The major spring exhibition to introduce design pioneers

Spring in the Design Museum will reveal the various sub-sections and meanings of contemporary design on several different levels.

In what way does design meet the challenges and needs of our changing world? How can we have an impact on social problems or improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual through the means of design? The Designworld ‘Design Pioneers’ exhibition, produced by the Design Museum and curated by assistant manager Jukka Savolainen, will look at the different sub-sections of contemporary design and the significance of design at a social, ecological and individual level. Current issues and solution proposals will be examined and revealed through international and domestic concepts, projects, prototypes and completed products.

Taking usability and wellbeing as a starting point, Designworld will continue through critical design to ecological and responsible planning which will be considered from various different perspectives. The exhibition will highlight the significance of new technologies and materials used in contemporary design, explaining in practical terms the design process through the Aalto University 365 Wellbeing Design Exploration and Experimentation (DEE) project. The DEE exhibition space will transform and thrive as the project progresses. Visitors to the museum will have an opportunity to be involved in and be part of the changing work process. Aalto University’s Wood Studio production on the other hand includes the LIINA Transitional Shelter where the visitors to the museum can enjoy a hands-on experience.

Designworld will introduce fresh contemporary design from around the world, in a diverse manner and keeping an open mind. Designs from nearly every continent are to be displayed. Such brilliant names from the design industry as Tord Boontje from Holland, the Campana brothers from Brazil, Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby from England, Yrjö Kukkapuro from Finland and Patricia Urquiola from Italy will be involved. The following organisations and their projects will be among those participating in the exhibition; MIT - Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, EPFL – École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Tongji University from Shanghai. Benetton’s communication research centre FABRICA will bring its changing ”Mobile Museum” to the Design Museum, presenting its current theme entitled ”Future”.

Designworld’s international universities will introduce themselves at the Aalto University Designing for New Realities invitational seminar on 6 March 2012 at the Atheneum Hall in Helsinki. The international guests of the seminar will also be involved in the Designworld event day organised at the Design Museum on 7 March. Read more of the additional Designworld programmes at www.designmuseum.fi