...The days are getting shorter and supermarkets start stocking up on Holiday chocolates... that can only mean one thing: the Dutch Design Week is around the corner.

Obviously we'll be in Eindhoven presenting our latest projects. And we won't be alone: 
This year we'll be part of the Driving Dutch Design group exhibition.

Driving Dutch Design is a 10-month programme by BNO, ABN AMRO and Dutch Design Foundation, aimed at young designers and design studio's ready to take their creative businesses to the next step.

Since January we've been enjoying the company of a lovely group of designers and creatives in monthly masterclasses and coaching-sessions helping us focus on the bigger picture and be more strategic about the way we work.

​Driving Dutch Design is a masterclass program of ABN AMRO, Beroepsorganisatie Nederlandse Ontwerpers (BNO) and Dutch Design Foundation (DDF). It helps talented designers to professionalise their company within the world of entrepreneurship. 

As drivers, we are constantly looking to move forward, with a discerning eye. We share an ambition to professionalise our businesses, and to place our companies firmly on the map. 

This Dutch Design Week, we will not only present our new and popular Flower Constellations, we'll also debut the brand new circular ReCabinet.

We'd love to see you there and tell you all about our latest designs.

Dutch Design Week Eindhoven
October 20th-28th 2018

​Klokgebouw Hall 2, Strijp S 
Open daily 11:00 - 18:00

This years' Driving Dutch Design exhibition offers a varied group of designers in all lines of work: from interaction design and illustration to aesthetical concepts and industrial product design.

Find the full list to the right,
​check out Drivingdutchdesign.nl for more information.

Boyscout Designer - Conform Cox - Dorota Gazy - Family W - Fransje Gimbrère - House of Thol - Je Favoriete Ontwerpers - Julia van Leeuwen - Meike Fleskens - Mies Loogman - Olasol - Remortel - Roza Schous - Staalslagerij - Studio Doeke - 
Studio Gerjanne van Gink - Studio Mieke Lucia - Studio Mixtura - Studio Selma Hamstra - STUDIO THO - We Are - Wisse Trooster

When it comes to design fairs, it's hard to choose. Especially in the months of September and October there seem to be fairs and design weeks all over, with new design-oriented events popping up in cities all over the world every year.

Yet in the Netherlands there's one staple that has been around for ages: the 'Woonbeurs'.

​Aimed at consumers looking for new designs for their own living environment, the vtWonen&Designbeurs celebrated their 25th anniversary last year.

And we're very happy to participate in this years' fair at the Rai Amsterdam! 

Read more about the fair here.

VTWonen & Design beurs
2-7 October 2018
RAI Amsterdam Europaplein 1

Open on:
Tuesday 10:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 10.00 - 18:00
Thursday 10:00 - 18:00
Friday 10:00 - 21:00
Saturday 10:00 - 18:00
Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

<Click here for tickets>

<For an overview of upcoming events, click here>

This coming Weekend the Flower Constellations will have their national debut at Dutch tradefair ShowUP, which is by all means a great fair that definitely  attracts professionals from abroad as well as the Netherlands. 

A great way for us to test the waters before diving in the deep end: Maison & Objet in Paris.
THE international tradefair that takes place at Paris Nord Villepinte every 6 months and attracts business from across the planet.

​We actually visited the fair for the first time a year ago, back when Pols Potten chose Paris for the Thol lamps launch.
​At the time we were thoroughly overwhelmed by the magnitude of hall after hall of designs ready to hit the shelves from Texas to Jakarta.

We definitely did not think for a minute we'd be exhibiting our own products there anytime soon.

Yet we are!
Dutch Design Collections approached us in early spring to see if we would be interested in taking part in a joint presentation as one of three Dutch independent brands.
Seeing this would be the perfect timing for an international Flower Constellations launch, we happily agreed to participate.

We're super excited (and a bit scared) about this wonderful oppportunity to showcase our designs to shop owners and other professionals from all over the world. 
​
We'd love to see you there.
Visiting M&O? Let us know when, so we can meet!

Maison & Objet
Paris Nord Villepinte

Dutch Design Collections
Hall 4 - stand H.104

7-11 September 2018
Fri-Mon: 09:30 - 19:00
Tue: 09:30 - 18:00

<click for more information>

These last months have been all about getting the Flower Constellations ready in time for them to be shipped to our backers by the end of August. 

Well, the Flower Constellations are packed and will be sent to all early adapters this week.
Time for the next step: spreading the word.

Best place to start and nationally debut the Flower Constellations to stores, press, bloggers and other design loving professionals is undoubtedly ShowUP: trade show for home and gift.

So we're packing up our goodies and will be at the Expo Haarlemmermeer this coming Sunday and Monday (2+3 September).
​
Will we see you there?  

