Designer Days
Week-long design fests hit London, Copenhagen and Helsinki
Says Ben Evans, director of the London Design Festival: “In times of adversity design should be bold and ideas-driven.” Providing designers, manufacturers, students and consumers with a chance to meet and network, this year’s Festival takes up residence for the first time in the Victoria & Albert Museum. A 200-event programme of exhibitions, showcases, seminars, product launches, private views and parties will be spread throughout London, including Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, the Southbank Centre, Earl’s Court, the West End and the Design Museum.
London Design Festival, Sep 19-27, www.londondesignfestival.com
The first international Copenhagen Design Week presents what it calls ‘design that matters to society and the environment’ - ideas, concepts, products and services which they say will come to play an important role in your professional and private life. A prelude to the UN Climate Conference taking place in Copenhagen in December, the 11-day programme aims to highlight the positive role design can play in inspiring companies and individuals.
Copenhagen Design Week, Aug 27-Sep 6, www.copenhagendesignweek.dk
Like their Danish neighbours, the Finns talk about design like other people talk about food or sex. So what is it with Scandinavians and design? A common explanation is their harsh climate, the theory being that people are forced to spend so much time indoors during the long, dark winter months that they avoid going stir-crazy by surrounding themselves with interior design beauty. Today Finnish designers have turned their eye to everything from forklift trucks, watches and crash helmets to bicycles, trains and running shoes. The Helsinki Design Week is a city-wide festival which leaves residents and visitors in no doubt of the Finns’ desire to design the world in their image.
Helsinki Design Week, Sep 4-13, www.helsinkidesignweek.com