Design Experience Exhibition

From 15 August until 7 September 2014, the Red Dot Design Museum Essen presents an exhibition of a special kind. Tickling all senses and getting first-hand experience of award-winning products: The exploration of the “Design Experience Exhibition” animates visitors to touch around and get surprised by the design of everyday items. This way, visitors experience materials and forms in a completely different perspective and meet the various aspects of prizewinning design. The special exhibition sharpens the power of judgment and imparts the basics of good design.

Experience modules, which were especially conceptualised for this purpose, focus on the sensual experience: Visitors are encouraged to discover the exhibits with their hands only and thus to get surprised by the material texture. The sensorial exploration helps to get a better understanding of industrial materials and their usage.

Moreover, under the motto “Design & Technology against Gravity”, innovative materials which add to the development of new products and a better life are on show. Among the elaborate solutions, which are presented in this context, is the first thermoplastic tailplane for helicopters which illustrates how minimal weight and maximum strength can go hand in hand. Despite its massive appearance, visitors will be astounded by the lightness of the three meters long exhibit when lifting it.

With the knowledge visitors have gained in the “Design Experience Exhibition”, they can go on a discovery tour in the large special exhibition “Design on Stage” or in the permanent exhibition. Touching and testing most of the objects is also allowed and required here since elaborate design only becomes apparent in use. From innovative consumer electronics to well-conceived household helpers to ergonomic furniture: 1,315 products by designers and manufacturers from around the world are currently exhibited in the Red Dot Design Museum Essen.

The “Design Experience Exhibition” is part of the EU project PROUD (People Researchers Organisations Using Design for innovation and co-creation).

About PROUD:
PROUD (People Researchers Organisations Using Design for co-creation and innovation) is a European project with the objective to make Europe a better place by co-designing for all and by all. PROUD brings designers together with public organisations, businesses and user communities to experience the added value of design thinking and design, while working on innovative solutions for today’s real world problems. PROUD helps and supports designers to have the right facilities, knowledge and expertise to play this key role in innovating, improving and consolidating Europe.