Objects of Exchange

Campaign
Exhibition
Forecasting
Object

A design research exploring 400 years of cultural exchange between the Netherlands and New York.

by Dutch Invertuals
06.10.2025
Eindhoven, NL 2025

Four centuries ago, Dutch settlers established New Netherland, laying the foundations for New York City and a longstanding Dutch-American connection. Since then, there has been constant exchange, not only in goods, but in ideas, cultural expressions, values, and traditions, tracing the links that connect our shared past, highlighting the diversity and complexity of our shared histories.

Initiated by Dutch Invertuals, Objects of Exchange explores this legacy:

What it means today and how it might shape the future. What can centuries of interaction teach us about how we create, connect, and imagine tomorrow?

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Six designers, three from the Netherlands and three from the United States, were invited to explore the meaning of exchange between these two places. Through lectures, workshops, and museum visits, they shared ideas, learned from each other’s cultures, and examined trade.

Each designer was invited to work with a pure metal, among the earliest widely valued trade commodities. Through design they transformed these materials into stories of exchange. The resulting objects, reflect their dialogue and the search for common ground.

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251017-Dutch_Invertuals-DDW-207-Ronald_Smits — ‘Materials can be a medium of exchange’ by Carlo Lorenzetti

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251017-Dutch_Invertuals-DDW-307-Ronald_Smits — “In an attempt to humanize trading, we need to lay down some ground rules to establish trust between one another.” by Mark Sturkenboom

In a world that often feels divided, Objects of Exchange demonstrates that dialogue, collaboration, and mutual understanding are more important than ever. Listening, learning, and creating together are not just echoes of the past, they are essential for shaping a future that bridges divides.

Beyond the artefacts themselves, a short film offers a glimpse into the collaborative research and conversations with experts and designers that shaped Objects of Exchange.