Bridging Minds

Bridging Minds is a major design exhibition running from October 4, 2025 to January 18, 2026. Featuring around 100 works by leading designers and artists—including Hella Jongerius, Maarten Baas, Jalila Essaïdi, Formafantasma, Christien Meindertsma and Panamarenko—the exhibition explores design’s power to connect across disciplines, communities, and urgent societal issues.

Set across ten galleries in the museum’s historic Old Building, Bridging Minds—curated by Miriam van der Lubbe, Creative Head of Dutch Design Week, addresses urgent themes such as safety, care, inclusion, innovation, and freedom.

Reflecting a deep commitment to reimagining systems, materials, and relationships, the exhibition showcases speculative materials, poetic gestures, smart tools, and social interventions. It demonstrates how design can serve as both a critical tool and a hopeful force in shaping the future during turbulent times.

The exhibition also responds to the museum’s recent commitment to design, following its landmark 2022 acquisition of fifty objects from Lidewij Edelkoort’s pioneering private collection. Bridging Minds builds on this momentum, reinforcing the museum’s ties to the Eindhoven ecosystem—a city known for the convergence of technology, design, and knowledge and positioning in the international design discourse.

Director Defne Ayas adds: “We have much to imagine and reimagine at the museum. Through this partnership, we will further assess how these practices speak to, define, and refine the museum’s mandate and its role as a site for imagination and transformation. This exhibition marks a decisive moment in the museum’s trajectory, leading up to its ninetieth anniversary in 2026, which will coincide with a renewed collection display, architectural upgrades, and an expanded focus on art, design, and diverse constituencies. We look forward to both the learning curve and the journey ahead.”

Participating designers and artists
A+N Studio, Alberto Gruarin – Stichting Next Nature Network, Amina Zemouli, Anne Ligtenberg, Atelier NL, Bas Timmer / Sheltersuit Foundation, Béla Bezold, Ben van Kemenade, Bruno Doedens, Christien Meindertsma, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Cindy van den Bremen, Daan Sonnemans & Anabel Poh, Dan Graham, Daphna Laurens, Dave Hakkens, Dick Raaijmakers (Kid Baltan), Dina Lebbar, Dirk van der Kooij, Donald Judd, Éric van Hove, Eibert Draisma, Eros Risiglione, Femke Hoppenbrouwer, Frits Lensvelt, Guerilla Girls, Guiseppe Penone, Hella Jongerius, Hikaru Imamura, Ian Wilson, Jalila Essaïda, Jan Dibbets, Jane Stjeward (Tailors and Wearers), Job, Joris & Marieke, John Körmeling, Joris Laarman Lab, Jitze Orij, Jurgen Bey, Klarenbeek & Dros, Kuang-Yi Ku, Lara van der Poel, Lonny van Ryswyck, Luud Schimmelpennink, László Moholy-Nagy, M. C. Escher, Maarten Baas, Manon van Hoeckel i.s.m. Stichting Severinus & Kleinkijkacademie, Marcos Kueh, Marina Abramović & Ulay, Marlene Dumas, Marte Mei, MVRDV / Winy Maas, Nacho Carbonell, Niels Hoebers, Noa Jansma, Ontwerpteam van DAF 600 o.l.v. Joan van der Brugghen, Panamarenko, patricia kaersenhout, Pauline van Dongen, Piet Hein Eek, Piet Mondriaan, Project KOVR - Marcha Schagen & Leon Baauw, Ruud Scheerens & Wladimir Manshanden, Rutger Muller – Nikolai Gillissen – Ricky van Broekhoven, Sander Verdiesen & APOPO, Simon Dogger, Social label Lab x Brigit Vermeulen (Warenhuisvermeulen), Sondi, Steeven Macal, Studio Formafantasma, Studio i, Studio Ro Smit, Terre des Hommes & Lemz, The Niteshop, Thomas Mair, Thomas Schütte, Those Vegan Cowboys, Tony Cragg, Trees Merx, Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe, Victor Sonna, Yamuna Forzani, Zoönomisch Instituut – Klaas Kuitenbrouwer, Wietske Nutma