conscious Japanese design focused on the changing demands of our daily lives influenced by global affairs. Lastly, hosted for free by Isola, as part of the collectible design selection, are three members of its design community, Studio Verbaan, A Waste Epiphany, and Albert Potgieter, who lost their studio due to the fire that hit the Keilewerf building in Rotterdam last June.
Additionally among the participants are: A Waste Epiphany, AbarStudio, Albert Potgieter, Albore Design, Andres Canchan, Anett Papp, Atelier Barb, Coloruben, Cousins Design, Daniyar Uderbekov, Dublo Studio, Dutch Circular Design, Emma Leurink, Esmee Gruson, Esther De Vos, Federico Fiermonte, Felix Klein and Marina Engelhardt, Georgie Gerrard, Giulia Pirrello, Halle Design, Husarska, Jack Brandsma, Joana Teixeira, Justin Janssen, Juyoung Jung, Lisa Vlamings x vanPlestik, Maya Kaplan, Mushlume Lighting, Oliwia Ledzinska, OSSO, Paul Ketz, Raphael Pontais, Siiri Oksanen, Sof Afhb, Sofia Karnukaeva, Solmaz Primavera, Studio Annebet Philips, Studio Lo, Studio Sjoerd Geerts, Studio Verbaan, Studio-SZRAG, Thanos Deenen, The Atelier Jun, U-ak, Yujin Kang.
TOOLS & CRAFTS
As a tribute to the rich Dutch tradition of craftsmanship, Isola will collaborate with a local woodworker at Fuutlaan 12c on the eastern side of the central train station to host the exhibition Tools & Crafts inside his workshop. The show focuses on a new generation of artisans who combine traditional expertise with innovative and experimental techniques to create contemporary and collectible design pieces. Visitors can engage with the designers as they show the versatility of modern tools and techniques. From the application of coding and 3D printing to glassblowing, casting, and molding techniques, the projects involved will show how design can cherish tradition and honor ancient and new techniques while fostering innovation.
Among the participants are: Atelier Iris Nijenhuis, Aysun Ay, Dirk Duif, Giulia Toneguzzo, Hanne Arends, IAMMI, IOUS Studio, Jake Lalor Zakrzewski + Moritz Liedtke, Kim Melody Zoutwelle, Studio 23:23, studio dérive, Studio Fabius Clovis, Studio Floris Meijer, Studio Jiin Yoon, Studio Range, Studio Rijsmus, Taftique, Teun Zwets, ZEYNEP BOYAN.
The setup of Tools & Crafts will be developed by one of Isola’s curators, Wisse Trooster in partnership with Eindhoven-based designer Pepijn Fabius Clovis, known for his hands-on approach. Next to the entrance of the exhibition space, he will recreate a janitor’s office. On a stage with a workstation, designers will have the opportunity to share their skills and craftsmanship with visitors during live showcases. The setup will be painted with plant-based paint by Fairf.
In addition to Isola’s exhibition, three other craft-related events will bring life to Fuutlaan 12c. Woodworker Jan Gerritsen will be holding workshops in wood planing and will present an unconventional coffin to be used, as life progresses, as a bookcase, bench or storage box.With “Joy of Work”, Social Label initiators Petra Janssen (studio Boot) and Simone Kramer (C-mone) are bringing to Eindhoven their meaningful design collection and community focused on care, education, and reintegration. Social Label creates customized work and activities through ‘design by doing’ to help marginalized people enter the labor market. The Visionary Lab will breathe new life into pre-used Vitra chairs using repurposed Levi’s® denim thanks to its collaboration with fashion designers and artists.
ABOUT ISOLA
Isola is the world’s first digital and physical platform bringing visibility to independent designers and design studios, by connecting them to design professionals, companies, curators, journalists, and potential clients. Its dedicated curatorial team selects projects with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and handcraft.
Isola also organizes various in-person events under the umbrella of Isola Design Festival, which takes place throughout the year, during Milan Design Week, Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven (Netherlands), and recently Downtown Design in Dubai, hosting dozens of exhibitions, hundreds of exhibitors, and thousands of visitors.
Founded in 2017 in Milan, Isola Design District immediately became one of the main official areas of the Milan Design Week, with special attention to international and emerging designers. Since 2019, Isola Design District has also participated in the Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, becoming the first Italian design district to participate in a foreign event.
Isola expanded its borders even further in 2022, when for the first time it led a curated group of designers to the United Arab Emirates for Downtown Design during Dubai Design Week, and in 2023 by taking part in Material Matters at the London Design Festival and Tanween 2023, Ithra’s Season of Creativity, the largest creativity platform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Launched in 2021 with more than 1.000 designers from 65+ countries and 1,700+ projects published, Isola offers a community for creative people around the globe through its digital platform, with dedicated profiles and portfolio pages. The digital platform aims to spark direct community interactions, discussions, and the sharing of expertise.
Moreover, via the upcoming Marketplace by Isola, each verified designer and creative studio will get the chance to sell their physical products, digital assets, and NFTs.
CREDITS & INFO
LOCATION Dutch Design Week 2023 (Eindhoven, Netherlands)
DATES 21—29 October 2023
OPENING HOURS 11am—6pm
SPONSORS ReMat, The Good Plastic Company
CULTURAL PARTNER WORTH, an initiative of the European Commission
PARTNERS 3DD Factory, Colab, Fairf, IAMMI, Jan Gerritsen Timmerwerken, Pepijn Fabius Clovis, Something Bigger, Spaces, Wisse Trooster
MEDIA PARTNERS DesignWanted, Dutch Design Daily, La Casa in Ordine
Photocredits: Isola, Alvaro Picca & Andrés Canchán, Anwyn Howarth, Courtesy of Colab,
Courtesy Atelier Iris Nijenhuis, Wisse Trooster