World-renowned Dutch designer Jurgen Bey returns to MOME

The designer will describe the concept of his Water School project in a creative exploration of the notions of learning, creation and community by focusing on water and the social implications of its use. 

As part of its reform efforts, Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design is planning to build an internationally unique education model reflecting on today’s global challenges. When developing new education methods, we are seeking to answer questions such as how the role of universities will change in this century, in what ways we will learn in the future, what skills are required to be able to manage new challenges, and what education forms and contents will be seen as authentic in a constantly changing world. We want to involve acclaimed international experts and designers who can offer outside-the-box solutions in order to open up new dimensions in response to future challenges. 

Jurgen Bey is one of the most illustrious Dutch designers, known not only for his concept bench (Tree-trunk bench) but also for creating brands representing a paradigm shift, such as PROFF, including Earchair, a complete reinvention of office work and the functionality of spaces in common use. 

The concept of Water School by the Makkink & Bey design studio founded by him employs a similarly visionary approach to issues of education and sustainability using the tools of design and architecture. Water School is a creative exploration of the notions of learning, creation and community by focusing on water - a vital resource for humans - as well as the political and social implications of its use. Since its debut in 2018, Water School has been constantly touring the world, and continuing to expand the school’s curriculum in response to local needs. 

The world famous designer with a track record of several hundred projects implemented for museums, galleries, institutions and companies, returns to MOME for a professional day after a hiatus of nine years. 

In the morning he will hold a professional workshop to analyse the most exciting experimental programmes in academic training development together with MOME experts, followed by a public presentation about Water School and his vision of the design education of the future in the afternoon.