Founded in 1947, Design Academy Eindhoven is the only University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands that is fully specialized in design. Based in the WittDame building, a disused Philips factory in Eindhoven, it has 700 of student body population and a mission to be the world’s most authentic, creative and innovative academy, a professional organisation that sends out top design talent into the world.
"The quality that distinguishes the academy with other design schools is the fact that they train designers to be aware of the social implications of their designs. Within each design discipline, the academy chooses a more horizontal and integral approach to design rather than the traditional vertical structure. Offering a four-year bachelor’s and a two-year master’s programmes, students are assisted by the leading figures in the design field who possess extensive networks, enthusiasm, and the ability to help students in directing the content of their designs. Moreover, the academy is firmly rooted in the professional field as their teaching staff are professional designers. This enables the academy to respond rapidly and adequately to signals from the professional field and society. The conceptual, authentic, creative, flexible, free, passionate, and curious characters of the university are well-reflected in the characters and quality of their graduates. Designers who graduates from the academy are, defined by the academy itself, gifted conceptualists. By having the skill of conceptual thinking, the graduates are able to ask critical questions and introduce new approaches in any field they end up to be. The education they received have developed a mentality of creating new ideas, strategies, things, experiences, spaces and services. "