local partner
- What: temporary space with events and exhibitions
- Where: Provenance Auction House, Cape Town
- Who: Dutch Consulate in Cape Town, Christine de Baan, Hester Swaving, Droog, Institute of Amazing Shit, ThingKing
- When: 8 – 26 July
Department of Design, housed in a heritage building in Cape Town’s city centre, formed the highlight of the Dutch contribution to World Design Capital, Cape Town 2014. The event was born from the vision of the Dutch Consul General, Ms. Bonnie Horbach, and the former Director of the DutchDFA, Christine de Baan; to catalyse and support long term Dutch-South Africa collaborations in the field of design thinking and innovation . It was supported by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Dutch Top Team for Creative Industries and the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI).
Future Cape Town played the role of the local partner, with our work covering; operation of the building and events and exhibition, co-developing the content for the main programme with Christine de Baan and communicating the events. The team also comprised Studio Droog and a network local design partners who designed and produced the dramatic interior of the space.
Department of Design was officially open, by the Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Ms. Lilianne Ploumen and Deputy Mayor for Cape Town, Ian Neilson. Over 17 days, 90 events were hosted across the main and parallel programme; in the form of workshops, debates, lectures, dinners and more. Department of Design was also visited by honoured guests which included the globally respected Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Premier of the Western Cape, Helen Zille and other leading figures in the fields of design and sustainability.