Entrepreneurs hope that World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 will open up new city spaces for creative opportunities

A lively debate took place on 23 November during the Creative Meeting Place event at Lasipalatsi in Helsinki concerning the opportunities of those working in the creative fields as well as SMEs to involve themselves with World Design Capital Helsinki 2012.

The event was organised by the City of Helsinki Office of Economic Development as part of the Creative Finland project. Both the city authorities and the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 organisation wished to inform these parties of the different ways to participate even if they were not to be part of the official programme. Organisers also wished to hear these parties’ own particular perceptions of how WDC Helsinki 2012 could promote their business operations.

Project Manager Anu Mänttäri who introduced the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme emphasised how important it was for the parties to be actively involved, since WDC Helsinki 2012 especially increases the demand for design and ensuing job opportunities. Next year, Helsinki will be a meeting place for the international design community, which means that networking opportunities with others involved in the industry will be manifold compared to today.

Mr. Henri Kähönen, Business Development Advisor of the City of Helsinki compared the role of WDC Helsinki 2012 to an umbrella under which the city is being developed into a better place to live, work and travel. The city can help by being an enabler, but participation requires creativity and an abundance of ideas.
Mr. Kähönen also emphasises the long term goals of WDC Helsinki 2012. The city wishes to ensure that WDC Helsinki 2012 will lead to something permanent. Now we have an opportunity to determine how Helsinki will appear in 20 to 40 years’ time.

In the opinion of SMEs and those working in the creative fields, it is particularly important to increase the temporary uses of city areas. Temporary spatial solutions will act as a springboard for new entrepreneurship, events and cultural expressions. The joint uses hoped for by these actors will have better chances of being realised through physical operating environments. The most popular contents for the empty spaces were thought to be low threshold studios and workshops.

Food was also on the agenda. The City of Helsinki Development Manager Minna Maarttola explained about the food culture strategy and the new role of the City of Helsinki Wholesale Market in promoting food culture.

Concrete opportunities for taking part were put forward by Suvi Saloniemi whose  Laboratory project will gladly listen to any proposals concerning design and Finnish photography. The project will focus on businesses, audiences and design. Anyone interested can send an email to Suvi Saloniemi at suvi@viewmasters.fi.