Dry Tech I by Droog Design
Dry Tech I Exhibition at Salone del Mobile, Milan, 1996
For the first Droog project, we partnered with the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology. The initiative was sparked by a curiosity about what could emerge from combining a craftsman’s mindset with advanced materials. Designers were invited to experiment with high-tech fibers, and the intersection of structured scientific research and open-ended design exploration proved surprisingly fruitful. While these fibre-reinforced plastics are known for their strength, the project also revealed an unexpected and intriguing aesthetic quality worth further investigation.
Knotted Chair by Marcel Wanders
Among the products shown was Marcel Wanders’ Knotted chair, based on macramé of a braid consisting of carbon and aramid fibres. The Knotted chair has been added to the collection of various leading museums as well as to the Vitra collection of miniature chairs.
Knitted Lamp by Hella Jongerius
The Knitted Lamp emerged as one of the project’s standout designs. Hella Jongerius created a fabric by knitting fibreglass threads, then reinforced it on both sides with Plexiglass.
A record number of visitors attended the Droog presentation at Gallery Internos in Milan. On opening day, the event drew such large crowds that police were called in to manage traffic outside the venue. The exhibition featured the debut results of the Dry Tech project. The exhibition unleashed a lot of discussion among visitors. The idea of Droog advocating recycled and natural materials was turned upside down.
