Stephen Hodes, Roel van Herpt and Johan Idema
How can the Design Academy Eindhoven increase the social relevance of its graduates?
Design Academy Eindhoven enjoys a tremendous international reputation as an educational institution. Nevertheless, the academy was eager to learn how its graduate designers could play a more prominent role in designing solutions to major social problems, now and in the future. LAgroup carried out a foresight study for the academy, designed to help increase the social relevance of its graduates. After holding intensive consultations with the staff, teachers, alumni and students, as well as national and international experts in design, we formulated seven strategic recommendations. For example, we recommended the academy to promote itself more outside the field of design and involve other sectors more closely in its curriculum. These and other recommendations were presented to the academy's board, management team and heads of department. The recommendations will serve as input for a review of the academy's strategy and its practical implementation in the future.