Renny Ramakers Renny Ramakers Official site

Hello.

Co-founder and director of Droog, Renny Ramakers initiates projects, curates design exhibitions, and lectures worldwide. She is a judging panellist on various design boards and has advised on governmental advisory boards, amongst others as a member of the Dutch Council of Culture (1995-2001). As a critic, she has contributed to international magazines, books and catalogues, and has authored several books. She is chairman of the board of THNK, Amsterdam school for creative leadership.

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Symposium: WIJkonomie Tarwewijk

From hairdressing to car repair and radio broadcasting, the residential neighbourhood of Tarwewijk in the South of Rotterdam has a hidden network of homeworkers. WIJkonomie Tarwewijk visualizes and builds on existing social and economic networks in Tarwewijk, proposing new tools and strategies to strengthen the economic and social vitality of this area.

By Droog in collaboration with Jan Konings, Kosmopolis Rotterdam and Netherlands Architecture Institute (NAI), the symposium will feature design proposals and interventions by Jan Konings, TD Architects, Thomas Lommée, Crimson with Maxwan and Doepel Strijkers Architects. Designers, politicians, entrepreneurs and residents of Tarwewijk will enter into discussion about questions like: how can local entrepreneurship strengthen both economic and social vitality of a neighbourhood? And how can design interventions and strategies be more valuable in the long term? After all, the effect of these kinds of interventions - although well-intentioned, often turns out to be short-lived.

Where and when?
Wednesday February 22, 2012
Start: 19:30h (doors opens at 19:00h)
Language: English
Location: Auditorium NAI (Museumpark 25, Rotterdam)
Admission: € 5 / € 3 for students / free for Friends of the NAI
Supported by: DOEN Foundation
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The New Originality: lessons from China

China, especially in the Shenzhen area, has always been known for the bluntness of its copying. With the current rise of creative industries in China, the country is undergoing a mind shift. Its aim is to replace the “Made in China” image and to follow the Western model of creativity and originality.

At the same time, in the West we see the rise of the open design movement, which is underpinned by a strong criticism of copyright. Regardless if we are for or against open design and co-creation, we have to admit that a rigid system of copyright laws can block creative thinking. Since copying is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and is not seen as something negative, we believe China can be a model country for new understandings of originality. “The New Originality” will look to the hub of copycat culture in search of new incentives, new business models, and new ways of developing original thought. The New Originality links copying to innovation.

The project was kicked-off with a trip to Shenzhen from December 11th – 17th, where concepts were developed and public lectures and debates were had at Fangsou in Guangzhou, and at OCT Art and Design Gallery in Shenzhen. Outcomes will be presented in 2012 at Today Art Museum.

Belgium: Identity matters?

Clinging to one’s identity can cause a lot of hardships—stagnation, cultural clashes, alienation and political instability. One of the original six founders and home to the current capital of the European Union, Belgium now holds the world record for the longest period without government. As one of the few countries lacking a quintessential national identity, the Droog Lab believes Belgium could be a model for how individuals, companies and institutions could formulate their future identities. Led by Erik Kessels and in partnership with Z33, the project will explore the value and real potential of (no) identity.

The project was kicked-off with a research trip to Belgium from December 17th – 20th, where concepts were developed. Outcomes will be presented in 2012 in partnership with Z33.

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the UP conference

UP, a new economic model for upping the value of dead stock through design was launched by Droog at the UP conference on November 3rd, 2011. The first line of UP products was unveiled, using stock from collaborating companies including Makro, Van Gansewinkel, Vlisco and Mediq.
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