Philips Museum extends exhibition 'Impact through Design' due to success

Eindhoven is inextricably linked to two things: design and Philips. The exhibition "Impact through Design," about the company's design history, brings these two worlds together. After a successful initial period—including a well-attended Dutch Design Week—the Philips Museum is extending the exhibition until August 2026.

The exhibition was originally created to honor Louis Kalff, who joined Philips 100 years ago as its first head of design. Besides being an enormously influential designer (he is responsible for the classic Philips logo, among other things), he is also the co-architect of the Evoluon. But the design stories of modern-day Philips are also extensively explored in this exhibition.

Sara Vincentie, Experiences & Brand Manager at the Philips Museum: "Design is much more than color, shape, and material; it's about creating a better experience for the people who use the product. And Philips continues to do that every day." That's why we believe it's important not only to exhibit Philips' history, but also to share what we're doing today and tomorrow to provide better healthcare for more people. This design exhibition is part of that, but so is our AI exhibition brAInpower, for example.

"We don't just talk about the past, but also about today and tomorrow."

This focus on the present resulted in a successful DDW. Sara: "Philips designers presented their work here all week and the impact of their designs on healthcare. That was a real eye-opener for many visitors. But we also presented the book 'Philips Design: 100 Years of Impact' to the grandchildren of Louis Kalff and Frits Philips, and almost ten thousand people visited Impact through Design and brAInpower. For us, a good reason to keep both exhibitions accessible for the time being."

With the extension of Impact through Design, the Philips Museum's program for 2026 is starting to take shape. HealthLab, an event about healthcare innovations that was attended a few years ago by then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte, is also on the agenda for January. Sara: "Most Eindhoven residents know that the Philips Museum is where Philips began. Fewer people know that we also showcase Philips' future here. And that's just as special."