What Dutch Design Foundation does

Dutch Design Foundation (DDF) is a non-profit foundation (stichting zonder winstoogmerk) founded in 2015 and headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands, with approximately 47 employees across two office locations in the Klokgebouw and on Torenallee. The organisation's stated purpose is to strengthen the position and impact of Dutch designers by connecting them with governments, businesses, and researchers to address complex societal transitions in areas such as health, safety, mobility, sustainability, and inclusivity. DDF operates through five core programmes: Dutch Design Week (DDW), the flagship annual 9-day design festival in Eindhoven; Dutch Design Awards (including the Public Award 2024 and Emerging Talent Award 2026); Coalitions, a platform for multi-year, cross-sector collaboration on societal challenges; Co/Labs (in-depth masterclasses and guided design processes); and PONT (De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk), a Ministry of Education, Culture and Science initiative strengthening designer-government collaboration. Supporting sub-products include Un/School (education), Design Tours (volunteer-led public accessibility), and World Design Embassies (mission-driven thematic programmes).

DDF's revenue model is partnerships- and sponsorship-driven rather than transactional. Funding is sourced from multiple Dutch government ministries (Education/Culture, Health/Welfare/Sport, Justice/Security, Defence), regional and municipal authorities (Eindhoven, Province of North Brabant), corporate partners (Rabobank, Vattenfall, Secrid, Sweco, Rijkswaterstaat), academic institutions (TU/e, BNO, Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna), and European Commission programmes (Horizon Europe, Interreg). DDF is governed by a Director (Willem van Zeeland) and a five-member independent Supervisory Board appointed for four-year terms, operating under the Dutch Cultural Governance Code, Code of Diversity and Inclusion, and Fair Practice Code. As a non-profit, DDF has no disclosed equity ownership, no parent company, and no venture capital backing.

The customer base is segment-hybrid: primary segments are Dutch government agencies (national ministries, municipalities, provinces) and the design professional community (individual designers and studios), with secondary segments including businesses and academic researchers. Distribution is event-driven (anchored by DDW) and partner-driven (through coalitions and Co/Labs), with international reach concentrated in Europe via the (Un)EXTRA Horizon Europe consortium of 15 partners and previously through Interreg projects. EMEA is the only operating region disclosed.

Name

Dutch Design Foundation

Legal name

Dutch Design Foundation

Website

https://dutchdesignfoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dutch Design Foundation is a Dutch non-profit foundation running Dutch Design Week (annual 9-day festival in Eindhoven) and design coalitions that connect designers with national ministries, regional authorities, and businesses to drive societal transitions through design-driven approaches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Design Foundation Services

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Design festival organization
• Design coalition programs
• Design awards program
• Design education programs
• Public design practice

Headquarters

HQ city

Eindhoven, Noord-Brabant

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnerships and Sponsorship: Dutch Design Foundation generates revenue through partnerships with governments (municipal, provincial, national ministries), businesses (Rabobank, Vattenfall, Secrid, TU/e, Sweco, etc.), and cultural organizations. Partners contribute financially and through knowledge-sharing to co-develop programmes around design for societal transitions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Dutch Design Foundation is a non-profit foundation that strengthens the position and impact of Dutch designers by producing Dutch Design Week as its flagship annual festival, running coalition-based programmes that connect designers with governments and businesses around societal transitions (health, safety, mobility, sustainability, inclusivity), delivering Co/Labs masterclasses and Un/School educational offerings, administering Dutch Design Awards, and operating PONT (De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk) to embed design in public-sector practice. It also participates in European research projects (e.g., (Un)EXTRA under Horizon Europe) to extend its methodologies across Europe.

Product overview

Dutch Design Foundation operates as a non-profit organization running multiple interconnected design programs. The core offerings include Dutch Design Week (the annual design festival), Dutch Design Awards (recognition program), Coalitions (collaborative platform for societal challenges), Co/Labs (masterclasses and design processes), PONT (public design practice initiative), Un/School (educational programs), and Design Tours. These programs work together to connect designers with clients, accelerate research and creation processes, and provide an international platform for showcasing design that addresses societal transitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dutch Design Week (DDW): Annual design festival held in Eindhoven showcasing the future of design and design for the future
• Dutch Design Awards
• Coalitions
• Co/Labs
• PONT (De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk)
• Un/School
• World Design Embassies (WDE)

Products and services

• Dutch Design Week (DDW) Annual nine-day design festival in Eindhoven where designers showcase work, attend talks and workshops, and connect with potential collaborators and clients. Open to public visitors and the international design community.
• Dutch Design Awards

