Do it like Droog

A sensation from the very beginning

In 2018, it will be 25 years since Droog Design first presented itself at the Salone del Mobile in Milan. Suddenly, outside of the official fair, there was also a presentation by young Dutch designers. Their work was radically different: conceptual, simple, and without added embellishment. The curators, designer Gijs Bakker (born 1942) and art historian Renny Ramakers (born 1946), signaled a new design mentality among a younger generation of designers; their presentation caused a true sensation. Now, 25 years later, Droog is a household name and has established itself as a constant innovator. Museum Kranenburgh and Droog are jointly celebrating their 25th anniversary with a festive installation in the museum galleries. With this “premiere” for the design discipline, Kranenburgh once again broadens its perspective on art.

Simple, but with a twist

Marcel Wanders, Hella Jongerius, Tejo Remy, Jurgen Bey, Chris Kabel, and Mario Minale, among others, designed furniture, lighting, and everyday objects that present the everyday in an unusual way. Many of these objects have become true classics. Take the Knotted chair by Marcel Wanders, for example, in which a loosely knotted rope, thanks to a special treatment, creates a sturdy piece of seating. Or the Milk bottle lamp by Tejo Remy, a contemporary lamp made from old milk bottles.

Droog is always evolving, but one thing remains constant: the mission to connect design with larger social themes and developments in an original way. For designers in 2018, material development, reuse, and social design are the key themes. For Droog, they have been a contemporary story for 25 years.

Growth and Blossom

The green surroundings of Kranenburgh form the starting point for the spatial design created by designers Koehorst in ‘t Veld for this exhibition. It unfolds like a walk through a graceful botanical garden, where Droog Design’s works are displayed in full bloom alongside aluminum borders and flowerbeds. The exhibition extends from the exhibition halls into the museum shop, the garden, and the sculpture forest of Kranenburgh.