Tiia Vanhatapio's 5 Years Jubilee Fashion Show

Tiia Vanhatapio is a very famous Finnish designer, also known as "The Queen of Cocktail Dress". I've always admired her style. Her products have a unique look: they are powerful and fatal but still very feminine. The dresses are for a self-confident stylish woman who is bold and fears nothing. Like Dita von Teese, who has inspired Tiia in her designs, and who also wears Tiia's designs!

Tiia Vanhatapio's 5 years jubilee fashion show was held on thursday 26/8 in Hotel Katajanokka's inside yard in Helsinki. The place brought it's own special feature to the fashion show: the estate is a former prison!

So, where there used to be prisoners wondering around, this evening the yard was conquerd by models presenting the wonderful Tiia Vanhatapio design dresses. And us, the viewers.

The show began with wedding gowns:

And continued with cocktail dresses:

Helsinki Design Week Events vol 2

Check out also these events on Helsinki Design Week:

Fashion Photo Helsinki
Design Museum, Korkeavuorenkatu 23
Free entry
Fri 27/8 - Sun 19/9
tue 11:00 - 20:00
wed - sun 11:00 - 18:00
Through the interpretation of Daniela Talvitie, a Brazilian fashion photographer, Fashion Photo Helsinki presents the audience with the hottest Finnish fashion. By mixing fashion with familiar urban spaces, the exhibition creates new world views in presenting top Finnish designers.
Fashion Photo Helsinki will premiere within the distinguished walls of the Design Museum during Helsinki's Night of the Arts on 27 August 2010.

Glass Design Update
Design Forum
Erottajankatu 7
Free entry
Fri 27/8 - Sun 19/9
mon - fri 10:00 - 19:00
sat 10:00 - 18:00
sun 12:00 - 17:00
Aalto University, School of Art and Design opened the touring exhibition Glass Design Update in Autumn 2009 as a part of Tokyo Designers Week. The selected participants are 13 MA degree students and professional young designers. Their fields are not only glass design but also painting, architecture, furniture design and product design.

FINLAND'S WORLD EXPO 2010 PAVILION FEATURED AT DESIGN FORUM
Design Forum
Erottajankatu 7
Free entry
Tue 1/6 - Sun 5/9
mon - fri 10:00 - 19:00
sat 10:00 - 18:00
sun 12:00 - 17:00
During the summer, the Finnish pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and its content will be featured in an exhibition at Design Forum Finland. This miniature exhibition will present the pavilion, designed by JKMM Architects, and its design exhibition, created by the Muotohiomo agency. The showing at Design Forum has been designed by Mari Relander of Muotohiomo.
Opened to the public in the beginning of May, the pavilion at the World Expo 2010 presents a broad selection of Finnish design to the Chinese public. The World Expo's theme, Better City – Better Life, is an opportunity to display Finnish skills and know-how through the immediate human environment and the objects and artifacts of everyday life, an area of design in which Finland has always been prominent. In addition to the exhibition at Design Forum Finland, Finland at the World Expo 2010 is also presented on the Internet at www.finlandatexpo2010.fi.

Finnish Architecture 0809
Suomen rakennustaiteen museo
Kasarmikatu 24
Wed 9/6 - Sun 26/9
tue 10:00 - 16:00
wed 10:00 - 20:00
thu - fri 10:00 - 16:00
sat - sun 11:00 - 16:00
The biennial survey presents pickings from the leading edge of current Finnish architecture. This time the numerical emphasis is on housing and offices, but represented are also production plants, buildings for culture, education and infrastructure, and town planning projects. In addition to architectural quality, the works selected are united by their carefully considered relation to their context: culture, time and place. Besides new buildings, on display are some renovations.

Myötätuulessa - Helsinki Horizon 2030
Laituri
Narinkka 2
Fri 11/6 - Sat 4/9
tue - fri 10:00 - 18:00
sat 12:00 - 16:00
The Myötätuulessa (Fair Wind) exhibition unfurls the transformation of the old Helsinki seaport areas to future residential areas.

Multicoloured Dreams -Street Art Worksite
Available 24/7
Free entry.
Thu 26/8 - Sun 5/9
Multicoloured Dreams turns plywood fences of selected Helsinki worksites into street art galleries. The idea is to bring art to the streets and to create a more interesting and lively city environment.
Locations: the fences of Parliament House, Stockmann, Kluuvi and Makkaratalo.

