The National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny is presenting contemporary Nordic design 27 March-17 May 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kilkenny Design Workshops. As part of the Nordic Effect, the Views on Clay exhibition shows work from a varied group of Finnish designers.

Views on Clay gathered together a group of designers and invited them to articulate their ideas about clay in whatever way they chose. For some, this was an opportunity for creative expression, for others it was a chance to investigate their design process in a new medium. Many brought their understanding of other processes and materials to bear, resulting in new and innovative ways of working with clay. Views of Clay was part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme and was originally shown in the Design Museum in Helsinki.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Kilkenny Design Workshops (KDW), a visionary state-sponsored design agency set up in response to the 1961 Scandinavian Report on Irish design. Finnish design has long traditions with the KDW with Kaj Franck taking part in the workshops 1963.

The Finnish Institute in London and The Finnish Embassy in Ireland supported Views on Clay .

The exhibition will be complemented by a programme of seminars and events. Please see the website for the programme information.