Master's students at the Design Academy Eindhoven staged a protest during the opening of the school's graduation exhibition, demanding action against overcrowded facilities. Demonstrators gathered at the entrance to the design school show on Saturday, turning the school's showcase event into a stage for their grievances.

In an open letter to the board posted on October 9, the students say they have been given what they call a derisory amount of space in which to develop their projects — an inequity they argue is damaging coexistence, motivation and ultimately the quality of their work. Their demands include a maker space, a dedicated table and chair for every student, longer workshop hours, access to basic amenities such as bathrooms and electricity, and financial transparency around the school's space expansion. With external studio space rented at students' own expense, the letter describes the situation as a form of economical segregation. It has gathered 178 signatures so far.

The letter adds that the concerns were repeatedly raised last year through student representatives and again in the first weeks of the academic year. The students write that they feel abandoned, mistreated and surprised at the lack of interest from the school in providing an environment where quality work can be produced.

The Design Academy, founded in 1947 and housed in Eindhoven's Witte Dame, a former factory complex, is facing a move: its lease ends in 2027, and after briefly considering Roermond, the board announced a new home in the Kanaalzone district, with relocation planned for September 2028. In the meantime, students say the interim squeeze is untenable. According to a post on Dezeen's Instagram, executive board chair Raf De Keninck said the school had taken steps to minimise disruption during the move and expressed confidence that students and staff would devise a solution.