UT Zero Energy House
Fredrikintori
Available 24/7
Free entry
Thu 26/8 - Sun 5/9
Next year a group of American universities will take part in the Solar Decathlon competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy. The aim of the competition is to design and build a zero-energy house. One of the teams participating in the competition is from the University of Tennessee. The team has designed and built a house in cooperation with interior design students from Helsinki’s Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. They have been asked to create the lighting and interior design for the house.
During the Helsinki Design Week, there is an opportunity to visit the house through an experiential exhibition at Fredrikintori. Big screens will show the team’s progress, from its first test house to the actual UT Zero Energy House that will participate in the competition. The story can be followed from a café in Fredrikintori in an atmosphere created by lighting specifically designed for the event. A platform will be built at the location with umbrellas hanging above which will aid the atmospheric lights.

Is it real?
Kamppi subway station,
Exhibition follows subway stations timetable.
Free entry.
Thu 26/8 - Sun 5/9
The unexpected events in everyday passageways - patterns forming on solid surfaces, seats in subway blooming…
The prints designed by the textile students are displayed in Kamppi subway station and subway train during Helsinki Design Week 2010.
“Is it real?” has been created in cooperation with Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, HKL, HSL and Pixmill Oy.

Kalevalakehto Opening
Southern tip of Seurasaari island, Helsinki
Thu 26/8 at 18.00 - 22.00
In August 26, the Kalevalakehto will open in Seurasaari; designed and built by American and Finnish students of architecture and design, it is inspired by the Kalevala as a modern design. The project will be located at Seurasaari, a natural place removed from the bustle of Helsinki, yet at its heart, a nexus of folklore, culture, and nature. What better place to create a 'legacy marker' to call forth all that makes Helsinki unique in the modern world: a crossroads of innovative ideas and networks, ancient mythology, and deep-rooted culture, with a strong legacy of modern design.
2009’s MyHelsinki project fostered the connection to Travis Price Architects and the Spirit of Place-Spirit of Design university design-build expedition program, which for fifteen years has brought architecture students to create meaningful places to echo and celebrate the most ancient cultural lyrics of place within a modern design. All the creations were at remote sites as diverse as the mountains of Machu Picchu to the rugged west coast of Ireland to the sacred sites of Nepal.
Spirit of Place-Spirit of Design stirred a heartfelt resonance in Helsinki, steeped in its deep ancestral mythology, the Kalevala, while celebrating its identity as a world-class design city. The timing of the Kalevalakehto is ideal with the foundation of Aalto University, and the celebration of Helsinki as 2012 World Design Capital.
Guidance to the site starts on the bridge of Seurasaari at 5.30pm. The opening ceremony starts on the site at 6 pm.

Tiia Vanhatapio 5 Year Jubilee Showcase!
Hotel Katajanokka, Merikasarminkatu 1a
Free entry.
Thu 26/8 - Thu 26/8 at 19.00
Tiia Vanhatapio's five-year jubilee catwalk show at Hotel Katajanokka courtyard. Presenting the best of her best!

Windows Installations
Confirmed locations inside event.
Free entry.
Opening times may vary.
Fri 27/8 - Sun 5/9 at 17.00 - 21.00
Windows Installations is multiple venue exhibition across downtown Helsinki. Artists and designers are being commissioned to create a piece for the participating shop windows based around the theme of Storytelling, allowing art to temporarily take over these traditionally commercial spaces.
Open times will vary depending on the shop, but the installations should be viewable through the windows even if the shop is closed.
Find out more here: http://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/designmarket/event/8/77---windows-installations

HIT happens!
Design Forum
Erottajankatu 7
Free entry
Fri 27/8 - Sun 19/9
mon - fri 10:00 - 19:00
sat 10:00 - 18:00
sun 12:00 - 17:00
John Void, Kamui, Kaamos. An energetic exhibition from three design groups. On display is furniture designed for use and living.

ilusion 2010 -exhibition
Remanderin talo, Aleksanterinkatu 16-18
Opening 27.8, 20-24
Free entry.
Sat 28/8 - Sun 12/9 at 12.00 - 20.00
Illusion 2010 exhibition displays most interesting visual designs used in Finnish theatre during last couple of years.
Exhibition is a collaboration between The Union of Finnish Scenographers and Association of Finnish sound and lighting designers.

Eat&Joy Farmers Market at Harri Koskinen's studio
Saariniemenkatu 8 D
Free entry
Sun 29/8 at 12.00 - 18.00
Designer Harri Koskinen opens his studio to the public together with the Eat&Joy Farmers' Market and HarriKoskinenWorks = food and design from Finnish small producers!

