Recap: Opening of the Academic Year 2025
On Tuesday the 2nd of September 2025, Design Academy Eindhoven kicked off the new academic year at Club Symbiose, Microstad. The weather couldn’t quite decide on itself: sunny, overcast, and then sudden spits of rain that forced people to duck under food stalls or pull jackets over their head.
Students, staff, and friends of DAE packed into the courtyard, some drifting toward the food stands provided by DAE; Hete Hond, Ramsus, and Frank’s Fix (by Frank Bloem and Suzanne van de Leur), while others grabbed a drink by the bar before the speeches started.
Raf brought up the Institutional Participation Council to the stage, helping new students put faces to names. He also introduced the launch of the academy’s Institutional Plan 2025– 2028, a collective document guiding DAE’s next three years in education, research, infrastructure, and partnerships. Students themselves had been involved in shaping the plan, this is illustrated by the drawn speculative “building blocks” of DAE’s future shown on the front cover and throughout the booklet.
Raf De Keninck then rallied against the governments educational cuts and repeated with emphasis that the focus for DAE is to invest, invest, invest in higher education. He spoke of the importance of welcoming international students and their talent, building upon DAE’s strong connections with industry and society, and of how the coming move to the new campus would be a historic step, giving the students at the academy the space they deserve.
Dr. Ramon Amaro followed, he was asked what Americanness he would bring to DAE. His words turned toward openness, hospitality, courage, and care. He committed to making people feel heard, and assured the crowd that together, something stronger could be built. Underlining that the values at the heart of DAE’s new Institutional Plan (2025–2028) are there to connect everyone in the community. He repeated once more that design at DAE will be centred around care, smiling as he looked out at “all the shiny faces.” As the moment settled, a firework fountain roared, drawing cheers from the crowd momentarily before the music took over.
The courtyard filled with the sounds of the Space Age DJ Collective, while outside by the train tracks, Infliction Band tore into their set, students embracing the novel heavy metal band and creating their own mosh pit . Performances from Oswald, Alke Flavania, and Enrique Perdok added to the atmosphere of the evening. The various performances carried the event long into the night and as darkness fell, the party wrapped up and the students left in groups ready to start the new academic year.