4.04.08

Finnish designs take over Meatpacking District during New York Design Week 2008

HARDCORE New Finnish Design will showcase 25 individual design projects and concepts from Finland presented in collaboration with major Finnish design companies. The exhibition will be the centerpiece of Meatpacking District Design Week May 17-19, 2008.

The HARDCORE exhibition combines a curated selection of innovative concepts and projects realized by designers and design companies from Finland and a HARDCORE lounge hosted by major Finnish design companies Iittala, Artek and Marimekko.

The HARDCORE exhibition defines the essence of today’s Finnish design. It gives a timely view on Finland's unique design scene through the eyes of exhibition curator, world renowned designer Ilkka Suppanen. The exhibition underlines the innovative and slightly extreme nature of Finnish design. The presented work focuses on the essence of the specific design problems at hand in their particular context. The designs in the exhibition cover a broad range of design fields from graphic design to fashion and product design. The exhibition also highlights Helsinki as an innovative design capital of Scandinavia.

The projects included in the curated section of the exhibition are by Noa Bembibre, Fokus Fabrik, Jaana and Päivi Haaksiluoto, Kokoro & Moi, koneHelsinki, Harri Koskinen (Genelec), Yrjö Kukkapuro and Henrik Enbom (Saas Instruments), Janne Kyttänen (Freedom of Creation), Hannu Kähönen (Creadesign), Mikko Laakkonen (Selki-Asema, Covo), Kristiina Lassus (Alessi), Arihiro Miyake, Mikko Paakkanen (Saas Instruments), Pentagon Design (Tikkurila), Provoke Design, Anne Kyyrö Quinn, Anna Ruohonen, Stepan Sarpaneva, and Tonfisk Design.

The HARDCORE exhibition is organized by Design Forum Finland, the Consulate General of Finland in New York and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, and presented in collaboration with the Meatpacking District Initiative and Abe NYC, Inc. New York magazine is the official media sponsor. The exhibition is supported by Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Digital Society, Finlandia Vodka, the Finnish Tourist Board, Genelec, Icelandair, Greater Helsinki Promotion, Helsinki City Tourist and Convention Bureau, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Ministry of Education in Finland, and the National Council for Design.

Hours: Saturday, May 17 12-5 pm, Sunday, May 18 12-8 pm and Monday, May 19 12-6 pm
Address: 413-415 West 14th Street, New York, NY 10014 (Between 9th Ave and Washington St)

PROGRAM

SATURDAY MAY 17, HOURS 12-5 PM

12 PM SHOW OPENS TO THE PUBLIC
1 PM CURATOR'S INTRODUCTION, ILKKA SUPPANEN
2-5 PM MEET THE DESIGNERS AT THE HARDCORE LOUNGE

SUNDAY MAY 18, HOURS 12-8 PM

2 PM MIXING FOOD AND CULTURE - With journalist Fred Plotkin and Antto Melasniemi, chef of HARDCORE lounge
4 PM PANEL DISCUSSION - Moderated by Wendy Goodman, Design Editor, New York Magazine
5-8 PM SUNDAY CHILLER - With Dj Schmami, Cocktails By Finlandia Vodka

MONDAY MAY 19, HOURS 12-6 PM
12-6 PM MEET THE DESIGNERS AT THE HARDCORE LOUNGE

For more information, visit www.hardcoredesign.net

source: Design Forum Finland