Thomas Widdershoven, Creative Director and Chair of the Executive Board of Design Academy Eindhoven has announced that he will not be available for a second term. At the opening of the academic year on September 6th he will say goodbye to students, teachers and staff. The official opening of the exhibition ‘Broken White’, a cooperation between DAE and the Van Abbemuseum next October will be his last official duty. He will leave the academy on October 15th.
During his years as chairman many changes were implemented and realized. The academy was newly positioned. This new position, which resonated both inside and outside the academy, has been researched and presented in three exhibitions in the Van Abbemuseum and in China. Also, new design departments were created and the Bachelor education and DAE organisation were restructured. Financially the academy is in balance, partly through the sale of the WitteDame building.
Thomas Widdershoven fulfilled the position of Creative Director/ Chairman part-time. The remaining time he worked for Thonik, the design studio he founded with Nikki Gonnissen in 1993.
Widdershoven: “The past years I mainly focussed on my responsibilities at Design Academy Eindhoven. Now that the academy is in good shape, I have decided to put my focus on Thonik again. With satisfaction and pleasure I look back on an intensive and fruitful time at Design Academy Eindhoven.”
The Supervisory Board wishes to thank Thomas Widdershoven for his efforts at Design Academy Eindhoven. The board is pleased with the changes he implemented under his direction. The Supervisory Board will use the summer period to reflect on the procedure and the profile for Thomas Widdershoven’s successor. With Jurriënne Ossewold, Director Education, Research & Organisation/ member Executive Board, the continuity of the academy is guaranteed.
For any further questions with regards to this press release, please contact Henri Beelen, Secretary Executive Board/ Supervisory Board, T +31 (0)6 5396 8879
.