Weekly Tips: November
Helsinki demonstrates its versatility as a design-friendly city in November. There’s a graphic design seminar, an auction and, of course, a few Christmas enthusiasts preparing for the upcoming festivities.
8 November
13.00–17.00
Culture Factory Korjaamo, Töölönkatu 51
Kuvasto, a Finnish copyright society for artists working in the field of visual arts, and Grafia, the Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland, are organizing an afternoon seminar at Korjaamo for visual artists and designers to share tips related to contract negotiations, pricing and marketing one’s work. The discussions are in Finnish. Speakers include Leena Kisonen and Tony Eräpuro.
Auction 14 November (Preview from 8 to 13 November)
Mastokatu 4-6, Helsinki
After many years, Bukowskis is again arranging a traditional auction. The sales items include rarities in art as well as in design. The masters include Timo Sarpaneva and Paavo Tynell.
15 November
Dipoli, the Kaleva Room, Aalto University, Otaniemi Campus, Espoo
Can we design peace? Aalto University’s annual Ahtisaari Day carries a theme: everyone’s a peacemaker. Conflict resolution and peacemaking are addressed in different ways during the event.
Martti Ahtisaari’s exclusive interview will start the public event in the afternoon. There is a panel discussion in English after the interview. Panelists include Helsinki Festival’s Artistic Director Marko Ahtisaari and researchers from Aalto University’s water management, participatory design and information technology departments. They’ll discuss whether it’s possible to design peace and by which means.
The new building on the Otaniemi Campus, Väre, is worth a visit. It was designed by Verstas Architects. The building’s activities not only target students, but include services such as public cafes, a store and an art collection as well as space for temporary exhibitions and diploma works.
From 15 to 17 November
Kämp Gallery, Pohjoisesplanadi 33
It’s finally here! Garden, a centre for Finnish fashion in Kämp Gallery. Architectural design by Futudesign. The stores include Arela, Samuji, Terhi Pölkki, éNHats, Hálo, R-Collection and Nomen Nescio. The Garden will also feature natural cosmetics store Jolie and concept store TRE ♥ Nide, which houses the Klaus Haapaniemi & Co shop-in-shop. The Garden Room will highlight young designers and up-and-coming talents. During the opening weekend, we can expect all types of programme from Paperi T to Arela knits’ care guidance, a natural lipstick bar and Etana Editions’ children’s book workshop.
20 November 18.00–20.00
The Museum of Finnish Architecture
The Nordic Pavilion exhibition for the Venice Biennale, Another Generosity, addresses the relation between nature and the built environment. It studies new ways to make buildings, highlighting the delicate, often invisible interactions between the built and the natural world. This exhibition is a Nordic joint effort by the Museum of Finnish Architecture, ArkDes of Sweden and Nasjonalmuseet in Norway. Exhibition curator architect Eero Lunden will lead the discussion during the event. More information about the programme will be published soon. Participation fee 10/5/0 €, free of charge with the museum card. The event is in English.
24 to 25 November
11.00–17.00
Exhibition Centre WeeGee
Ahertajantie 5, 02100 Espoo
The Helsinki Design Week festival traditionally starts with the Design Market stock sale. Its Christmas version will now be organized in cooperation with the City of Espoo. In the WeeGee museum lobby, you can buy Christmas presents made by Anno, Field Day, Woodnotes and Brummer & Brummer and others. The most beautiful Christmas wreaths are provided by the Freda Flower Market. Free entrance to all the museums during the weekend!
4 to 5 December
Messukeskus Trade Fair Centre
One of the leading start-up events in Europe, Slush will again bring international companies, inventors, designers and media to Helsinki. Design people will want to see what’s happening on its stage. During the event, we’ll learn from designer Irene Au (Khosla Ventures) and Google’s Bradley Horowitz, among others. They’ll discuss the product design opportunities utilized in their organizations, and new angles to game design will be provided by Kathy Gong (Wafa Games), Roberta Lucca (Bossa Studios) and Martial Valery (oh Bibi), as they ponder, facilitated by Mattias Ljungman (Atomico), on how to add the right amount of creativity and science to storytelling in the digital age.