DAE Congratulates New BA Graduates!
In late January, Design Academy Eindhoven hosted its Winter Graduation for 24 students. The typical Dutch rain gently accumulated on the windows as students and families began to gather in Z-Bar. Once the space was filled, Joseph Grima, Creative Director, took to the stage to kick off the graduation ceremony with a welcome speech.
Grima spoke about the strength of DAE and the unique DNA of the educational institute. He reminded the students that this moment marked not an ending but a beginning. Raf De Keninck, Educational Director, followed with a speech directed at the parents, expressing gratitude for their support and encouraging them to feel proud of their children’s accomplishments. Grima concluded the opening remarks by emphasising the continued importance of the students to the academy.
Janneke Schreuder then introduced the graduates, taking time to congratulate them and acknowledge the shared challenges they faced at the start of their academic journey. All the students began their studies during the height of the pandemic in 2020. She reflected on how the restrictions impacted them, both socially and academically, forcing them to adapt their processes to unique circumstances that often shaped their work.
The cum laude awardees were announced as Io Wu, with the project Year + Leaking Roof; Matthijs Koerts, with Anatomy of Sound and The Mould (De Matrijs); Lucy Hodge Seller, with Bat Got Your Tongue and Telling the Bracken; and Clara Nop, with 100-100 and The Room Without Air.
After a brief photo, the nominees for the Melkweg Award were announced: Lucy Hodge Seller, for Telling the Bracken, and Jack Austin, for Inferno. These projects were celebrated for their radical approach to redefining design. The nominees for the René Smeets Award were Morgan Steyart, for Queer and Feminist Interventions for Martial Arts, and Iduna Snip, for What Is Burning?, both recognised for their empathetic and socially transformative work. In July, these students will present to a jury, together with other nominees.
Schreuder introduced Vic Cautereels, a studio leader who guided the students throughout their degree. She highlighted his dedication to educating them about the economic market and preparing them to navigate a capitalistic environment post-graduation. When given the microphone, Cautereels thanked the school, joked about the patience the experience required, and expressed gratitude for being part of such a remarkable institution.
The students then left Z-Bar to sign their diplomas. All clusters of students were at various locations across the Witte Damme. One of clusters: Lukas Wegwerth, from Silvia Systems, addressed his graduating students, speaking about the wealth of opportunities in the design world. He encouraged them to hold on to hope, trust their instincts, and create frameworks guided by their beliefs.
Afterwards, the students returned to Z-Bar, where the atmosphere had transformed. The sun had broken through, filling the space with a warm orange glow that matched the hue of their new graduation jumpers.
These shifting environments on their graduation day were fitting, symbolising the unpredictable and transformative journey they had experienced over their four years at Design Academy Eindhoven. Such anomalies have become all too familiar for today’s design graduates. The new alumni will once again show their graduation projects during the Dutch Design Week at the end of October 2025.