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 European project partners in (Un)EXTRA Horizon Europe project
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di BolognacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026European research partner coordinating the (Un)EXTRA Horizon Europe project. Investigates how design contributes to resilient and competitive Europe.
• Technische Universiteit EindhovencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Project partner in (Un)EXTRA Horizon Europe project, contributing to design research for European transitions.
• Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i OslominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Norwegian project partner in (Un)EXTRA Horizon Europe project.
• EIT Culture & Creativity GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026European Institute of Innovation and Technology partner in (Un)EXTRA project.
• Form/Design Center (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Swedish design center partner in (Un)EXTRA project.
• Fundacio Eurecat (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Spanish technology center partner in (Un)EXTRA project.
• Region Skåne (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 July 2026Swedish regional authority partner in (Un)EXTRA project.
• Studio KaderminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 8 July 2026Design studio providing DDF identity concept, graphic design, and website design/art direction.
• Municipality of EindhovencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey municipal partner supporting Dutch Design Week and design ecosystem development in Eindhoven. Part of core DDF partner group.
• Province of North BrabantcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner supporting design initiatives and Dutch Design Week in the province.
• Ministry of Education, Culture and SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports PONT (De Publieke Ontwerppraktijk) initiative and overall design policy. Key government partner for design in societal transitions.
• Ministry of Health, Welfare and SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Embassy of Inclusive Society programme addressing health and inclusivity through design.
• Ministry of Justice and SecuritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Coalition for Safety, exploring design-driven approaches to justice and security challenges.
• Ministry of DefenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting design approaches to defence and security challenges.
• TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in European projects and design research. Key knowledge institution in Eindhoven design ecosystem.
• ClickNLcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch creative industries cluster organization. Co-organizer of Design Innovation Sessions during Mission Days at DDW.
• VattenfallminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnergy company partner supporting Co/Lab programme and design-driven sustainability transitions.
• RabobankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBanking partner supporting design initiatives and sustainable transitions.
• SecridminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch design company hosting DESIGN LIVE TALK events and supporting design community.
• BNO (Bureau Nederlandse Ontwerpers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch designers association. Core partner representing professional design community.
• ActiZminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare sector association. Partner in elderly care design initiatives like 'Doe het samen'.
• RijkswaterstaatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch government agency for infrastructure and water management. Partner in design approaches to public infrastructure.
• SwecominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering and design consultancy. Partner in sustainable design and infrastructure projects.
• Waterschap de DommelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater management authority. Partner in water-related design challenges.
• Reclassering NederlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch Probation Service. Partner in Coalition for Safety, exploring design approaches to justice.
• ErasmushuisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural institution in Jakarta. Partner in international exhibitions including Bukan Tentang Sampah.
• WaterambassademinorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater expertise network. Partner in water-related design initiatives.
• VPROminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDutch public broadcaster. Media partner supporting design communication and events.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• World Design Organization: WDO is an international non-profit promoting design-led innovation and sustainability through programmes such as World Design Weeks. Comparable to DDF as a non-profit enabling the global design ecosystem but operating as an umbrella/membership body rather than a single-city festival producer.

Direct peers

• Vienna Design Week: Vienna Design Week is an annual city-wide design festival run by a non-profit organization with municipal and corporate sponsorship, featuring curated exhibitions and talks. Closely comparable to DDW in scope, governance model, and stakeholder mix of city government, designers, and brands.
• Barcelona Design Week (FAD): Barcelona Design Week is run by FAD (Foment de les Arts i del Disseny), a non-profit design association in Barcelona. Comparable to DDF as a non-profit design foundation running an annual city-wide design week with government and brand partnerships.
• Helsinki Design Week: Helsinki Design Week is Finland's largest design festival, organized as a non-profit with city, ministry, and corporate partners and a similar emphasis on design's societal role. Closely comparable to DDF in mission framing (design for societal transitions), scale, and Nordic/Northern-European civic-design positioning.
• Design Indaba: Design Indaba is a South African design platform running an annual festival, conferences, and creative-industry programmes with a strong mission-driven, social-impact framing. Comparable to DDF in mission orientation (design as a force for societal change) and in using an annual event as a hub for year-round programmes.
• Stockholm Design Week: Stockholm Design Week is an annual design festival organized across the city in conjunction with the Stockholm Furniture Fair. Comparable to DDW as a Northern-European city design week combining exhibitions, talks, and brand showcases around a shared annual moment.
• London Design Festival: Annual city-wide design festival operating a multi-venue programme across London. Directly comparable to DDW as a flagship European design week organized by a non-profit foundation, partnering with brands, government, and design schools to drive cultural and commercial visibility.
• 3 Days of Design: 3 Days of Design is Copenhagen's annual design festival showcasing brands and designers across showrooms and venues. Comparable to DDW as a Northern-European city design week with similar show-and-tell format and brand-partner-driven revenue model.
• Paris Design Week: Paris Design Week is a city-wide design festival running alongside Maison&Objet, showcasing designers and brands across Paris. Comparable to DDW as a flagship European design week with a similar festival + exhibition + talks structure.
• Salone del Mobile (Milan Design Week): Salone del Mobile Milano is the world's largest design trade fair anchoring Milan Design Week, combining a city-wide festival with a major B2B exhibition. Comparable to DDW as a flagship design week but substantially larger in scale, commercial reach, and international brand participation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dutch-design-foundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dutch Design Foundation