Feelings of nostalgia almost make us fall in love all over again, when we remember the hippie music, polkadots and floral prints that all made the 50s, 60s and 70s to what they were. Yet the question arises, is Dutch Design actually retro? The fact is
that Dutch Design only gained recognition later in the nineties. Dutch Design is more a way of thinking and designing and has been strongly rooted in design education for decades. In the year 1950, the first ‘Dutch Design’ evening course was founded
under the name ‘The Academy for Industrial Design Eindhoven’. This course gave birth to many fantastic
designs that we now label as ‘retro’. These designs often had an enlightening function for the local giants such as Philips in the most practical sense and in terms of innovation.

Dutch Designers are generally characterized by their innovation and urge for innovation, but they are certainly not too proud to look back at designs that have already played a role in yester years. In other words, the wheel is not reinvented, but old designs merge with functionality and youth sentiment
and by doing so, they get a whole new modern and innovative look and feel. During the exhibition called ‘Retro Fantastic’, you will be carried away in a fantastic, sometimes quickly and playful way through the 50s all the way up until the 70s. With
moments of melancholy and nostalgia, but also with the vision and novelties of today, so that we break old styles in a stylish way. 

 

Retro Fantastic ran from 'Retro February 7th till juni 3rd  2019. Take a look at the brochure to go back in time.