Graduation 2017, Outstanding Performances/Awards

Research Award

The Willem de Kooning Research Award was established by the Willem de Kooning Foundation in 2015 to emphasize the central role of art and design research within the newly introduced curriculum. The Willem de Kooning Research Awards are not prizes for just theses or research documents but for projects merging theory and practice where art or design work is a vital part of the research. The Awards are granted to graduation projects that combine theoretical and field research with artistic research and which provide new insights to broader audiences of experts and the public at large. Valuing art and design research, the Willem de Kooning Academy will grant three awards instead of just one starting from 2016. Next to the prize money of € 1500, € 1000 and € 500 respectively, the first winning project will also be honoured with a publication by WdKA. This publication is not a conventional research book or catalogue, but an experimental publication to be developed within WdKA’s Hybrid Publishing Practices. It can take any form that is best suited to each project: electronic and print, performative, presentational.

Autonomous Practices

Critical Studies Ioana Tomici (Product Design)

Digital Craft Arthur Boer (Graphic Design)

Hacking Esmay Wagemans (Lifestyle Transformation Design)

Public & Private Corlieske Visser (Fashion Design)

Commercial Practices

New Frontiers Marten van Middelkoop (Product Design)

Data Design Amy Guijt (Graphic Design)

Social Practices

Cultural Diversity Kaoutar Gadir (Advertising)

Open Design Sophie Dirven (Lifestyle Transformation Design)

Gamification Lily Higgins (Lifestyle Transformation Design)

Sustainability Elise Marcus (Lifestyle Transformation Design)

Honours Programme

Visual Culture Lisa Reith (Lifestyle Transformation Design)

Drempelprijs

The Drempelprijs has been awarded annually since 1962 by the Municipality of Rotterdam (Gemeente Rotterdam) to one or more graduates of the Willem de Kooning Academy. Originally, the prize was awarded only to fine art graduates; since 1968 applied arts graduates have also been eligible. The prize is an incentive award, with a nice sum of money: € 5,000. In the WdKA’s new curriculum, the traditional distinction between fine art and applied work is no longer considered relevant. Since 2014, the Drempelprijs awarded to students within the three graduation profiles: autonomous, social and commercial practices.