The Netherlands Design Institute is a 'think-and-do tank' which identifies new ways by which design may contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the community; it develops scenarios about the future, and undertakes research projects to test them. The Institute's end-product is ideas, knowledge and relationships: these help companies, designers, and researchers improve their capacity for innovation.
The Institute was established in 1993 as an independent foundation which receives core funding from the Dutch government. Its building, the former Fodor Museum on Keizersgracht, is provided by the City of Amsterdam. A full-time staff of eleven people supports the research, manages projects, and ensures that ideas and information are disseminated. The Institute is an international meeting point between design, industry and culture.
