Dutch graphic designers in Berlin

Communication design / Events

As a way to explore the different design cultures of The Netherlands and Germany, five leading Dutch graphic designers have temporarily relocated their studios to Berlin.

By Editor Design.nl /asdf 02-10-2008

Goodbye Holland, Hello Berlin.

From September 1st 2008 until January 1st 2009, five leading Dutch graphic designers will move their studios temporarily to Berlin. They will work under the name ‘B.A.S.’ (Berlin Art Space) in the studio space of The Netherlands Foundation for Visual Arts, Design and Architecture (known in the Netherlands as Fonds BKVB) on design projects which will take place in the Berlin public domain. The projects are produced, presented and discussed in Berlin with German graphic designers and others associated. The participants are: Anothercompany (Joachim Baan); Gorilla (Herman van Bostelen); Kummer & Herrman, Luna Maurer and Team TCHM (Felix Janssens and Kirsten Algera).

Despite the geographical proximity and cultural affinity there is relatively little connection between Dutch and German designers. B.A.S. takes the first step towards initiating change. The projects of the participating designers will examine the similarities and differences between German/Dutch society and their design culture. In Germany there is much appreciation for progressive Dutch designs which are difficult to come about in a traditional working field in Germany. At the same time, designers in the Netherlands look with great envy at the professional German discourse on the relationship between society, politics and design. This context and role of design in the public domain are the focus points in the B.A.S. projects.

Each graphic designer will be working on a separate project, whereby every month until January, one project will be presented to the public. The first presentation was held on 27 September. 'Skårf' is a project by Anothercompany, where specific information about Berlin will be arranged in themes and new structures and patterns of the city will be exposed. Underground projects, scenes, movements and social data come together to form new maps capturing the secret of the ‘underground capital’. These abstract maps will form patterns for large silk scarfs which will be released in collaboration with a Dutch and Berlin-based fashion label.