Helsinki Design Week Kicks Off

Finland’s largest design event, Helsinki Design Week is dedicated to bringing people closer to design. Under the theme *DO TOUCH!*, this year’s programme offers a vibrant combination of workshops, seminars, exhibitions, fashion shows, installations, shopping opportunities and open-house visits to designer studios, from September 4th to 13th. “Our goal is to attune people to new ideas,” says Kari Korkman, the founder and director of Helsinki Design Week, as the annual event opens its doors for the fifth time, dedicated to bringing design within reach of everyone. “With an open-minded public, designers have an opportunity to get through new ideas,” Korkman explains. He points out that design is always made for a particular purpose, and to be dynamic, the design sector needs a strong backing from accepting consumers. .. Good collaboration between disciplines The common denominator in the Helsinki Design Week programmes is a multi-disciplinary approach to design. “This is where we are unique,” Korkman comments. The programmes gather professionals and the best thinking from a wide range of design-related industries. In doing so, Helsinki Design Week is an image of its home city. According to Korkman, Helsinki offers a good platform to bring together creative forces from a variety of disciplines. Helsinki is optimal by size, allowing all players to be within an easy distance from each other. Also, combining disciplines comes naturally in Helsinki ─ as proof, Aalto University, an “innovation university” slated to go into operation at the beginning of 2010, combines architects and designers with economists and engineers in one institution. “That is our strength in Helsinki, and that is where Helsinki Design Week plays an important role in strengthening further our design sector,” Korkman says. .. Blend of excitement Still the essence of Helsinki Design Week, the multi-disciplinary approach laid the foundation for the week. The week grew out of Korkman’s creation Designpartners, an event where designers partner to solve challenging tasks. He created other signature brands and grouped them together under the Helsinki Design Week umbrella. This year’s Designpartners features the Hot Potatoes workshop, in which designer groups are given new tasks every day and six hours to accomplish them. Other 2009 Helsinki Design Week events include the PechaKuchaNight, featuring inspiring presentations by creative people. The exhibitions include displays of Finnish front-row illustration, work by emerging architects, and new takes on the traditional Finnish Ryijy rug. Helsinki Design Week spreads through the city with special shows, product launches and designer appearances in Design District Helsinki. Helsinki Design Week, September 4th to 13th, 2009