New Finnish design

  • New Finnish design in its many forms - from interiors to concept design, from fashion to architecture - is one of the focus areas of the Institute's export activities in 2010-2012. The main aim of the programme is to facilitate collaborations between Finnish designers and design events and the key design partners in the UK, especially in London.

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    Image: Designdiscussions.org


    GUEST ARTICLE: DESIGN MATTERS
    Designdiscussions.org - March 27th 2010
    The relationship between design and art has recently been under attention as a number of design events have been held at leading European art venues, such as the 'Design Real' at the Serpentine gallery in London and Carsten Höller's 'The Double Club' at Milan-based contemporary art gallery Fondazione Prada. Many have been left wondering whether they have experienced art, design or something else. Does it matter?

    Read Hanna Harris' article Design Matters in the newly published Designdiscussions.org publication here.


    IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE
    The Finnish insititute in London supported three Finnish artists and designers in If You Could Collaborate, a project where exciting new pairs were brought together to produce surprising collaborative pieces. Designers Jesse Auersalo and Jesse Pietilä worked as an all Finnish team while artist-designer Riitta Ikonen collaborated with British artist Ian Wright. Read more


    NEW WOOD ARCHITECTURE - NESTING ON THE ROOFTOPS OF LONDON
    The Wood Program of the Department of Architecture, Helsinki University of Technology, together with the Finnish Insitute in London, have launched an architectural competition titled ‘The Nest'. The multi-disciplinary wood team will design and build a wooden structure that will be situated on the rooftop of the Finnish Institute in London's building, in Holborn, in the middle of the City of London.

    The Nest will be launched during London Festival of Architecture in June 2010. The project aims to showcase new Finnish wood architecture and network the students, staff and alumni of the future Aalto University internationally. Read more


    EUNIC PRESENTS: IN PRAISE OF SHADOWS
    EUNIC's In Praise of Shadows exhibition showcased works by 20 European designers who imaginatively explore not only the potential of low energy lighting and alternative energy sources, but also the way we think about light and darkness. Read more


    CLOSEUP AT RCA: CELEBRATING EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIPS
    RCA's this years CLOSEUP exhibition focused on people-centred design and European partnerships. Ten years of European collaborative projects between new graduates of the Royal College of Art and industry partners across the European Union in people-centred design were celebrated in a major exhibition during the London Design Festival 2009. Read more


    IDEO INSPIRES AT HELSINKI DESIGN WEEK
    London-based designers Anton Schubert and Nathan Waterhouse from global design consultancy IDEO set up a series of inspirational work shops in the temporary Pop Up HUB Helsinki space during the Helsinki Design Week. The workshops tackled issues ranging from ethical and ecological urban planning to looking at the potential in the city's aging population. Read more


    POP UP HUB HELSINKI - LONDON DESIGN IN HELSINKI
    The Pop Up Hub Helsinki was based on the idea of the famous global Hub community; a network of spaces for inspiration and social innovation.

    The Pop Up Hub Helsinki became a place where design meets social responsibility. For five consecutive days during the Helsinki Design Week the temporary pop up space served as an office, meeting place and a platform for public innovation in Helsinki's central Market Quaters. Read more


    (P)REVIEW BOOK - CAUSING A STIR IN THE GRAPHIC DESIGN WORLD
    The Finnish Institute's annual review book, titled (P)review 2008/2009 captured the attention of the graphic design world. We have been inundated with requests for copies of the book by graphic design teachers and professionals from around the world. The book, designed by the Institute's in-house designer Emmi Salonen, introduces the Institute's wide variety of projects and collaborations - past, present and future. Download pdf for the (P)review 2008/2009 here


    TITIMADAM - 70 RETAILERS AND A SAATCHI COMMISSION IN 8 MONTHS
    Jewellery makers Titimadam are a great testament for how hard work and focus can create opportunities. Partners Tiina Hakala and Adam Rowe, who started Titimadam when still in Uni, have bagged a total of 70 retailers around the world for their distinctive acrylic jewellery and a commission for Saatchi Gallery's Middle Eastern Exhibition in just eight short months. Read more


    2008 BECK'S CANVAS WINNER: RIITTA IKONEN
    Artist Riitta Ikonen’s work, titled 'Let’s Stick Together', won the prestigious 2008 Beck’s Canvas competition. For over 20 years the Beck's bottle has been the canvas for some of the biggest names in contemporary art, including Royal College of Art graduates Tracey Emin and Jake and Dinos Chapman. So this year’s winner, Finnish born artist Riitta Ikonen, was sure to be in good company.
    Read more


    KLAUS HAAPANIEMI CREATED A NEW VISUAL IMAGE FOR THE INSTITUTE
    Internationally succesful designer and illustrator Klaus Haapaniemi had busy year in 2008, but still found time  to create a new visual identity for the Finnish Institute – and came up with an interesting and timeless design to represent the Institute’s national identity. Read more