Helsinki Design Week Events

Helsinki Design Week is been held on 26. Aug - 5. Sept 2010 for the sixth time. The theme of this year's HDW is storytelling. I was looking through the events on HDW and here's some of my picks:

Design Market 0n Sat 28/8 - Sun 29/8 at 11:00-17:00 in Kaapelitehdas.
"The Design Market is a design-warehouse sale where companies and designers sell their items, end-of-stock pieces, prototypes, display items and test runs - sometimes at a mere fraction of the retail price."
You can find the participants here: http://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/news/25-design-market

Creative Space of Madeby, exhibition on Sat 28/8 - Sun 29/8 and Fashion Show on Sat 28/8
"Eleven showrooms will be opened on the balcony of the Cable Factory during the Helsinki Design Market. You will see the collections of the following designers:
Special guests: Antti Asplund // Dead Birds & Lionheart // Marita Huurinainen // Jolier
Also: Tyra Therman // Kaipaus // Laskowscy Design // Rantakoski Design // First Crush by Mari Himmanen // Aino Bergman // I Made This by Tiina Palm
Exhibitors: Maria Baranova // Alan Hogan // Tiina Palm"
See more info: http://www.madeby.fi/

Liike - Tenth Anniversary Fashion ShowCable Factory Thu 2/9 at 19.00
"In the spring of 2000, Liike, a display window for the new wave of Finnish fashion design, was born. At Liike, the clothes are sold by the Finnish designers who have created them. Some of the brands have changed over the years, but the main idea has prevailed.
The tenth anniversary fashion show displays the summer 2011 collections together with a collaborative collection from the Liike designers - in cooperation with MASI Company. See more info: http://www.liike-shop.com/"

The exhibitions Wed 1/9 - Sat 4/9 (1/9 invitation only):
All exhibitions can bee seen by 7,5/5 € entrance fee
wed - fri 11:00 - 23:00
sat 11:00 - 17:00

ITE-muoti: Self-Taught Fashion
"During this past spring, Kuukausiliite (the monthly paper supplement within the Helsingin Sanomat), along with the Union of Rural Education and Culture and Helsinki Design Week, began to collect Finnish ITE-muoti (Self-Taught Fashion) – fashion designed and made by Finns. The criteria was measured by novelty value, creativity and inventiveness. There was no age limit or a requirement for education in the field of design.
The works were evaluated by a panel that included Kari Korkman, the Director of Helsinki Design Week, Liisa Heikkilä-Palo, the Director of Cultural Affairs from the Union of Rural Education and Culture, Noora Niinikoski, a stylist and Marimekko designer, Sanna Tuominen, Product Manager from Kuukausiliite and Liisa Jokinen, a Kuukausiliite contributor and freelance reporter.
Forty-five of the most unique fashion pieces made it through to a qualifying round, and from there a further cull was made to select the cream of the crop, which will be displayed during Helsinki Design Week at the Cable Factory’s Merikaapelihalli. Those deemed to be the best pieces were also styled for a fashion article published in the August edition of Kuukausiliite."
I read the article on Kuukausiliite and am very ambitious to  see the creative solutions of ITE-fashion!

Brainport Design For Happy LivingCable Factory
"The Dutch Brainport Design display for the Happy Living exhibition brings together a cross-section of creations from our sister design city, Eindhoven, to the Cable Factory.
Brainport combines conceptual and industrial design, whilst emphasizing the significance of the products themselves. The 12 Brainport concepts will include Kiki van Eijk’s Soft Series which tempts the sense of touch, Bobike’s bicycle saddle which is clearly made for everyday use, and finally, Soundsteps, which offers an alternative to children’s computer games. Brainport raises an important question − whose job is it to make the city happy? See more: http://www.designconnectionbrainport.nl/"
Eindhoven was the competiting city for World Design Capital 2012, and a rumour says that the famous trend guru Li Edelkoort was her share on the campaign of Eindhoven. I'm very eager to see design news from the design city of Neatherlands!

FreeDOM OF CreATION’S 10-YeAr ANNIVerSArY exHIBITIONCable Factory
"Design company Freedom of Creation is celebrating its 10th year in business. FOC is a pioneer in the use of 3D printing technology in the design industry. Janne Kyttänen and his team create computer models that can then go into production anywhere in the world.
FOC’s 3D design has produced lamps, furniture, interior decoration solutions, iPhone cases and pretty much everything else we see have seen in 3D.
FOC’s exhibition at the Cable Factory will not only be a 10-year retrospective of the company, but also a look back at the entire history of 3D technology. See more: http://www.freedomofcreation.com/"
If it's been there for 10 years it's not a novelty anymore, but I want to learn about the technique and see what kind of products they have accomplished using it!

