After last summer's experience in Portugal (discover it here) this semester we also experienced a Erasmus Short Mobility, type of hybrid and short-term mobility in Europe.
From the 25 31 October 2024 we were in the Netherlands, stopping first in Eindhoven for Dutch Design Week and then in Rotterdam, near De Ronners, graphic and digital design agency.
The mobility was organized within the framework of the EMN Consortium – Erasmus Mobility Network.
La Dutch Design Week This year focuses on the dichotomy Real / UnrealFrom 19 to 27 October 2024, Eindhoven became a catalyst for reflections on what is real and what is imaginary. Central themes were clean energy and waste recovery, biomaterials, digital worlds, and AI.
Among our stops, the graduation show of Design Academy Eindhoven, where young designers questioned themselves on the design of the future and the future of design and they have shown how our perceptions and our truths can be questioned, inviting us to reevaluate our certainties and opening the doors to new possible worlds.
In Eindhoven we also attended the presentation of the book Steve: a Framework for AI and Identity Design di Melani De Luca, course teacher Methods and Tools for Representation. A research that investigates the impact and potential of the machine learning algorithm in the development of visual identity projects, identifying digital tools and best practices that can amplify the creative process and outlining a series of ethical principles for their use.
The second phase of the short mobility saw us engaged in the workshop Creativity under pressure: the art of working with deadlines da Studio De Ronners, a short Erasmus Traineeship focused on graphic design and poster creation starting from a different brief every day. An activity that immersed us in the daily dynamics of an established professional reality and allowed us to learn and experience first-hand the design methodologies, challenges and satisfactions of creative work.
De Ronners is an agency based in Rotterdam which develops visual identities, communication campaigns, and editorial projects, collaborating with museums and the country's most important cultural institutions, as well as architectural firms, companies, and non-profit organizations. It has hosted Francesco Falcone, student of the first edition of the Master in Visual Communication & Art Direction, for his curricular internship: today Francesco collaborates full time with the studio and supported us during the workshop, in which we created three different series of posters, focused on predetermined color palettes and on the following keywords: RADICAL – OPTIMISTIC – CHANGE.
«In the world of design, deadlines are not just time limits: they can become powerful means for creative inspiration. Working with limited time may seem stressful, but it often pushes designers to make quick decisions, think innovatively and find creative solutions.»
— Arwen Ronner
In Rotterdam we also visited Studio Makkink & Bey: Rianne Makkink, co-founder together with Jurgen Bey, illustrated the projects developed for Water School, the research, training and planning initiative on the theme ofwater as a finite resource, which gave rise to Waterschool South, the spin-off curated by our Academy that will give rise to a series of activities throughout 2025.
Participants: Gabriele Alecci, Sofia Azzaro, Lucia Buscemi, Stefania Guerrera, Sophie Monaco, Mario Paolino, Alessia Prestigiacomo, Giulia Todaro with the support of Francesco Scagliarini, Professor of Communication of exhibition spaces, And Lucia Calà ed Elizabeth Laviano (graphic designer from the ABADIR team).
Through the Erasmus+ Programme, ABADIR also offers its students the opportunity to undertake study and internship periods in European Union countries (Student Mobility for Studies and Student Mobility for Traineeship) and to teachers and staff members experiences for teaching or training purposes (Staff Mobility for Teaching and for Training).