About the Lab

The Lab directs Droog’s way of thinking towards globally relevant ends, breeding it with the attitudes and ambitions of designers from very different contexts.

Droog is restating itself within today’s global context by engaging in globally relevant content and disparate cultures. This will become the next generation of Droog, and, ambitiously stated, the next generation of global design.

The Lab believes the next generation of global design will respond to contemporary global issues by investigating them on a local level. It foresees that locally relevant responses will have global resonance. The next generation will not be afraid of mixing; it be stimulated by—if not already habituated to—cultural contrast and integration.

The global condition demands culturally, politically, socially and environmentally conscious design—in other words, what the Lab considers relevant design. Included within this, is the human dimension, with all its subjectivity, notions of beauty and meaning, and desire for high quality experiences. Through its content and methodology, the Lab will aim to produce globally relevant design.

Pilot 2009-10
Starting in 2009, two global urgencies will be addressed in parallel each year. A place, whether urban or rural, along with a local partner will be selected for each urgency. A brainstorm is organized with invited experts and a local partner to inform the discussion on a global and local level. Led by a renowned designer, a design workshop is held on location, confronting participants directly with the context, and asking them to respond. Following a process of development, local responses are then presented to the public within the context of the global urgency.