Tales about European Fashion and design Cable Factory, Merikaapelihalli (auditorium) Wed 1/9 at 13.00 - 17.00 
"Where are the roots of European fashion and design? Where are new ideas generated and how do they expand? How can Europe profit from its rich cultural heritage when creating stronger economic well-being?
"Tales about European fashion and design" is a seminar arranged by the European Cultural Foundation Network of Finland. Speakers from Finland and abroad are called on to analyse the context of European fashion and design from historical and present viewpoints."
I'm so there!

HÄ? — Finnish-Chinese visual dictionaryCable Factory
"First there is confusion, which is followed by understanding. In each image of the HÄ? — Finnish-Chinese visual dictionary, something Finnish is combined with the equivalent Chinese character. The name HÄ? — a Finnish expression of amazement — reflects the theme.
Kasino Creative Studio’s HÄ? is influenced by old Chinese visual dictionaries in which language is taught to children with drawings. The simple execution of the imagery opens up big, relevant themes, such as education and understanding foreign cultures. The visual dictionary is a way of presenting both Finnish and Chinese culture in a way that crosses cultural and lingual barriers.
The visual dictionary is created by the internationally awarded Kasino Creative Studio in association with Shanghai-based artist Pan Jianfeng, who designed the Chinese characters. Kasino Creative Studio's team consists of creative director Pekka Toivonen, scriptwriter Tero Kartastenpää, photographer Jussi Puikkonen and editor Jonathan Mander. The HÄ? — Finnish-Chinese visual dictionary is produced as part of the Finland at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai project and supported by Finpro and Music Export Finland."
This sounds so interesting that I have to find out more..!

The End Of The Story: FutureCable Factory
"The End Of The Story: Future event gathers together young artists of the future who are not yet part of the established structures. The event, produced by Helsinki Design Week, was created so that new talents could showcase their skills and become involved in dialog with other designers as well as the general public.
Among the invited artists are graphic designer Sakke Soini, fashion designer Kirsi Nisonen, photographer Kirmo Ekholm and Gorilla Magazine from the field of publication design. The participants were asked to display a product or previous work which represents Helsinki Design Week’s theme of storytelling.The product display can also utilize the exhibition technology of the Cable Factory’s Merikaapelihalli."
I admire Kirsi Nisonen's style, that's why I want to see this! Ok, also because I'm always interested in future visions, too.

These are events me and my camera are going to visit. You can find more events here: http://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/events, go and pick your own favourites!

Turku Design Now! shop in 2011 Kulma

Turku Design Now! (http://www.turkudesignnow.fi/) is a collaboration of ten independent design companies from Turku. Together they have combined their resourcies to gain more visibility and to improve their operations. What combines all of these companies is that all of their products are being designed and hand produced in Finland. The collaboration has existed since 2008.

Turku has been chosen to be the European Culture Capital 2011 (http://www.turku2011.fi/uutiset/design-shop-tuotteet_fi). The city has established an information desk and a meeting point called 2011 Kulma in Turku city center by river Aurajoki (in address Kristiinankatu 1). In 2011 Kulma premeses they offer information linked to the culture year, tickets are been sold to the events, and also they have a café and a Design Shop there. Turku Design Now! group sells their products for three months in Kulma 2011 Design Shop. Here are a few examples on what is being presented in the shop.

Entrance of the shop

The overall look of the store

Woodloop

Woodloop (http://www.woodloop.fi/) is a company started up by an architect and designer in wood Tero Pelto-Uotila. The company produces design items made of wood, such as furnitures and wall rugs, but also body care products. In 2011 Kulma shop there was presented these Kuura body care product which is for washing, peeling and massage of the body and skin. Kuura is complitely made of wood, which has been processed harsh by strong water shower to brake the surface of the wood. The invention is protected with a patent.

Kuura body washer

On the wall just next to the entrance there was on display a wall rug by Woodoo. The surface of the wall rug is processed the same way than on Kuura washer, and the harsh look fits both the products very well. This wall rug has a very contemporary look and I believe it doesn't only create modern yet warm look to a space, but it also isolates voices a bit. I personally like the way that tradition (material and function of the products) and modernism (form and design) is been combined in these products.

