25 August 2022
background and general impression
In the run-up to the open call, the Fund invited Saskia van Stein to conduct research into the state of design critique in the Netherlands. The article ‘Critique, reflection and debate within the design disciplines of architecture, design and digital culture in the Netherlands’ (in Dutch only) reports on the results and includes some recommendations. In the piece, Van Stein reflects on the changing culture and society from the position of the origins and development of the creative industries, and shows the role that design critique plays in this. In response to this research, this third edition of the Open Call Room for design critique, reflection and debate was also open to applications from designers and makers, unlike previous editions, which were mainly aimed at platforms and institutions.
The number of proposals submitted and the diversity of projects show that there is a strong need within the design field to practise and organize critique, reflection and debate – in various forms and from different perspectives. A striking aspect is the broad interpretation of design critique by applicants. Many of the proposals submitted sought the connection between the design disciplines. In general, the proposals were interesting in terms of artistic direction and content; in a number of cases, the applications lacked a clear translation into a planned approach or methodology to achieve tangible results. Finally, within the framework of this open call, the committee emphasized the added value it sees in sustainable practices: practices/design practices in which specific themes, topics or collaborations are explored in depth for a longer period of time, and as a result build on existing or acquired knowledge.
