Still No Creative Director for the DAE

Knowledge

Design Academy Eindhoven has announced its new member of the Executive Board. Things looks good for the operational side of things, but why still no news on who will be the next creative director?

By Editor Design.nl /asdf 06-01-2011

The Design Academy Eindhoven’s recent announcement was not what Holland’s design industry was expecting.

Since the premature departure of Alexander van Slobbe from his gig as creative director, everyone has been eagerly awaiting news of his replacement.

Fifteen months is a long time for an academy of such caliber to exist without an artistic vision.

Rumours have been flying for months that Ilse Crawford would be the name announced, but apparently it is not to be. At least yet.

Instead, a press release was sent out informing us that Igor van Hooff has been appointed member of the Executive Board from mid-March 2011.

The release says: “He [Van Hooff] will be the person on the Executive Board in charge of operational affairs. Chair of the Board Anne Mieke Eggenkamp will be focussing more explicitly on education, internationalisation and external relations. Igor van Hooff is currently active as regional director at Randstad.

“Anne Mieke Eggenkamp is delighted with the arrival of the new director,” the release continues. “To be a Çenter of Excellence in design education, and to continue to be one, we must strive for excellence in our operational processes as well,” she is quoted as saying. “The academy has now opted for an expert in this field, who can help us reach a sustainable balance between quality, people, and resources.”

And it is not that anyone disagrees. Rather, we are left wondering when a creative director will be appointed and why the job is taking so long to fill.