CLICKNL about their Mission Days Programme

CLICKNL is a proud partner of the Mission Days at Dutch Design Week (DDW)—a content-driven programme curated and centred around the DDW’s themes. This partnership exists on a strategic level as well as that CLICK NL is the organiser of its own events named 'Design Innovation Sessions' and 'CreativeNL Live'. CLICKNL develops and implements programmes for the Top Sector Creative Industry, aiming to promote knowledge development and innovation. This is achieved by combining energy, mobilising expertise within the sector, and taking a structured approach towards relevant and current topics, in consultation with government bodies.

Below, Marjolein van Vucht (Programme Developer for the Creative Industry) shares more about the partnership between CLICKNL and Dutch Design Foundation.

Why did you become partners of DDW?
We’ve been in conversation with each other for a long time. Over the past ten years, CLICKNL has organised its own event at DDW—DRIVE ,the Design Research & Innovation Festival. We have grown closer as organisations by engaging in meaningful discussions. We discuss what matters to our sector, the creative industry, and the designers. Where are the opportunities, and where do we need to develop? We really wanted to collaborate on a programme for professionals.

What does the partnership look like?
We are actively participating with a focused programme at Natlab, where other Mission Days events also occur. The key is to bring networks together, expand the different networks, and strengthen each other.

‘What makes our programme unique is that we consistently bring together knowledge professionals and creative professionals. And we ask the question: "How can we collaborate more effectively between these two different worlds?’’’

What do you gain from the partnership?
As CLICKNL, we aim to connect designers and researchers. Collaborations create a stronger sector: new knowledge is developed, and methods are validated. This, in turn, enables designers to create better solutions for transitions and societal challenges. Through the partnership, we hope to develop and strengthen the different networks within our programme or during the networking lunch.

What does your Mission Days programme look like?
One of the great strengths of the Mission Days is that they focus on societal issues. At the same time, the five missions of each of these days are still incredibly broad; that’s why we choose a specific focus for each day. On Monday, it’s about future challenges and the human experience in the built environment. On Tuesday, we collaborate with NewTexEco on the (sustainable) future of textiles and fashion. Wednesday focuses on immersive experiences and how designers and researchers can collaborate on and with them. On Thursday, we focus on the mental well-being of young people and the complexity of large-scale issues. Finally, on Friday, we have a compelling programme centred around equal opportunities and inequality. Each of these days will feature both researchers and designers on stage.

What can visitors expect?
We start each day with a keynote addressing the opportunities and challenges for the creative industry on that day’s theme. After that, a showcase project will be highlighted: a collaboration between designers and researchers from which our sector can learn. What knowledge have they gained? We always end the day with an upcoming opportunity: a new project where professionals can get involved.

The Mission Days Design Innovation Sessions by CLICKNL are already fully booked. However, you can still sign up for the waiting list.

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‘What makes our programme unique is that we consistently bring together knowledge professionals and creative professionals. And we ask the question: "How can we collaborate more effectively between these two different worlds?’’’