gijs bakker quits droog design

gijs bakker at the milan design fair, 2008 image © designboom

in 1993, gijs bakker along with design critic and historian renny ramakers, founded droog design. the recent opening of the droog store in new york has driven a bit of a wedge between the two. today, bakker has announced that after fifteen years he has decided to resign as a board member from the droog design foundation stating:

‘the original ambition of droog was to identify and showcase talented dutch, and later foreign, designers, and to stimulate discussion about the real content of the profession. millions of euros were invested in opening a large, expensive shop in new york – an initiative of renny ramakers – while the philosophy of droog was pushed to the background. the shop in new york implies, almost inevitably, that from now on profitability will depend on the development of only large, expensive products.’ – GB

the storefront of the droog in new york image © dave pinter

“the creativity and originality of droog design products have always been a first condition for me. the new york shop means the commercial element is now the main goal. unfortunately, I have been forced to conclude that this has driven a wedge between renny and my fifteen-year relationship. regrettably, lengthy negotiations over our difference of opinion have yielded no result, my role with droog design, and also as a teacher at the design academy, in eindhoven, has always been about content. I am proud of the fascinating projects that we have realize worldwide with droog design. many now-famous designers, including hella jongerius marcel wanders, tejo remy, richard hutten and jurgen bey, got their big break thanks to droog design in my opinion, we have contributed significantly to a change of mindset in this profession.” – GB

founders and directors of droog – renny ramakers and gijs bakker image courtesy of droog design

bakker will continue to work as a designer under the name of gijs bakker design, while staying involved in design education as director of the master programme at the design academy, in eindhoven.