A wall rug by Woodloop

Klo Design

Klo Design (http://klodesign.fi/) is a design company, which is formed by young designers from different branchies of design. The company's collection includes furniture, interior textiles and accessories. I really liked the look of these products. I think the products looked very fresh and youthful and the textile pattern designs were the same time modern and timeless. To me this is the way of contemporary Finnish textile design.

Klo Design's fresh-looking decorative pillow cases.

Kui Design

The landscape of Turku was presented very well in the design products of Kui Design (http://www.kuidesign.com/). The young designers Rebekka Ketola and Anna Hormio are clearly very proud of their home town as they have illustrated charasteristic places of Turku in their textiles. Personally I'm not sure if I'd like to have a pillow or bag that says Turku because it's not my home town. But I liked the graphic look on these products very much! The also liked the way that the designers had included places from their home town to the products: they had used the grid plan and the silhuettes of charasteristic buildings of Turku ogenher on the prints. Maybe tha picture is enough? I think if the word "Turku" wasn't stated in these products, they might have even more commercial potential? My favourite print was the picture of "Föri", a ferry that carries pedestrians and bikers across Aura river. And I think the illustration worked perfectly n it's own, without any text.

Föri print

Punainen Norsu

Punainen Norsu (http://www.punainennorsu.com/) is a collection of children's wear made mostly of recycled materials. I loved the fabrics which have a popular retro-look, and the products design which I found very timeless. But what I liked most in these products was how child-like they were. I think they encourage for safe carefree childhood rather than offer trendy tank tops for small children. Pay attention to the display: the products hand from a branch of a tree! In my opinion this display strategy in very well in line with the design of the products.

Punainen Norsu's colourful children's wear

Tonfisk Design

The slogan of  Tonfisk Design (eng. "Tuna Fish Design") is: "Form follows function doesn't mean alla objects have to look the same". The Tonfisk Design's (http://shop.tonfisk-design.fi/PublishedService?&frontpage=true) products have their own unique form and design, but at the same time they have brilliant functional solutions in their products, too! For example in Newton milk & sugar set the sugar cup is on the top of the milk jug. The mechanism is based on gravity. While you tip the milk jug, the sugar bowl remains level. Beautiful form is combined with a functional design idea! All og the products are been produced in a ceramic factory in Turku.

Newton by Tanja Sipilä proves gravity! Included Metropolitan Home magazine's DESIGN 100 best of the best list.

The WARM range by Brian Keany was included in Wallpaper magazine's list of "A decade of Design".

Kasvu, an extendable vase by Brian Keany

WooDoo Design

WooDoo Design (http://www.woodoodesign.fi/etusivu.php) is a design office that designs and produces interior design products and furniture, but also designs interiors and fair departments. In 2011 Kulma shop was on desplay some of their products. WooDoo Design's products are made of wood, metal and glass, which are perfect for the contemporary, clear-lined and functional essence of these products.

All and all, in my opinion the range of design products in Turku Design Now! shop represented very high quality of contemporary Finnish Design. Turku Design Now! -group's products are been sold there from the beginning of July untill the end of September. So there's still some left time to visit!

Lasipalatsi Design Markets in Helsinki 4.-7.8.2010

Lasipalatsi Design Markets (http://designmarkets.lasipalatsi.fi/index.php/in-english) was held in Helsinki city center on 4.-7.8. It's an event which brings together young Finnish designers to present and sell their products to the audience. The event took place in Helsinki city center, just behind Lasipalatsi building. Many of the products were jewellery or accessories, and recycling design was a very strong trend on this market. Here are some of the blogger's pickings from the event.

Best product ideas:

101 Skateboard Jewellery (101sb.tumblr.com) makes jewellery from old skateboards. The jewellery has a layered look because of the the structure of the board.

Youth vs. Future (http://www.youthvsfuture.com/) makes jewellery from feathers. First they dye the feathers, then they add a hardening ingredient and on the top there's a alyer of lacquer. As a result each product is unique.

Tiia Arkko's jewels have a personal message for you: they state you that you are wonderful ("Ihana"), or remind you to breath ("Hengitä").

Uusix (http://www.uusix.fi/) has made rings from old keys. Uusix workshops gives a job opportunity to unemployed. The products are made of recycled materials according to sustainable development and ethics.

Kiertokulku (http://www.kiertokulku.fi/) had made a lamp out of medicine cups. A bit kitch maybe, but I liked it.

