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DDW presents: beacon Julia Watson

03 October 2024

Dutch Design Week each year invites three designers to join our ranks as beacons. These trailblazers are considered pioneers in their field and in the turbulent world of design. This year, we welcome three new names: Julia Watson (Lo-TEK Institute), Bas van de Poel (Modem), and André Doxey (LEGO).

Julia Watson is an Australian born author, researcher, lecturer, and landscape designer based in New York City. Julia is an expert on traditional and indigenous technologies and focuses her work at the intersection of anthropology, ecology and innovation. Her eponymously named design consultancy foregrounds traditional knowledge, sustainability and nature-based innovation.

Her eponymous design consultancy puts traditional knowledge, sustainability and nature-based innovation at the forefront. Julia wrote a book on the subject called Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism. Her second book—on the role of water—is forthcoming.

‘It is with wonder that I look at the techniques Julia Watson portrays. Her way of working is beautiful and at the same time has an unprecedented power. We can all take an example from the way Julia transforms local knowledge into form and material, systems and architecture.’

Miriam van der Lubbe (Creative Head DDW)

Visionary

As beacons, these leading designers are seen as guiding lights for fellow designers, partners, and Dutch Design Week visitors. In the first year, the involvement of joining beacons consists of a deep dive into DDW and sharing their vision of the profession and the world they work in. That exploration leads to the development of projects and/or a presentation at Dutch Design Week. 


Julia Watson will give a lecture at the Van Abbemuseum on the first Saturday of DDW24 (19 October). Registration for this event is free of charge, but you do need to register for entry.

Read more about the other DDW24 beacons

News

DDW presents: beacon André Doxey

03.10.24
News

DDW presents: beacon Bas van de Poel

03.10.24
News

Beacons returning to DDW24: ideas to action

30.09.24