Following last summer’s experience in Portugal (find out more herewe have also experimented this semester with a Erasmus Short Mobility, short-term and hybrid mobility typology in Europe.
From 25th to 31st October 2024 we were in the Netherlands, stopping first at Eindhoven for the Dutch Design Week and then in Rotterdam, at The Ronners, graphic and digital design agency.
The mobility was organised as part of the Consorzio EMN – Erasmus Mobility Network.
The Dutch Design Week is focused this year on the dichotomy Real / Unreal. From 19 to 27 October 2024, Eindhoven became a catalyst for reflection on what is real and what is imaginary. Central themes were clean energy and waste material recovery, biomaterials, digital worlds and AI.
Among our stops, the graduation show of the Design Academy Eindhoven, where young designers questioned on the design of the future and the future of design and they have shown how our perceptions and truths can be called into question, inviting us to reassess our certainties and opening the doors to new possible worlds.
In Eindhoven we also attended the book presentation Steve: a Framework for AI and Identity Design of Melani De Luca, course instructor Methods and Tools for Representation. A research investigating the impact and potential of machine learning 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 short mobility saw us engaged in the workshop Creativity under pressure: the art of working with deadlines yes Studio De Ronners, a brief one Erasmus Traineeship focused on graphic design and Poster design starting from a different brief every day. An activity that immersed us in the daily dynamics of an established professional company and allowed us to learn and experience first-hand the design methodologies, challenges and rewards of creative work.
De Ronners is a Rotterdam-based agency which develops visual identities, communication campaigns and publishing projects, collaborating with museums and the country's most important cultural institutions, as well as architectural practices, businesses and non-profit organisations. It has hosted Francesco Falcone, student of the first edition of the Master's in Visual Communication & Art Direction, for his curricular internship: today Francesco works full-time with the studio and supported us during the workshop, in which we brought to life three different poster series, focused on predetermined colour palettes and the following 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 & BeyRianne Makkink, co-founder alongside Jurgen Bey, illustrated the projects developed for Waterschool, the research, training and design initiative on the theme of’water as a finite resource, which gave rise to Waterschool South, the spin-off curated by our Academy which will lead 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, lecturer in Communication of exhibition spaces, and of Lucia Calà ed Elisabetta Laviano (graphic designer in the ABADIR team).
Through the Erasmus+ Programme, ABADIR also offers its students the opportunity to undertake periods of study and work placement in European Union countries (Student Mobility for Studies and Student Mobility for Traineeship) and teaching or training experiences for staff and faculty members (Staff Mobility for Teaching and for Training).