Droog is hosting an eclectic Christmas Program

Droog is hosting an eclectic Christmas Program that’s a little more omni-faith than your usual seasonal affair. Dubbed ’Trans-Christmas’, the program is a celebration of everyone, everywhere – regardless of religion, gender, title, sexuality, favourite food – anything really.

The program hosts a series of events, charity auctions, workshops, gift ideas for him, her, the kids and gender neutral; as well as online content curated to express a celebration for all.

Join us for a very merry Trans-Christmas – and see below for the eclectic program.

The program for Trans-Christmas 2015 at Droog:

1. Make some Sound! Workshop by Trapped in Suburbia
What: Soundcard Workshop with Trapped in Suburbia
When: 10th December, 2015 18.30 – 20.00
More info and booking

2. “Manufactured” by the Wunderkammer
What: Shop in shop and winter exhibition by the Wunderkammer
When: 4-31 December 2015

3. The Price of Fashion: Fashion Charity Auction and Debate moderated by Aynouk Tan
What: Inaugural Fashion Charity Auction and Debate moderated by Aynouk Tan
This fashion charity auction will generate funds through auctioning
clothing items from well-known figures in the Dutch community.
This auction is complemented with a debate uncovering the value of fashion,
how its context changes when discussing it next to the refugee crisis,
how clothing gains significance through experience, in effect – what is the price of fashion?
When: 9th December, 2015 18.30 – 21.00

4. Style your Style with Droog: Seasonal design styling advice from Droog
What: Get professional advice on how to style your dinner table, home or space
with Cecile Brekelmans of Droog.
When: Throughout the holiday season, by appointment – contact [email protected] for
more information.

 

Droog releases iconic flames

 In the current economic climate, aesthetics have become side-lined by the pursuit of austerity. Droog’s new collection is a campaign for beauty; a range of products that embrace both luxury and practicality. Not so much less is more, as less + more.

The latest in this line is Flames, designed by Chris Kabel. Flames is a refillable gas fuelled table candle with a very recognisable shape. This design is an evolution of the classic gas cartridge holder. It is a pragmatic design, originating from a number of rational decisions and using the same simple and cheap materials as the utilitarian camping stove.  Always dependable, sturdy and practical, Flames still creates an unexpected feeling of luxury.  Chris Kabel states: “I look at things as if they have never been seen before, then I dissect them and, after that, I reassemble them according to my own rules.” Flames is no exception to this process. This product is the perfect synthesis of innate functional qualities with a more decorative outer shell. The raw industrial gas pipes and gas tank are coated white, and their slender shape conjures a romantic chandelier casting a flickering light.

Flames – table lighter is now available at our Droog store in Amsterdam and online at www.droog.com for € 139,- Soon available at resellers worldwide.

New Friends

Friends of Droog are products by leading brands from around the world selected by us to complement the Droog collection. A special welcome to these new friends:

Table manners set by Minale-Maeda
Table manners by Minale-Maeda

Bamboo sunglasses by Proof
Bamboo sunglasses by Proof

Bingo, notes and more by Knock Knock
Bingo, notes and more by Knock Knock

During July 2011, get a free copy of the Droog book ‘A human touch’ when you order over € 100,-.

New friends

Friends of Droog are products by leading brands from around the world selected by us to complement the Droog collection. A special welcome to these new friends:

Colour cushion | t.e.
Colour cushion - t.e.

Colour plaid | t.e.
Colour plaid - t.e.

MYdrap serviettes | MYdrap
MYdrap serviettes - MYdrap

Razor and buddypuff hanger | Nothing design
Nothing hanger - Nothing design

Wooden radio | Magno design
Wooden radio - Magno design

Bed linen | Yumeko
Bed linen - Yumeko

Never use white type on black background | Bis publishers
Never use white type on black background - Bis Publishers

Q&A with Peter van der Jagt

This week Bottoms up doorbell is back in stock after an improved production. We asked the designer, Peter van der Jagt about the design, which he came up with as a student at Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Arnhem.
Bottoms up doorbell for Droog by Peter van der Jagt

Here’s what he said:

When I was studying, a strange thing happened. I actually became tired of design. And I was not the only one.

What’s the use after all, when fashion creeps in? What’s the use in assigning a colour when, before you know it, it is “so last year”? What’s the use in designing a shape if, within two years, it reminds you of something from way back when?

We thought we had the solution: we simply didn’t design anymore. We just had a good idea and prototyped it, without sketching or deciding on colour, shape or other aesthetic characteristics. The prototype thus became the product instantly. After all, if it can be made once by a student, it could be made many times by anyone, right? (Admittedly, in hindsight, this turns out to be a bit naïve).

This kind of thinking drove the design of Bottoms up doorbell. We were concerned with how the product could tell a story—not a fairy tale or a multi-layered, symbol-ridden social statement—but the story of the product itself.

What is a doorbell? Every single doorbell is a collection of electric parts that release a hammer so it hits two objects emitting a two-tone sound, in order to announce the arrival of company at the door.

Most doorbells are white plastic cubes that say nothing. Nothing about the technique, nothing about how they work, nothing about what a pleasant sound is, or how hospitality is expressed.

I designed the Bottoms up doorbell in 1994. 16 years later, the product is still current. Perhaps as a classic, but not out of nostalgia. Of course design, and the thoughts driving design have evolved, and I think for the better. Nevertheless, not wanting to design wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

The Bottoms up doorbell is available here.

Peter van der Jagt

Christophe Coppens is purveyor to Court of Belgium

Christophe Coppens has newly been appointed as purveyor to the Court of Belgium.

According to a long established tradition, the list of people whom His Majesty King Albert II appoints as purveyors to the Court of Belgium is determined once a year. In 2010, Coppens was one of the three establishments appointed to the services of the Court. What an honour!

Visit Droog Amsterdam to see the Christophe Coppens 2010-2011 Winter Collection.

Let it snow

This was the Tree trunk bench in the Droog Amsterdam courtyard on Saturday. As is usual in Holland, the rain took the snow away on Sunday.

Tree trunk bench in the courtyard of Droog Amsterdam