Celebrating ten years since Helsinki was named the World Design Capital in 2012, we welcome a brand new B2B fair for Finnish and nordic design, Design Helsinki.
Featuring a versatile programme for design, Design Helsinki will take place in various locations in and around Helsinki, including a topical Talks programme in the Design Museum, an international pavilion in Kasarmitori, installations in Esplanadi park as well as within multiple resident design showrooms. The fair will also celebrate the area’s local design showrooms who will welcome architects, designers, dealers, retailers and more to experience the best of Nordic and Scandinavian design.
Design Talks 24.-25.8. At the Design Museum
Design Talks are held at the Design Museum’s auditorium in the second floor. Please register to the Design Helsinki fair to attend the talks. Register to Design Helsinki here.
24 Aug 2022
Bernadotte & Kylberg
11:00 – 11:45
Bernadotte & Kylberg is a Swedish design agency founded in 2012 by Prince Carl Philip Bernadotte of Sweden, and Oscar Kylberg. Working for renowned domestic and international brands, their conviction is that good design is about functional simplicity in everything from the choice of materials to shape and colour. They see their task as questioning how we use and look at an object, thereby creating innovative design that lasts for generations. Hear their story from royal roots to ice hotels.
Speaker: Oscar Kylberg, CEO and Co-Founder – Bernadotte & Kylberg
Biodiversity in an Urban Environment
12:00 12:45
An exploration of nature-culture relations and encounters between humans and animals in urban spaces. Based upon the ‘Alusta pavilion’ built on the courtyard of Helsinki’s Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture, which functions as a platform for environmental discourse, both on the level of its form and materiality, and the different activities which take place there. The talk is held in the Alusta Pavilion, located in the museum yard between the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture. In case of bad weather, the talk will be moved indoors.
Speakers: Maiju Suomi, Architect (MSc), doctoral candidate, educator, Elina Koivisto, Educator, Writer, Architect, Aalto University & Piia Lehtinen, Head of Collaboration & Marketing at Design Museum Helsinki
13:00 – 13:45
A discussion of two key projects in Helsinki city, and how sustainability of design was taken into consideration.
Chairperson: Thomas Jelley, Founder – Bright Blu Dot
Speakers:
Juho Grönholm, Principle – ALA Architects
Teemu Kurkela, Founder & Creative Partner – KJMM Architects (Amos Rex Project)
Henna Helander, President – SAFA (Finnish Association of Archiects
Design for Every Body
14:00 – 14:45
Participate in an active discussion and tour of the Design Museum’s main exhibition, highlighting the interconnection between design and equality in the past century. The tour and discussion is guided by Anna-Maija Karjalainen ja Irina Kreer-Boulay.
Helsinki as World Design Capital – 10 years on
15:00 – 15:45
A discussion and informative perspective of a design capital 10 years on, since being crowned World Design Capital. Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer at the City of Helsinki will discuss the subject of strengthening Helsinki’s profile as a design city, highlighting times of difficulties to enhancing our city centre by bringing design to the public forefront.
Chairperson: Jessica-Christin Hametner, Editor – ICON
Speaker: Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer – City of Helsinki
Are you sitting comfortably?
16:00 – 16:45
The chair is often perceived as a status symbol and one’s position in a place of work or in their home. Using ‘empathy in design’ might change our perception of an object, leading us to connect in a different way. Sympathy involves understanding from your own perspective yet empathy involves putting yourself in the other person’s shoes. Experience the empathetic stories of 4 designers/users and their chair. In becoming aware of the root cause of why the chair was designed as it was, we can better understand and connect with design, move towards a circular economy and away from a throw-away culture.
Chairperson: Hanna Laikola, Brand & Showroom Manager – Design Helsinki
Speakers:
Antti Hirvonen, Founder & CEO – Vaarnii
Carl Jemtelius, Regional Manager Nordics – MillerKnoll
Tapio Anttila, Designer & Co Founder – Tapio Anttila Collection
Oscar Kylberg, CEO and Co-Founder – Bernadotte & Kylberg
25 Aug 2022
Tom Dixon in Conversation with Jessica-Christin Hametner
11:00 – 11:45
British Designer Tom Dixon is widely considered to be one of the world’s most influential creative minds. Speaking to ICON Editor Jessica-Christin Hametner, Tom discusses his journey to date, from self-taught, entrepreneurial designer in the 1980’s, to Creative Director of his progressive and infamous design studio.
Chairperson: Jessica-Christin Hametner, Editor – ICON
Speaker: Tom Dixon, Creative Director – Tom Dixon
Reimagine
12:00 – 12:45
Laura Sarvilinna who is the Creative Director of Habitare will be speaking to OnOffice Editor Kaye Preston, to discusses the Era of Imagination. New things cannot emerge without the ability to imagine what they could be.
Chairperson: Kaye Preston
Speakers: Laura Sarvilinna, Creative Director – Habitare
The Office, for better or for worse?
13:00 – 13:45
How the pandemic changed our approach to working and how it has affected our choice of furniture, material and lighting. How has this bought wellbeing and biophilia to the forefront in our daily working environments.
Chairperson: Kaye Preston
Speakers:
Eeva Niemelä – Naava
Anna Tiula, Interior Designer – Helsinki Interiors
Colour talk
14:00 – 14:45
A conversation and insight into colour use.
Speakers: TBA
The Designer, as a Producer
15:00 – 15:45
The Poiat Studio are a remarkable example of the global trend where more and more designers around the world have taken on their own hands-on sales and marketing and have embarked boldly on their own paths. Poiat Studio will discuss their journey to date and offer practical advice and insight for those wanting to build a successful design studio.
Speakers:
Jenni Mikkonen, Head of Sales / CEO – Poiat Furniture
Timo Mikkonen, Head of Design / co-founder – Poiat Studio
Antti Rouhunkoski, Head of Interiors / co-founder – Poiat Studio
