VCUQatar Gallery Presents The UP Factory by Droog Design

The opening reception will be preceded by a lecture entitled ‘Materials Matter’ by Renny Ramakers, co-founder and director of Droog Design, at 6:00 pm at the atrium at VCUQatar. The event is open to the public.

Co-founder and director of Droog, Renny Ramakers initiates projects, curates design exhibitions, and lectures worldwide. She is a judging panellist on various design boards and has advised on governmental advisory boards, amongst others as a member of the Dutch Council of Culture (1995-2001). As a critic, she has contributed to international magazines, books and catalogues, and has authored several books. She is chairman of the board of THNK, Amsterdam school for creative leadership.

Ramakers was educated as an art historian University of Leiden. During her studies she was more interested in a break than in continuity. After her studies she decided to specialize in design and to make history herself by creating projects which can stretch the borders of design thinking.

In 2009, Ramakers launched the Droog Lab series, ‘Here, there, everywhere.’ In collaboration with designers, consulting experts and local partners, Droog speculates how people in daily situations worldwide can inspire new directions for design. Current and past project locations include Dubai, New York, the Canadian North, Moscow, Belgium, Mumbai and China, where themes ranging from ambition to survival and copying have resulted in outcomes ranging from imaginary brands to future city concepts and new business models.

As curator, Ramakers creates highly interactive design festivals around the world, establishing new collaborations and experiences inspired by the location. Ramakers curated Pioneers of Change, a festival of Dutch design, fashion and architecture that took place in New York in 2009, attracting over 25,000 visitors over two weekends. In 2010 with Saved by Droog, Droog began purchasing dead stock for creative re-interpretation. UP, a new economic model for bringing dead stock back into circulation through re-design was launched in 2011. In 2012, Renny Ramakers was named one of the “150 Women Who Shake the World” by Newsweek.

Ramakers focuses on establishing new collaborations and developing new tools and scenarios grounded by societal relevance, but always with a twist. She believes conceptual thinking with the focus on a different perspective can not only solve problems, but also open up new possibilities.

Droog creates products, projects and events around the world in collaboration with designers, clients and partners. With offices and a store in Amsterdam, and retail partners worldwide, Droog offers a selection of accessories, lighting, furniture and studio work that change one’s experience of daily life. Droog projects pioneer new design directions, new collaborations, creative tools and business models that offer a unique perspective.

‘The UP Factory by Droog Design’ runs at the Gallery at VCUQatar from 15 October to 15 November, 2012 with an opening reception on Monday, 15 October at 7:00 pm. The reception is preceded by a lecture ‘Materials Matter’ at 6:00pm at the atrium at VCUQatar. The event is open to the public.