Research in Focus: Beyond Dutch Design Week

How do you truly bring research to life for a broad audience? Within the HTSF* programme Redesign, that question became the starting point for a remarkable design process. Master’s students Anne Eijkelkamp and Frederique Boon (TU/e) translated the research theme into an interactive installation that became a standout public attraction during Dutch Design Week (DDW) 2025. The design is now finding a sustainable second life in the TU/e Innovation Space.

_{*High Tech for Sustainable Future}

From open question to powerful DDW concept

Redesign asked for an exhibition that would make the consortium’s research visible, understandable, and conversation‑worthy. Anne and Frederique deliberately began with a broad exploration: they spoke with several Redesign researchers, gathered inspiration from previous DDW projects, and searched for a form that could reflect the breadth and diversity of the research. “The conversations with researchers really shaped the direction,” Anne explains. “We wanted to create something that sparks curiosity and immediately invites interaction.”

The result was a lively and inviting installation that became a conversation starter about the future of our food system during DDW. Visitors didn’t just stop to look — they actively engaged with one another and with the students guiding the installation. The design made the research accessible and tangible, encouraging people to reflect on their own role in the food system. In doing so, it aligned seamlessly with the societal dialogue that Redesign and 4TU aim to foster: research that doesn’t stay within academia, but moves outward and fuels conversations in society.

“We wanted to create something that sparks curiosity and immediately invites interaction”

Anne Eijkelkamp

A second life in Innovation Space

After the successful DDW presentation, the students explored several follow‑up options. The Innovation Space quickly emerged as the most logical location for a compact, accessible mini‑exhibition. “At the entrance, we can tell the story again — but in a way that is visible and permanently present,” Anne says.

Designing sustainably: keeping materials in circulation

Sustainability was a conscious and guiding principle from the very beginning. Materials that didn’t fit into the mini‑exhibition were returned for reuse within the TU/e community. “They may seem like small choices, but they reflect how we approach design: intentional and circular.”

Learning by making

The project involved far more than creating an appealing installation. The students worked within a tight budget, handled the full - and quite intensive - DDW application and administration, and coordinated an enthusiastic group of student volunteers during the event. “You learn so much about planning and collaboration,” Anne says. Supervisor Boukje Huijben supported the team weekly with structure and time management, while fellow student Simon Nieuweboer developed a technical blueprint for the electronics.

What visitors take away

The installation invites visitors to reflect on their own role in the food system. During DDW, people spontaneously shared their experiences and ideas - ranging from small community gardens to municipal initiatives and professional horticulture. “The greenhouse really worked as a conversation starter,” Anne says. “That’s exactly what we hoped for: connecting people to the research and helping them realise that they themselves are part of the story.”

photo: Jannie Guo

Design as a bridge between research and the public

This project demonstrates how researchers within the 4TU HTSF Redesign programme collaborate with students to make their work tangible, understandable, and engaging for a broad audience. By combining design, technology, and imagination, they create a form of science communication that goes beyond a single exhibition - offering new insights and inspiration to both researchers and students.

foto credits: Jannie Guo