ShowUP
Trade fair for home and gift

Expo Haarlemmermeer
Stelling 1
2141 SB Vijfhuizen

Sunday September 2 2018, 10:00 - 18:00
Monday September 3 2018, 10:00 - 18:00

Only accessible for professionals
​Free entrance after registration

<Click here for more information about the fair>

In the Netherlands, the name of this zodiac sign is 'Kreeft': which translates to lobster.
That's why it's pretty confusing for most Dutch people to see a crab instead of a lobster on the Cancer packaging. 
I did try to work both crustaceans into the artwork., but since the entire rest of the world apparently agreed we're dealing with a crab here, i gave up after having difficulties finding the right angle.

Cancers' birthflowers are not just rosehip, wild rose, lotus and magnolia: all white flowers are associated with the star sign.
I'm looking forward to setting up a bouquet consisting of gorgeous white flowers with the Cancer Flower Constellations.
​Which white flowers do you like most?

Have you seen our Aries, Taurus and Gemini packaging? Leo will follow soon! 

Dit weekend (2&3 juni) doen we mee aan Kunstroute Heumen en is iedereen van harte welkom te komen kijken in onze ontwerpstudio en te zien hoe we werken.

​We laten onze nieuwste ontwerpen zien en nemen je mee in ons ontwerpproces.
​
De 3d-printer gaat aan om te laten zien hoe we prototypes maken, en we demonstreren hoe we kopjes en kandelaars maken van porselein.

Er is ook iets te doen! 
​In een zelfgemaakte mal, gieten we met gips een eigen natuur-amulet.

Doe je mee? Het is geschikt voor kinderen vanaf 4 jaar, en nog steeds leuk voor volwassenen.
​
Een natuur-amulet maken kost ongeveer 15-30 minuten en is gratis (vrijwillige bijdrage).

Fan van bloemen?
Met ons nieuwste product Flower Constellations, schik je heel eenvoudig een mooi boeket met je sterrenbeeld.

Probeer het zelf uit met de prototypes die we hebben gemaakt.
We vertellen je graag alles over onze succesvolle crowdfunding op Kickstarter, de productie en de geplande lancering.

Tijdens de Atelierdagen is het natuurlijk mogelijk om House of Thol producten te kopen.
Sterker nog: we hebben een sample sale in voorbereiding, waarin je voor een klein prijsje unieke Dutch Design stukken kunt scoren! (pinnen mogelijk)

Zaterdag 2 & Zondag 3 juni
11:00 - 18:00
Parksesteeg 8, Overasselt

Meer over de kunstroute

Since 2014 Nijmegen has a new creative Hotspot, just outside the city centre, close to the river: the Honigcomplex.

The former industrial factory is brought back to live by an array of creative entrepreneurs, ranging from trampoline-halls and artisan burger joints to hipster bike-shops and workshops for all kinds of designers and makers.
Oh, and there's a chocolate bar and a micro-brewery and a gallery and plenty of other creative businesses  that i'm forgetting about now. 

Once a year the entire complex opens its doors: the brewery presenting their latest beer, the designers showcasing the way they work and bars and artisan icecream-shops welcoming all visitors with specials and the best snacks. 

The Honig Complex also houses C-More Conceptstore.
In their large industrial showroom, C-More offers a stylish collection of design from independent labels and design studio's from the Netherlands and beyond. 

We're very happy to be part of the C-More collection, and this Sunday we'll be there demonstrating our Flower Constellations as part of Expeditie Honig.  

​Will we see you there?

Every year in April, pretty much the complete Dutch Design Community packs up and moves their newest designs to Milan for the International Furniture Fair.

With our International Crowdfunding campaign running on Kickstarter, a presence in Milan would definitely help our cause.

Luckily, one of our friends in designerland, Wisse Trooster, could use a little floral touch in the style room he created for Dutch sustainable label Cartoni Design.
​We were -of course- more than happy to lend Wisse a few Flower Constellation prototypes.

About Cartoni Design

Cartoni Design creates unique furniture collections from reclaimed, recycled and sustainable materials, working with different young Dutch Designers like, amongst others, Wisse Trooster.

It's a win/win: Cartoni Design brightens up their lovely exhibition with a stylish tool for a floral touch, and we're very happy with a little extra international exposure for our Flower Constellations.
​
If you're in Milan, make sure to visit the Cartoni Design Style room at Masterly and get a glimpse of our Flower Constellations in real life.

Masterly / The Dutch in Milan
Palazzo Francesco Turati
Via Meravigli 7, Milano

​more information on Fuori-salone site (+map)

Want to stay updated about Cartoni Design?
Best thing to do is follow their Instagram account, or, for your daily dose of design inspiration, follow Wisse Trooster on Instagram.