BA Graduation Ceremony
The ceremony starts with opening remarks given by Joseph Grima, Creative Director of the Academy, who also represented Raf De Kenick, Director of Education. Grima highlights this moment as one of his favorites in the educational journey.
“This is a very important moment of transition where it is not about saying ‘goodbye and this is where the road ends’, it is actually in many ways, where the road begins. The alumni community helps us run all of our courses from Bachelor to Master. Many of you will come back to be part of this community on a permanent basis, others will come back occasionally but the point is, we will not lose touch. We welcome you into a new role within the school”
This generation of students began their time at Design Academy Eindhoven in the middle of 2020, the now graduates’ backdrop includes the early days of the limitations of the pandemic, and many aspects of the Academy’s pedagogical renewal, from embracing a studio model to the recent realisation that the building is not a permanent home. These moments of reflection, as referenced by Grima, mirror the question not just within design schools, but in society in general, of what it means to collectively face challenges. The warp up, before his words faded out in the middle of a heartfelt applause, was an expression of gratitude towards the hard work of the Bachelors themselves, the Bachelor Studio Leaders, the Coordinators, the Tutors and Exam Tutors, the Evaluation Board, the External Examiners, the people who ran the facilities, and all the organisational staff within the academy.
Subsequently, Janneke Schreuder, Head of the Bachelor Programme, took the stage, emphasising how the significant moments from their academic journey underscore the profound importance of attending this ceremony. She then introduced the six nominees for the René Smeets Award: Dora Heller Russell, Kiki Astner, Lara van der Poel, Lee Ehrat & Valentin Klauß, Lilou Angelrath & Réiltin O’Hagan, and Nelly Kleijer. Their projects and solutions stress a high sense of empathy, a great impact on society, and an innovative approach. The following eight nominations were for the Melkweg Award which seeks originality, a radical view on presentation, autonomy, and, a sense of activism: Céleste Muir, Jarno van Renswoude, Katharina Ammann, Laura Viltoft Overgaard, Luana Soto Aguerrevere, Mai Staehr Rødtnes, Matti Paffen, Solveig Weimar and Antonia Schreiber.
Sixteen students out of ninety-three were nominated for Cum Laude, and ten of them were awarded for their results: Clara Malan, Emma Cohen, Kiki Astner, Konstanty Konopinski, Lee Ehrat, Livni Holtz, Luana Soto Aguerrevere, Matti Paffen, Nicolas Seiler, Parker Hertzberger. This gave way to all the students coming up on stage to join them and thus recognise their exceptional learning processes. The class of 2024 was privileged, and during the signing of their diplomas, they were given a piece of a very special project, which reflects the collective sense that is now more than necessary in these difficult times that have become the norm. And so they were covered by Dora’s graduation gift, a specially made gown which included a tiny message inside:
“This gown is a token to say thank you, for being part of this school, this group of people, for everything you gave to get here, congratulations. I would like to ask you to put it on and stand together with me and the rest of your peers to represent the power of the collective within this institution. And then take it away with you as something to remember this phase in time, what now felt like to reach the other side. It’s yours now, paint it, cut it, draw on it, embellish it however you desire and remember the others that are off their journey too.”
The inspiring showcase of projects carries the imprint of the serious challenges and provocations design can make and, will be refined in the months leading up to its public display at Dutch Design Week in October this year. Additionally, the official awards will also be revealed during the Graduation Show.