Some invited artists include photographer Kirmo Ekholm, fashion designer Kirsi Nisonen and graphic designer Sakke Soini. C O R D
SOME OF THE
best designers in the world will be on display in Helsinki during the sixth annual Helsinki Design Week. The usability was a driver in design. "I am always excited about the new ones which have not been tested before. The earplug light system is an example of high-tech, functional design. "Look for the Helsinki Design Week Magazine which should be easily spotted in Helsinki cafés and shops, or go to our website," he says. One of these is the Windows Installations in a dozen design shops, galleries and cafés." In Window Installations, local display windows are given over to artists and designers to create works to be viewed from the streets of Helsinki. International connections are a must for all designers and most of the companies in the fragmented markets." International design will be exhibited in the wideranging DesignPartners100. There are a variety of events aimed at specific fields of design. Events will be held all over the city, but the main venue will be the 53,000 square metre Cable Factory in Ruoholahti.
Dozens of events "There are quite a few events that I want to explore," says Kari Korkman, director of the event. One of the objects on display is the Valkee NPT1000 earplug light system designed by Antti Aunio and Juuso Nissilä.
DAV I D J . "We saw anything useless to be without value. People who love architecture might go to the OpenHouseHelsinki tours. I am looking for some inspiring performances, as among many others one of my absolute favourite artists Riitta Ikonen takes over the My o My window at Aleksanterinkatu." Another event the director is looking forward to is The End of the Story: Future at the Cable Factory. This includes objects from architecture, industrial design, furniture, textiles and web design. "We think we can provide solutions to numerous mood disorders and neurological diseases."
AINO HUOVIO
International exposure Special attention has been given to making Helsinki Design Week a global affair. Last year almost 15,000 people went to this closeout sale. What is unusual about the device is that
the light is applied through ear pieces. It then was approved for use as a medical device and is currently on sale on the Valkee company website. As the economy is global we also have to act globally. Even some of the events have an international flavour, such as PechaKucha. For example, those who are interested in fashion could go to DIY Fashion, which showcases self-
taught fashion designers. This year the tours will be going to various houses of worship, underground Helsinki, harbours and foreign embassies. The city-wide event kicks off in Seurasaari with the public introduction of the new building Kalevala Cradle. HELSINKI TIMES
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26 AUGUST 4 10 MARCH 2010 1 SEPTEMBER
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Telling the story of design
Helsinki Design Week showcases some of the most creative minds in the world today.
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OVVN fashion show at Design Market last year.
refers to the chattering sound of conversation, and in the event each speaker has to distil a message into 20 seconds and 20 photos. Each installation conveys the concept of storytelling, as envisaged by the individual artist. "In the future we will continue our work in design, technology and science," he says. Helsinki Design Week runs from 26 August to 5 September. International designers have been invited and special joint projects are in the works, such as with Dutch Design Week. "It is a great opportunity for the new generation to become part of Helsinki Design Week and vice versa," explains Korkman. "You just insert the bright light headset into your ears and press the button!" says Nissilä. Korkman has a bit of advice for first-time visitors to the event. Korkman is also excited about Night of the Arts on 27 August. It went through clinical trials in cooperation with the University of Oulu and achieved promising results. At 22:00 the installations have to be ready. "The artists
AINO HUOVIO
Director of the Helsinki Design Week Kari Korkman.
and designers take position and the audience are watching them work," he says. Also, we had remarkable functional requirements for technical performance due to the Medical Device Directive. "They only have five hours to do their pieces of art. "We want to build long-lasting collaborations with our colleagues abroad by linking Design Weeks with each other. "In designing the Valkee NPT1000 we were looking for something highly usable and that straightforwardly communicated design through functionality," explains Nissilä. He is also looking forward to seeing new ideas and meeting potential partners. In the Japanese language pecha kucha
In PechaKucha each speaker has to distil a message into 20 seconds and 20 photos.
Helsinki Design Week When: 26 August-5 September Where: The Cable Factory, Design District and elsewhere around Helsinki What: Storytelling of design www.helsinkidesignweek.com. Be open-minded and go to places you perhaps normally would not."
Light therapy through ears The remarkable device utilises light therapy to combat depression and seasonal affective disorder. In this event on 3 September, young artists who are not yet part of the established industry display a product or work which represents the theme of storytelling. The theme this year is storytelling, so many of the events tell the story behind the creations, processes and products of design. We think we were able to combine technical requirements and design philosophy in one honest form." Nissilä wanted to participate in Helsinki Design Week so he could be present in an arena where top products are introduced. This made extensive demands for materials used, thickness, electrical insulation and ease of use. "Internationalisation is often viewed as a one-sided export activity, but it needs to involve bringing new ideas and skills onto our native soil as well," says Korkman. That seems to come out quite naturally for us. Shoppers might like Design Market, a popular clearance sale for design products. "Check the Event Calendar and explore the various venues. It looks similar to an MP3 player and only weighs 60 grams