Planetree Design Award

Starting in 2021, DAE has renewed its collaboration with mental healthcare institution GGzE De Grote Beek in Eindhoven. The collaboration entails an annual award, the Planetree Design Award, lectures and excursions from GGzE by experts on mental health, and a yearly seminar on mental health during DDW. The main goal of the collaboration is to inspire students from DAE and to offer insights on social innovation to clients and experts of GGzE, as well as sharing and exchanging knowledge on design and mental health.

From on February 2021 students could participate in online lectures and workshops with GGzE. Some students got in touch with mental health professionals to get feedback on their projects. Until mid-August, all students could apply for the Planetree Design Award, resulting in the nomination of eight projects, which are related to mental health. Last Thursday 23 September, five mental health and design professionals listened to the nominees and discussed who would be the first winner of the Planetree Design Award. The jury assessed the nominated projects on relevance, impact, innovation, inclusion, and whether the projects invite new perspectives on social themes.

The nominees of the Planetree Award 2021 are:

Valentine Maurice, MA 2nd year
Josephine de Fijter, MA 1st year
Laura Deschl, MA 2nd year
Bruno Szenk, BA 3rd year
Margarida Coelho, MA 1st year
Mirte van der Nat, BA, 4th year
Katharina Freiin von Stackelberg, BA 2nd year
Anabel Poh, BA 4th year

The Planetree Design Award was created to build bridges between students of the Design Academy Eindhoven (DAE) and clients of mental healthcare organisation GGzE. The open call, which was sent to all DAE students, seeks design proposals that improve the mental health of (vulnerable) residents of Brabant.

The jury of this first Planetree Design Award was extremely impressed by the quality of the projects presented by the eight nominees and were touched by the personal experiences some of the students shared with them. The jury admired the courage and creativity shown by each of the students, inspiring the judges to think beyond the bounds of their own professions. The jury has unanimously decided to present the first Planetree Design Award to Mirte van der Nat, who receives a cash prize of €2500 and a goblet designed by Willem van Hooff in collaboration with clients of GGzE De Boei.

Navigating Stress, Mirte van der Nat
The jury was very impressed by the thorough research, the thoughtful use of language and the high quality of the overall design. The various components in the tool kit are well designed and executed, and through the game element, Mirte has succeeded in a highly accessible manner in making visible what stress is and how it can be discussed. Navigating Stress is applicable not only for young people but can also be used in workplaces and care environments. It is therefore with great pleasure and conviction that the jury awards the 2021 Planetree Design Award to Mirte van der Nat.

Aiki, Josephine de Fijter
While the design looks simple, the technology is anything but. Even so, Josephine has succeeded in designing an object that can calm the target group. Josephine is an intuitive designer. Her presentation convinced the jury that Aiki is feasible, and the judges hope that she will go on to create a prototype to test her findings.

The Healing Imprint, Laura Deschl
The jury admired the holistic approach and high-quality execution of The Healing Imprint. It is clear from all aspects of her project, that Laura is fully invested in and committed to her design.

Mood, Katharina Freiin von Stackelberg
The jury was impressed by the ownership that Katharina showed in her project. Her resilience in discussing mental healthcare is admirable and she breaks taboos by talking about it so freely.

The Old School Club, Anabel Poh
The jury recognised the project’s potential not only in the appreciation of skills and knowledge among an older generation, but also in their life experience. Making these hidden treasures visible with a website is a great goal and can contribute to combating loneliness among the elderly.

A (Mobile) Bureau for Restorative Futility, Bruno Szenk
Bruno’s philosophical approach made the jury think about how they can look at the nature around them in a different way.

The Grounding Ritual, Margarida Coelho
The Grounding Ritual is a well-considered project in which the end product is the experience of the process. The resulting materials appealed to the judges and invited their touch.

The Metaphorical Screen, Valentine Maurice
The jury was impressed by the technical knowledge required to design the objects and how well it has been applied.

The winner of the Planetree Award 2021 is Mirte van der Nat. Photography by Max Kneefel.

Nominees

The nominees of the Planetree Award 2021 are (from left to right):

The Jury

The jury of the Planetree Design Award are (from left to right):

Mr. Bas van Oosterhout, director Treatment GGzE

Mrs. Renate Richters, council member for youth, care and welfare, poverty, and integration at the municipality of Eindhoven

Mrs. Machteld Ploeg, member of board of directors GGzE

Mrs. Mirjam Steenman, member of GGzE Central Client Council

Prof.dr.ir. Masi Mohammadi, principal investigator and leader of the Research Programme "Empathic Environment’ at TU/e
(Photo: Diewke vd Heuvel)