The twenty-third edition of the Dutch Design Week starts in Eindhoven on Saturday. Thousands of designers and design enthusiasts will take over the city for nine days. One of the crowd pullers is the Graduation Show with the graduation projects of two hundred students from the Design Academy. Lara (22) from Eindhoven also shows her work there. She worked with homeless people to create her graduation project.
Lara van der Poel herself has not had a roof over her head lately. “I previously lived in an anti-squat area. I had to get out of there in August. After that I was homeless. I had no place to sleep anymore. I could solve it by sleeping with friends.”
She is a volunteer at ‘t Hemeltje, a drop-in center for homeless people in the city. She wanted to see if she could do something for the homeless through her studies at the Design Academy. Lara started working in clothing distribution. “They can get three items of clothing here every week. The conversations I had with the people there made me enthusiastic. About crazy T-shirts, for example.’
Lara in one of her T-shirts (photo: Rogier van Son).
The clothing was donated and Lara thought it would be better if it could be a little more personal for visitors to the Drop-in House. “There had to be something from the people themselves in it. Then it becomes more meaningful.”
She gave disposable cameras to homeless people to record life on the streets. Lara incorporated the images into clothing. “I heard nothing for three weeks. They had found work in Tilburg. The cameras were returned via the Salvation Army.”
She had the photos developed. Lara looked with curiosity at what had been recorded. “They show the reality of homelessness. From their perspective. They put trash cans in the picture. Or they spend half their time sleeping. On the ground. You also see how they act crazy. They sit in the quiet compartment of the first class. I don’t think they had a ticket and I don’t think they were silent either.”
“It is an ode to their creativity.”
Lara worked on the project for six months. She needed the first three months to get to know the homeless. Of the fifty usable photos, ten ended up on T-shirts. “One of the homeless people photographed his entire route through the city. You can see exactly where he walks in the center every day. These are very normal images of Eindhoven, but those places really mean something to him. That is his life.”
Eindhoven is increasingly confronted with homeless people. Lara’s project responds to what is happening in the city. “My project is not a solution, but it is an ode to their creativity.”
“The best stage would be public and on the street.”
The project is called ‘Get the fuck out of here’. It can be seen during the Graduation Show, which will be held for the first time this year in Microstad, near Eindhoven station. It remains to be seen whether the homeless will come and see for themselves. A ticket costs almost thirty euros. “I don’t know if they prioritize that. It’s nice to give it a stage, but I also have a mixed feeling about it. It is on a paid exhibition spot. The best stage would be in public and on the street.”
Lara sells her T-shirts during Dutch Design Week. If one is sold, one also goes to the homeless. They can then walk around in their own work. “This way it stays on the street and everyone can see it.”
The Dutch Design Week is from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 October.
One of Lara’s T-shirts (photo: Rogier van Son).
Welcome to the Dutch Design Week: A Showcase of Creativity and Humanity
The twenty-third edition of the Dutch Design Week is kicking off in Eindhoven, and what a lively spectacle it promises to be! From October 19 to October 27, thousands of designers and design enthusiasts will descend upon the city. Among the highlights is the Graduation Show, where two hundred students from the revered Design Academy will unveil their groundbreaking projects. Among them is twenty-two-year-old Lara van der Poel—who, in an ironic twist of fate, is not just showing art, but showing real life as she grapples with her own homelessness.
Now, let’s pause for a moment of consideration: imagine being a design student and your biggest project stems from your own need—a necessity birthed from tough circumstances. Lara has taken a unique approach by working closely with homeless people to craft a project that truly resonates on a personal level.
The Journey from Homelessness to Art
Lara’s story is not just one of hardship; it’s a narrative of engaging with the realities of life on the streets, whilst she herself has been navigating the intricate maze of housing. Moving from an anti-squat area has left her with friends’ couches as her temporary shelter. In her own words: “I previously lived in an anti-squat area. I had to get out of there in August. After that, I was homeless. I had no place to sleep anymore.” If you think she’s just a one-note story of struggle, think again. Part of her endeavor at the design academy includes her volunteer work at ‘t Hemeltje—a drop-in center for the homeless.
More Than Just Clothes
Lara’s project involves more than just handing out three items of clothing a week. Oh no, she dares to delve deeper. While doing clothing distribution, she discovered not just the need for warmth but for personal stories, for dignity. The big idea? Transform those blank shirts into canvases of expression! That means giving homeless individuals disposable cameras to capture their reality—because who doesn’t love a good, unfiltered snapshot of life?
And then, after three weeks of near silence, the cameras found their way back via the Salvation Army. A mystery reminiscent of Charlie’s Chocolate Factory, except instead of golden tickets, there were photos that depicted life on the fringes of society: trash cans, street corners, and the occasional cheeky escapade of individuals in first-class train compartments—clearly, not a commuter without a ticket!
“It is an ode to their creativity.”
Creating Meaningful Pieces
With the photos in hand, Lara embarked on an emotional journey of development—selecting pictures that not only captured the stark reality of homelessness but echoed the personalities and lives of those who live it. She chose ten images for her T-shirts, each carefully selected to honor the stories behind them. “One of the homeless people photographed his entire route through the city,” she recalls, “These are very normal images of Eindhoven, but those places really mean something to him. That is his life.”
A Nod to Public Awareness
But let’s get to the crux of the matter. The project is aptly titled ‘Get the fuck out of here.’ It’s an invitation to confront the uncomfortable truths of life on the streets, yet there’s a tinge of irony since it’s showcased in a paid exhibition during the design week, costing nearly thirty euros per ticket. Will homeless people have the means or desire to attend? One has to wonder if the best stage for this poignant presentation shouldn’t simply be the street itself.
“The best stage would be public and on the street.”
Art for a Cause
In a delightful twist, Lara is making sure that her passion extends beyond the exhibit. For every T-shirt sold during Dutch Design Week, another will be gifted to a homeless person. Imagine that! Returning the art to where it originates, putting a proud piece of their own creativity back on the street for all to see. Talk about keeping it real!
Join the Movement
So, if you fancy a unique blend of design, social commentary, and a touch of cheek that only Dutch humor can provide, the Dutch Design Week should certainly be on your calendar. Because amidst the glitz and glamour of design, there’s a powerful message about humanity that refuses to be ignored.
Now, let’s go out there, buy a T-shirt, and maybe—just maybe—have a laugh while we change lives through the power of creativity.
