University of Twente students Merlijn Smits (Industrial Design) and Mark Beltman (Civil Engineering) are showcasing their Offlight, the lamp that reconnects people. Its exemplary case is a family dinner where, as more people put their phones in the corresponding holder, the overhead lamp shines in a warmer and friendlier light.
Presenting their design at the DDW has led to new insights for Smits and Beltman. ‘We were surprised by the additional uses that people see in our product,’ Smits explains. ‘Someone was interested in using the lamp for his escape room. Others were enthusiastic about a possible application in a restaurant or café. You don’t really know whether people will like your product and how they will use it, until you present it to them.’
Affordable Augmented Reality
Adjacent to the Offlight, the Aryzon AR-visor is exhibited by a UT student Maarten Slaa (Industrial Design). These are cardboard spectacles that work in conjunction with your smartphone. They function as normal glasses, only they enhance your surroundings by projecting augmented reality features such as 3D-holograms. A recent Kickstarter campaign was very successful with over €100k being pledged.
UT at the dutch design week
In total, eight projects from the University of Twente are present at the DDW. These can be viewed at the ‘Klokgebouw’ in Eindhoven until the 29th of October.
Every design has its own story
Creative design is clearly a hot topic at the DDW. People from all ages and backgrounds are present and the old factory, despite the openness of the space, feels crowded and lively. Four halls, each with their own theme, are filled to the brim with all kinds of projects. People come here not just to witness a prototype in action, but also to hear stories. Every design has its own story.
These stories form the core message of the exhibition. Visitors are encouraged to be curious about the various steps in a design process, to relate the final product to their own life, and to think about the role of design and technology in creating a better society. The exhibition provides an insight into new designs as well as an opportunity to reflect and react.
The power of design
The Dutch Design Week (DDW) is an annual event, where creative designs take centre stage. These designs include concepts such as augmented reality spectacles, an e-racing car, a biomimetic lifting aid, and a robot pillow. The goal is to solve problems that exist in the present and future.
Most of these designs are presented in the ‘Mind the Step’ exhibition, while the DDW itself comprises several events and galleries in and around Eindhoven, held between the 21st and 29th of October. The exhibition is a collaboration between the 3 TU’s: Delft, Eindhoven and Twente. These universities are working together to show the power of design, technology and research in tomorrow’s world.
