Clothing that keeps you cool in extreme heat. A car that captures its own fine particulate pollution. Products that grow with the help of fungi and bacteria. And an extra sense that lets you feel satellites passing overhead. Sounds like science fiction? During Dutch Design Week (DDW), you'll discover designs that show how things once thought impossible are becoming reality. And the best part? At DDW26, you can experience them up close, in real life.
Clothing that comes alive
What if your clothes could automatically help you cool down on scorching hot days? At Cooling Tech, you'll discover how students from Fontys and Summa are combining technology and fashion to develop clothing that actively cools the body. Guided by fashion-tech designer Anouk Wipprecht, they're experimenting with different cooling technologies integrated into wearable designs. You'll also discover garments inspired by insects that come to life through sensors and moving parts. Smart clothing that keeps you cool or even moves on its own? Sounds a bit like science fiction, but it's not!
A car that cleans up its own pollution
Driving electric without exhaust emissions is great, but did you know that cars also produce fine particulate pollution through their tyres and brakes? Student team TU/ecomotive has come up with a solution. Meet VENTRA: a futuristic two-seater equipped with a special filtration system that captures fine particles near the wheels. A car that helps clean up its own pollution? Yes, please!
An extra sense for satellites
Imagine walking down the street and suddenly feeling a satellite passing overhead. Sounds bizarre? Designers Chonglian Yu, Izadora Yamamoto, Juliette Brederode and Livia Ribichini make it possible with A Satellite in My Body. They've developed a wearable object that responds in real time to satellites passing above. Through light, vibrations and Morse code, invisible signals suddenly become something you can feel. Almost like having a sixth sense! The prototype even comes with DIY instructions, so you can build your own satellite-sensing device. And it raises an interesting question: who does the space above us actually belong to?
A building that changes with you
An office today, student accommodation tomorrow and something completely different a few years down the line. Why not? With MOD[us], Team VIRTU/e has developed a modular building system that can be adapted, moved and rebuilt. A building doesn't have to serve the same purpose forever. Pretty useful in a world where our needs are constantly changing.
Robots that scroll for you
Endlessly scrolling on your phone? Why not leave it to a robot? In Infinite Scroll, Studio Tjep. presents six mechanical robots operating real smartphones. They swipe through photos, colours and digital memories. A little absurd, but fascinating too. Because if robots can even take over our scrolling habits, what else might we leave to them next?
The future? See it at DDW!
Some ideas seem straight out of an old science fiction film. But at DDW26, you can see them for yourself. Not everything is ready for everyday use just yet, but the first steps have been taken. And who knows what might seem completely normal in just a few years?
Curious to discover more? From 17 to 25 October 2026, Dutch Design Week takes over Eindhoven! Explore the programme, create your own route or let the DDW app put one together for you. Get ready to be surprised!
![MOD[us] | Refugee housing exterior](https://s3.amazonaws.com/ddw2025test/images/galleries/final-refugee-housing-exterior-render-1-1-optimized-1500-1788172297-1920x1080-6ace07b0241b8.png)
