Gijs Bakker Award
The Gijs Bakker Award is given annually to an MA student who exhibits exceptional talent in their design and research process, and the ability to transform research and ideas into a graduation project.
The shortlist is made up of graduates nominated by the head of each MA department and is announced following the final exams at the end of the academic year. The winner is announced during the Graduation Show at Dutch Design Week in October.
Winners receive €2000 and a trophy designed by a DAE alum. They may also be offered mentorship, guidance or support from specific institutions connected to the René Smeets Foundation or Design Academy Eindhoven.
History
Named after visionary designer and educator Gijs Bakker, who was behind the creation of DAE's first MA programme, the award was created in 2014 – 10 years after the first MA launched at the Academy.
Bakker, who was the co-founder of highly influential Dutch design firm Droog, taught at DAE for 25 years – first as the head of the BA Living department, then as head of an MA research programme and finally as head of the Master's Department. He left DAE in 2012.
The prize named in his honour was initially created to recognise graduates who showed exceptional skills in research and the ability to translate that research into a tangible object.
The award was the first created specifically for MA graduates, and complements the two BA awards: the René Smeets Award for professionalism, named after the school's founding director, and the Melkweg Award for original talent.
