How delighted we were when we learned in mid-2020 that our BIS application had been approved! That news brought a wave of energy that ensured we rolled up our sleeves past our elbows, aiming to get fully engaged with what we had outlined in our activity plan. After the euphoria of the BIS appointment in the summer of 2020, we had to swallow a very bitter pill just 2.5 weeks before the start of Dutch Design Week (DDW) 2020, when the Municipality of Eindhoven—due to coronavirus—had to decide that DDW20 could only take place online. This decision meant putting a line through a 19-year-old process where DDF, together with the design community, partners and friends, works for months with complete dedication and commitment to DDW. A decision that had an enormous impact on all involved designers, partners, and the broader chain of DDF suppliers, and not least on the loyal visitors of DDW.
In 2021, our focus was therefore largely on establishing an impactful DDW. Impactful primarily for the design community who needed the attention and relevant meetings and assignments more than ever. They stood, side by side with us, eager to show the world, not only through DDW but through all our projects, how design power can contribute to offering new perspective. This report shows that we have succeeded in outlining this perspective.