IAFD x OCW - LGBTIQ and gender equality awards 2023
For the fourth time, the Interior Architecture and Furniture Design department at the Royal Academy of Art The Hague has collaborated with the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) for the design of the emancipation awards, the Jos Brink Prijs 2023 (for LGBTIQ+ equality) and Joke Smitprijs (for gender equality).
The awards offer visibility for the often unrecognised activist work done by individuals or collectives towards the emancipation of Dutch society.
About IAFD's Form course in Year 1
The assignment was embedded in the IAFD1 course Form, under guidance of Zsofia Kollar and Ellen Vos.
During this course, the first years students familiarize themselves with the grammar of form. Through material research, models and mock-ups, an object is designed for an external client, in this case the trophies and gemstones.
Students performed exercises in form studies and language, and were occupied with the grammar of ‘creating’ with visual and haptic tools by coining text and image. The creative process plays a central role. The medium or approach helps determine the form of expression and with this, the integration of form and visualisation becomes an important part of the assignment.
More about IAFD's course programme structure
Designs Jos Brink Prijs and Joke Smitprijs 2023
After extensive research on equality and emancipation, each first-year student developed a trophy, which was then further developed in one detailed, smaller scale gemstone. Seeing design as collaboration, the gemstones were brought together in two collections of brooches, dedicated to the winners of the Jos Brink Prijs 2023 and Joke Smitprijs.
Design = Collaboration
In a broader sense, the project is also a great example of Design = Collaboration, one of the main learning objectives crucial to the IAFD educational values.
In the context of this project, the students and tutors worked closely together with Lara Dautun (BA Graphic Design student), Kes Lugt (BA Fine Arts student), Medina Rešić (alum BA Photography) and Guido van der Linden (KABK staff) for the realization of the accompanying publications, brooches, videos and box designs.
"I felt a great sense of responsibility. Conveying my idea in a physical form whilst keeping with the core codes of the fight for emancipation, was a challenge which put my important role as a designer into perspective."
"I was excited to work on the Joke Smitprijs because it is an object of celebration. We are taking the time to acknowledge someone and make them feel proud about the work they have done."
"Developing my concept made me aware of the important role we have as designers in today’s world."
Credits / thanks to
Equality Department of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW)
Robbert Dijkgraaf, Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Esther van Dijk, Director Gender & LGBTIQ+ equality
Nancy de Klerk
Magali Kuils
Royal Academy of Art (KABK), The Hague
Mariska Beljon
Herman Verkerk
Students award design Joke Smitprijs
Veronika Andreou
Anne-Maren Birkelid
Joep Boogaard
Milo Hatfield
Frederikke Hemmingsen
Artiom Iacob
Vlada Kavalchuk
Aleksandra Kojro
Anna Ratibor
Iji Shin
Oliver Tippl
Students award design Jos Brink Prijs 2023
Saulė Andrejevaitė
Rareș Chereji
Femke Huberts
Alexandria Liiv
Ponke Mühlig
Aylin Sanci
Anna Siméone
Emily Vassallo Medici
Tutors
Zsofia Kollar
Ellen Maria Vos
Box design for collection of brooches
Guido van der Linden
Graphic design publication
Lara Dautun
Goldsmith
Kes Lugt
Photographer
Jeannette Slütter / temet.studio
Text editing
Sidney Nislow
Videos & photographs publication
Medina Rešić