My Helsinki Design & Architecture Travel Guide: Top Ten Must-See Places
My top ten places to visit in Helsinki
All posts tagged: design
The Master – Mackintosh
I remember, way back in first year interior design, I was sitting in our art history class and our TA who was Scottish had a very thick accent. In one of his lectures he was talking about Glasgow quite a bit. One reason was because he was from there, and loved to talk about his studies, the second reason was because of who we were studying at the time. Which was Charles Mackintosh. He told us, if we were ever in Glasgow this is where you would find all his greatest works. Fast forward, about 20 years later, I had the opportunity to hunt him down and experience some of the best collections of modern design in the country.
Design Does – Barcelona Design Museum
Now, this is how you get the average individual to care about design. Currently on show at Barcelona Design Museum Design Does collectively explores how design tackles the challenges faced by society, at times offering improvements and, at others, doing just the opposite. Conceived to transcend the limits of space, time and conventional formats, this project explores the responsibility that lies with design and its impact on the industry, people, social systems and cultural values. Design Does question the designer’s role today and in the future as a provider of solutions, humanist, strategist and/or agent of change.
Lincoln Memorial
This monument feels like it was built by gods. It’s massive size of 190 feet long and 119 feet wide and reaching a height of almost 100 feet makes anyone who walks into the space feel so minuscule. Towering over the Reflecting Pool, anchoring the western end of the National Mall this has been the site for many memorable events such as Martin Luther King’s I have a dream speech.
Innovation Exchange at EDIT
Last September, I was part of a team that produced George Brown College’s exhibition at Canada’s first design biennial EDIT (Education, Design, Innovation, and Technology). The installation was made up of several parts: a video, a timeline, a VR experience.
Designer Maker User
From objects to services to systems, everything in this world has been designed. Design is a process carried out by people, for people. At its heart is a dialogue between three key people: the designer, the maker, and the user. Currently, on show at London’s Design Museum, Designer Maker User invites the visitor to explore design from the perspectives of all three. It shows how designers respond to the needs of makers and users, how users consume and influence design, and how revolutions in technology and manufacturing transform the world.
You don’t do a very good job at promoting yourself…
This is what the president of an advertising agency said to me as we sat with our clients at dinner. He pauses and continues, “I hope you don’t mind me speaking for you…” as he proceeds to tell the clients about a proposal I prepared for one of their other luxury brands for a potential experiential marketing exhibition.
Kapwani Kiwanga – A wall is just a wall
As we go about our daily lives, we encounter spaces designed to shape and regulate our behaviour. In A wall is just a wall, Kapwani Kiwanga exposes the mechanisms of these underlying structures through wall paint inspired by colour theory and targeted fluorescent lighting.
Future by Design: The Future Designer
Tonight, RGD hosted Future By Design, a free live screening and interactive discussion of ‘The Future Designer’, hosted by George Brown College. The design industry is constantly shifting to leverage advances in technology, accommodate demographic & ethnographic trends and adopt new and innovative ways of thinking. As new opportunities for creative work emerge, what skills will be required and how do we ensure future generations of designers have the skills necessary to maintain relevance for our industry? Join a discussion of the changing roles, opportunities and challenges facing the future designer.
Bachelor of Branding Charrette
The Institute without Boundaries is known for their charrette process. A quick, dirty and effective way of producing many ideas and then editing it all down to the best possible outcomes. This charrette was to help the faculty and staff develop a new curriculum for a new bachelor degree. As they are in the preliminary phases of research and development, this was an opportunity to receive input from faculty, industry and students to help shape the new program.