See the Helsinki Design Week 2019 programme here

The largest design event in the Nordics brings hundreds of events targeted at design fans and professionals to Helsinki from 5 to 15 September 2019. The complete programme has now been published.

Following this year’s theme Learning Climate, we’ll introduce large exhibition series and the Climate School. The complete programme has now been published on our website!
See the programme here!

Exhibitions take over Erottaja and Otaniemi

This year the heart of the event is right in the core of Helsinki, in a Neo-Renaissance palace that has been vacant for a few years. Opened for the first time to the public, Erottaja 2 provides an opportunity to borrow books, enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass organic wine, browse the exhibitions and admire the building architecture throughout Helsinki Design Week. In this building we’ll introduce the new players of the Design Diplomacy card game as well as many artworks and installations, including an experimental space by Meiju Niskala and Studio Sotamaa, ceramics by Leena Kouhia and works by Graphic Artist of the Year Lotta Nieminen.

Another exhibition hub can be found in Otaniemi along the metro line to the west. The Designs for a Cooler Planet exhibitions will introduce solutions to support more sustainable lifestyles. Aalto University’s Otaniemi galleries showcase eleven multidisciplinary exhibitions, from future homeware to a carbon-free city district.

As part of the Helsinki Design Week programme, we’ll present the exhibitions of Erik Bruun, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Mert Otsamo and Minna Parikka. Moreover, we’ll celebrate awarded design at the Young Designer of the Year and the Illustrator of the Year exhibitions as well as the Helsinki Design Awards finalists’ exhibition.

Experiences for all senses

The festival provides experiences for all senses: sounds, flavours and visions alike.

Jazztasting – this Learning Climate concert gives us a good taste of big band music; the classics, composition structures, instruments and the orchestra. We’ll also learn about the many related terms and concepts, such as improvisation, themes and dynamics.

During the opening weekend, awarded chef Sami Tallberg – also known as the wild-herb guru of Finland – will whip together a four-course Love Harvest dinner, the ingredients of which have been picked to tickle our appetites and activate our senses.

The “Feel of Wood” or Puu tuntuu exhibition addresses how it feels to touch wood – its presence in our hands and minds. The exhibition visitors can touch and modify some of the artwork.

These topics will be also addressed in the discussion panel 2×2 Talks: Urban Space and Mental Well-being. Organized by Architects Kanttia2 and designers Raven & Wood Agency, this event will dig into the design and construction of urban spaces from the point of view of psychological and emotional wellbeing and health. How does the environment affect our physical, psychological and emotional wellbeing? How do our daily environments support the connection we have to ourselves, other people, the environment, time and energy?

The most popular events continue

The festival programme includes events that have proved very popular during the past years, such as Open Studios that present architecture and design through work spaces and Design Delivered organized in cooperation with Wolt. For the second year in a row, Wolt and HDW highlight artists and designers, allowing people to have their works delivered home using the Wolt order.

Exciting, fast-paced presentation concept PechaKucha and the Design Diplomacy discussions at ambassadors’ residencies invite listeners to challenge their idea of design. The Data-Driven Design Day organized by Helsinki Design Week on 12 September will let us hear top professionals’ ideas and practical advice for utilizing data in design.

Design Market, the largest stock sale event in the Nordic countries on 7 and 8 September, will cover the Print Market, the Vinyl Market by We Jazz Records and the Little Market with design for the youngest members of the family!

Helsinki Design Week’s theme for 2019 “Learning Climate” will show at the markets. When selecting vendors, we are be asking about their production methods in more detail and collecting information about sustainable business. The best practice at sales events is to select the items with care and focus more than ever on quality.

In addition, the Helsinki Design Week programme includes more than 150 events by independent organizers that populate the streets, galleries and stores with design, architecture, fashion and urban planning. There will be discussions, exhibitions, fashion shows, product launches and parties.

HDW pass helps visitors keep track of the programme

The abundant Design Week programme may feel overwhelming to the visitors. In order for everyone to find the events that interest them the most, Helsinki Design Week is deploying a HDW pass. By registering, the visitor receives a wrist band made of soft bamboo and emails about the events, panels and exhibitions of dedicated interest. The pass allows a discount for the tickets to Erottaja 2. Registration starts on 19 August.

See the entire programme here!

Our partners in 2019 include the City of Helsinki, Aalto University, Metsähallitus, Finnish Design Shop, Wolt, Radio Helsinki and Asun.
First photo: Kerttu Penttilä