Playful Finnish design in New York
Kivikko seating, colour and creative functionality for everyday life.
In 1884 New York City established a bustling outdoor food market called the Gansevoort Market. In 1949, the Gansevoort Meat Center opened. Today, the Meatpacking District on the West Side of Manhattan is a destination for fashion and graphic designers, writers, architects, artists and photographers.
Playful New Finnish Design exhibits new creative solutions to everyday challenges. Emphasising quality of life, green solutions and life-long learning, the aim of the forward-thinking designers is to offer insightful solutions under the themes of environment & innovation and creativity & education, themes highlighted by a series of events, a seminar and workshops for both adults and children.
From 15 to 18 May, the exhibition presented design items and concepts from furniture to fashion and video as well as new concepts of architecture and urban planning in building innovative learning environments for children and a Residential Neighbourhood project which points at the role of art in creating socially vibrant urban environments. The event was organised by Design Forum Finland, the Consulate General of Finland in New York and the Finnish Cultural Institute in NY.
At the same time, the Finnish Embassy in Washington D.C. opened the exhibition My Helsinki; based on the stories, impressions and experiences of the Invitation to Helsinki programme participants. The project is a co-operation of the City of Helsinki and the Finnish Embassy in Washington D.C., accomplished by the students of the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. My Helsinki exhibition in Washington runs until 31 May.
Susan Fourtané – Helsinki Times
Designer Ilkka Suppanen for Marimekko
Sameli Rantanen – Image
www.designforum.fi
www.myhelsinki.fi
