Creative Amsterdam

Independence

Trip price

Trip duration

Level 5 and 6 Graphic Design BA (Hons) and Ilustration with Graphic Design BA (Hons) students are eligible to apply. There is a maximum of 30 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommended to check the eligibility criteria before applying.

Trip description

Amsterdam is a thriving hub for the creative industries. It is a hotbed for established agencies and emerging practitioners exploring innovative and experimental design approaches. It is also home to cultural institutions with world-class reputations.

This trip has been carefully curated as a design-focused experience that will expose students to a broad range of design disciplines and potential future ways of working. Having previously visited Amsterdam on a DMU Global trip, we bring experience from engaging with a variety of organisations, including museums, galleries and bookshops. This time, we will also include design agencies, print workshops, and independent collectives to develop on previous trips.

Students will have the opportunity to visit a diverse selection of creative venues, each offering guided tours led by curators and practitioners. These venues have been chosen to encompass a broad range of professional practices, with particular relevance to graphic design and illustration. They are also spread across various areas of Amsterdam to provide a comprehensive experience of the city. Key institutional visits include:

– Het Schip The Amsterdam School Museum (architecture and branding)
– STRAAT Museum (street art)
– Mediamatic (experimental art centre)
– Foam Photography Museum (contemporary photography)

Key design studio visits include includes ones to Wieden+Kennedy (global creative agency); Hackers & Designers (independent design collective) and Riso Pop and Terry Bleu (independent print workshops).

Students will be required to pay an additional £50 to cover the cost of activities and visits.

Learning objectives

A key objective of the trip is to provide students with an immersive experience that enhances their university-based learning. By engaging with innovative creative industries and cultural institutions relevant to their fields of study, students will develop a deeper understanding of their professional context, be encouraged to position their practice within an international landscape, and have opportunities to network with other practitioners. Drawing inspiration from the work of other creatives and questioning different approaches, they will strengthen their critical thinking and develop creative solutions that can inform their studio work and support their professional growth.

The trip also offers students the opportunity to travel abroad as a group, providing a unique chance to build stronger connections with their peers and a supportive environment to develop their confidence and curiosity in navigating unfamiliar settings and engaging with a different culture.

A pre-trip presentation will provide students with a briefing on the Creative Amsterdam design journal, which they will use to collect references, source material, and inspiration to support their studio work. The session will also include background information and insights into the practitioners, institutions, and exhibitions they will visit. A post-trip presentation will allow students to share their design journals and reflect on their findings and experiences.

Skill development

This opportunity has been designed to help develop the following DMU Graduate Attributes:

Creativity

Confidence

Critical Thinking

Communication & Networking

Cultural activities

Amsterdam is a vibrant city bursting with interesting sites to explore. A programme of optional cultural activities will be scheduled to give students a feel for the city vibe, complementing the organised tours and visits. Students may join the staff on these activities or choose to explore suggested venues and other attractions independently.

Suggested highlights include major institutional museums such as the Stedelijk Museum (international contemporary art), the Rijksmuseum (Dutch art and history), the Van Gogh Museum, the Rembrandt House (both showcasing world-renowned painters), and the NEMO Science Museum (with interactive exhibitions on science and technology).

There are also independent galleries and design-focused bookshops like Letterspace, San Serriffe, and Architectura & Natura. Independent cultural spaces add to the mix, including LAB111 (a former pathological anatomy lab now hosting special film screenings, art exhibitions, lectures, and concerts) and OCCII (a not-for-profit music venue that grew out of the squatting movement of the late 1980s and 1990s). Amsterdam also offers many green spaces, such as the Hortus Botanicus, its renowned botanical garden.