 

Sami Rinne Design (http://www.samirinne.fi/) sold ceramic products, for example coffe cups. Even though I found the display of the products to be a bit messy, I think that the products were one of the best design products on the market. Simple and yet powerful.

I really likes the irony on these Hankala's jewels by Petra Hankaniemi (http://www.designoutlet.com/). I think they're perfect for anyone with a broken heart...

Best display innovations:

101 Skateboard Jewellery's (101sb.tumblr.com) products were made of used skateboards, so they were placed on old skateboards - a very perceptual way to communicate on the product ond it's origins.

Keko is a joinment of four different Jewel designers. They had placed their products on painted cake tins. Very innovative! The jewels on this picture are made by Anna Marianne Rintanen (http://annamarianne.blogspot.com/).

Poni Design (http://imlittlepony.blogspot.com/) makes different kinds of jewellery, accessories and decor products. All of their products are hand made in Finland. Their candy jewels were displayed very deliciously.

Creativity is about being able to do things on even when you're on a very low budget. Omstart (http://www.omstart.fi/) had made a display head out of corrugated cardboard to display their secon hand made jewellery. The material is ecological and it fits on a small space after use. A creative idea for the display of ecological second hand made products.

Bird of Passage (http://www.birdofpassage.fi/) is a jewellewry company by Salla Silvonen. She had made display platforms in varying heights by placing a glass on a pile of egg cartongs. The product details were written by hand on the glass. The dark glass offered a better background to the products than the transparent glass, though. But I also liked the fact that she had chosen to only put one piece of every product on display.

The blogger's personal favourites:

Bling Bling But Different (http://blingblingbutdifferent.blogspot.com/) makes broochies made of lace and pictures from books or old photos. And since I love almost anything that's made of lace, I really loved their nostalgic and over-romantic products! Perfect for a vintage style lover like me. And I loved the display - the broochies were displayed on an old silver tray. On the same desk there was displayed also Humbugi's accessories (http://www.humbugi.com/). Humbugi sells bags, purses, damasques and bracelets made of leather. Very feminine, very vintage, very...me!

Don't you just love the graphic design on these Poola Kataryna's products by designer Paula Kasurinen? I know I do! To me, this is almost like a whole design concept: theproducts, hang tags, logos, displays... Everyhting speaks the same language. Even the hangers! In my opinion, this label could have very good commercial opportunities.

Nonodd (http://www.nonodd.fi/fi/Etusivu.html) is a company of two designers, Tanja Aivila and Siri Huovila. Their products are graphical and fresh. Thay gain their inspiration from nature and from Helsinki city life. Perhaps my favourites were the  products with the illustrations of ice breaker Urho. The mass display was very well made.

First Crush (http://www.firstcrush.fi/) gives a whiole new life to old paper as a design item. Designer Mari Himmanen makes bags and jewellery out of laminated paper. I think this is a brilliant concept! The bags were made of old music sheets, maps, comics etc. The products were very well detailled. What a great concept!

About the event
It was obvious tha the companys were closely selected to this happening  which I found very good. Compared to Jyväskylä Design Market (there's a previous posting about this event in this blog), this was a very well organized and advertised event. Many of the companys were small in size, and their products were sold in small series so that a customer can feel that she/he is buying something unique. The organizers had also given effort to the event as a concept. There as a dj's playing music and other happenings in addition to the selling of the products, such as a dance performance. I found this to be was a very positive feature for this happening: it was more than an event, it was an event.

Main themes were ecology, recycling and making by hands

Most of the companies sold products that were made of second hand and recycled materials. Sustainable development in design could be seen as a supporting theme if this event. Some companies were able to make very nice design products by recycling materials, but of course some of the products were more like kitch rather than design.

Kitch or design?

Display in the design markets

Compared to the display in Jyväskylä Design Market, I found the displays of the companies in tis design market very innovative. I loved the fact that the designers had actually put some effort on thinking alternative ways for display. Most of the designers had innovated new ways to present their products, and the idea had often something to do with the idea of the product, so that there was a dialogue between the product and the display strategy. Some companys succeeded in display better than the others. One caution that I made was that the less products there were on display, the better the display usually looked. Especially on products that are minimalistic on their form, I think it would be a good idea to put just one piece of each product on display and have a stock on yhe selling items under the board. When the style of the products is more voluminous, the display strategy can also be accordingly more generous.

However, I found this design event to be a very good stage for young Finnish designers to present their products for the customers. And for the customers if was a great opportunity see a cut through on the products of the young designers. In addition, this was also commercial for Finnish Design aboard, since there were many tourists as visitors.