Design Academy Eindhoven

Summary

Design Academy Eindhoven is a University of the Arts that specializes in Design and is part of the Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences. For over 70 years it has trained aspiring designers to make their mark on the future by consistently exploring design as an instrument of material, social, environmental and critical innovation. Established in 1947, the institute offers both Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes. The academy’s commitment to inclusivity, research-driven education, and real-world application has strengthened its reputation as a hub for design education.

History

In 1947, the institution was founded as the Akademie voor Industriële Vormgeving Eindhoven by Renée Smeets, marking the first design school in the Netherlands dedicated to industrial design. The academy’s early focus was on training fashion designers to meet the needs of the post-war industrial landscape. In 1997, DAE moved to the historic building known as De Witte Dame (The White Lady), a former Philips factory, symbolising a shift towards a more contemporary and experimental approach to design education. This relocation facilitated the integration of design with technological innovation and urban regeneration.

The late 1990s and early 2000s saw significant leadership changes. In 1999, renowned trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort was appointed chairwoman, bringing international attention to the academy. Under her leadership, the annual Graduation Show was reinstated in Eindhoven, enhancing the city’s status as a design hub. After Edelkoort’s departure in 2009, Anne Mieke Eggenkamp succeeded her, followed by Thomas Widdershoven in 2013. In 2017, Joseph Grima took over as Creative Director, steering the institute towards a more research-oriented and socially conscious design philosophy.

In 2025, Dr. Ramon Amaro was appointed Creative Director, bringing an interdisciplinary perspective shaped by experience across engineering, sociology, art history, critical theory, and digital culture. DAE’s educational structure is designed to be flexible and interdisciplinary. The Bachelor’s programme comprises eight departments, including Man and Identity, Man and Public Space, and Man and Leisure, allowing students to explore the different aspects of design.

Today it is home to a community of many nationalities and cultures, offering an environment where personal perspectives on the world can be translated into meaningful propositions. They are guided in this by a team of professional designers, architects, researchers, writers and curators, all active within the academy as well as in the professional field.

Vision

The founder’s vision for Design Academy Eindhoven was to establish an institution that imparted technical skills and fostered creativity, through a curriculum that encourages students to question societal norms and explore innovative solutions to contemporary challenges. Under the leadership of Lidewij Edelkoort, the academy embraced a global perspective, integrating international trends and fostering a diverse student body. Edelkoort’s tenure marked a period of internationalisation and increased visibility for Design Academy Eindhoven. Dr. Ramon Amaro’s appointment in 2025 signifies a continued commitment to a vision where design serves as a tool for positive change. His interdisciplinary approach aims to position DAE at the forefront of addressing global issues through design.

Top Design Courses

DAE is a University of the Arts, offering both BA and MA degrees, specialised in training students in different design perspectives in order to produce critical and socially engaged designers. In conjunction with the educational programmes, DAE has international research Professorships focused on collaborative research projects. The commonality at DAE is the shared political values of an inclusive society that embraces diversity in every aspect.

In addition, the hybrid, conceptual, contextual and international approach to design makes DAE’s programmes distinctive. The bachelor’s program is split into eight interdisciplinary departments, broadly covering art, architecture, fashion design, graphic design and industrial design. As the structure of the bachelor’s program is intended to be flexible, students are free to move between departments and all students graduate with the same degree, Bachelor of Design.

One of the topmost courses among Master’s programs is Geo—Design. Here, students work at the experimental edges of design, art, and science. The first year is densely packed with studios, prompts and assignments that invite students to enter an interdisciplinary space of investigation and making. The program has students from filmmaking, design, art, and scholarly and crafts. The last trimester of the first year sees the guided development of a written thesis proposal and a pre-materialisation of plans and ideas for the student’s graduation project.

The second year is dedicated to the student’s graduation and thesis, with different tutors supporting and challenging the students throughout. Many of the students embark on research trips to feed both the materialization and the thesis. Workshops, lectures, and seminars create a diversity of viewpoints during this process. And a studio dedicated to agency and voice-finding addresses specifically the students’ confidence in not merely speaking but being their work and practice.

Key Team

• Dr. Ramon Amaro – Creative Director

• Henri Beelen – Board Secretary

• Ali Taser – Head of Finance and Control

• Janneke Schreuder – Head of BA Programme

Job Integration Services

Design Academy Eindhoven provides robust support for students transitioning into the professional world. This includes Career Services, Industry Connections and an Alumni Network that connects graduates with a global network of professionals for mentorship and opportunities. These services are designed to enhance employability and support students in launching successful design careers.

References

• “dae.wiki”. www.designacademy.nl.
• “Lidewij Edelkoort to resign from Design Academy Eindhoven”. Dezeen. 
• “Ilse Crawford and Oscar Peña to leave Design Academy Eindhoven”. Dezeen. 
• “Design Academy krijgt nieuw thuis in het Microlab”. studio040.nl 
• “QS World University Rankings for Art & Design 2024”. Top Universities. 
• “Visite : A Eindhoven, Piet Hein Eek réinvente la ville post-industrielle”. IDEAT