ÖÖ Helsinki: “New Nordic Story = Authentic Luxury”
ÖÖ: Was it a Dream? was launched during London Design Festival 2010 as a curated experience showroom bringing together design-led visionaries from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Estonia. ÖÖ (‘night’ in Estonian) dissolves the boudaries between creative disciplines and showcases Nordic excellence from architecture and design to food in a unique way.
ÖÖ: Was it a Dream? was launched at London Design Festival in September 2010 – being chosen as one of the Top Picks of the festival by the LDF team. The second showcase took place in Stockholm during Global Entrepreneurship Week and the third in Tallinn during the annual Dark Nights Film Festival in November 2011.
The mission of ÖÖ is to be the platform for design-led innovation and emerging visionary talent from the Nordic countries, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaboration and local production. ÖÖ aims to support the development of sustainable economy through global creative and business partnerships.
The fourth ÖÖ will be part of the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 programme, taking place from 9-13th May in the Nordic capital praised for its innovative thinking and fundamental boldness. Regarded as one of the must-see events in Helsinki this year, the event explores the theme of Authentic Luxury: telling the new Nordic story through the work by visionary Nordic artists and designers as well as companies who challenge the known through design-led innovation.
“New Nordic Story = Authentic Luxury”
Long dark nights during the Nordic winter nurtures creativity and playfulness. Nordic designers have the luxury to learn from nature and traditions while living in one of the most developed and highly innovative regions. Great importance is put to physical and emotional values of products and services – sustainable production methods with highest emphasis on quality and functionality, using local resources and integrating skilled craftsmanship with complex technological solutions. Mixed with the ability and will to push the boundaries, Nordic design could be a global problem-solver. Telling stories is also important part of the Nordic traditions and weaving a narrative around each brand and product builds personal engagement and transparency in production methods.
ÖÖ consists of a diverse programme of events. ÖÖ Talks is a two-day lecture series bringing together thought leaders from design and creative industries including Henrietta Thompson, Editor-at-Large of Wallpaper (London), and Rike Döpp, founder of Agency V (Berlin/New York). In collaboration with Aalto University and Nordic Masters, ÖÖ presents ‘Share Your Dreams – India: Culture of Opportunities’ by creative catalyst and entrepreneur Neishaa Gharat (Chalo India – Mumbai/London), also celebrating the first result of global partnership initiated by the project – Mumbai-based 100% zine featuring Nordic illustrators.
For the second ÖÖkÖÖk (‘night kitchen’), taking place on 12th May, ÖÖ is collaborating with Eat&Joy in Kluuvi to celebrate the final night of ÖÖ Helsinki with the culinary event ‘The Forbidden Bar’- a benefit night supporting Project Crayons, NGO working to empower marginalized communities in Mumbai through projects like ‘School On Wheels’ – putting children back into education.
Programme
ÖÖ pop-up at Kluuvi, 3rd floor, Aleksanterinkatu 9, Helsinki
Open between 10-13th May
Thursday 11 – 24, Friday 11 – 21, Saturday 11 -18, Sunday 12 -18
Wednesday, 9th May15.00 Press preview / photo call – snacks and refreshments provided
Please register by 7.5.2012: jenni.kaven@beingkeskula.com
17.00 – 20.00 ÖÖ Launch Party hosted by Enterprise Estonia (invitation only)
Thursday, 10th May
10.00 Breakfast hosted by Estonian Embassy – press and participants
Please RSVP: merilyn@beingkeskula.com
12.30-17.30 ÖÖ Talks
12.30- 13.30 Tuomas Toivonen (NOW, Helsinki)
13.30 – 14.30 Ralf Lõoke (Salto, Tallinn)
14.30-15.15 Lunch break
15.15-16.15 Martin Gram (Partner, CEO/Managing Director,Snøhetta Design, Oslo/New York)
16.15-17.15 Dori Gislason (architect, designer and project leader; Professor in Strategic Design at Oslo National Academy of Arts, Reykjavik/Oslo)
Friday, 11th May
9.00-12.30 ‘Share your Dreams’ – presented by Nordic Masters and ÖÖ in collaboration with Aalto University and Art Short CutVenue: Jätkäsaari, Tyynenmerenkatu 6, L3
09:00 Breakfast
10:00 ÖÖ: Was it a dream? introduction by Merilyn Keskula
10:15 Neishaa Gharat: Chalo India – Culture of opportunities
11:30 Nordic Masters: Share and collaborate14.00 – 16.00ÖÖ Talks at Kluuvi
14.00-15.00 Rike Döpp, founder of Agency V (Berlin/New York)
15.00-16.00 Henrietta Thompson, Editor-at-Large, Wallpaper (London)
Saturday, 12th May
20.00-23.00 ÖÖkÖÖk: The Forbidden Bar in collaboration with Eat & Joy
Venue: Foodhall, Kluuvi
Supporting Project Crayons, NGO working to empower marginalized communities in Mumbai through projects like ‘School On Wheels’ – putting children back into education
Tickets: 65 EUR per person, or 120 EUR for two, available at Kluuvi
Some featured exhibitors:7SMIC – Estonia – www.7smic.comAnna Palomaa – FinlandAtelier Ryberg – Sweden – www.atelierryberg.seElivogar – Iceland – www.elivogar.isExtery – Estonia – www.extery.eeHarpa Rún Ólafsdóttir – Iceland – http://harpaharpa.wordpress.com/about/Katrin Olina for Saas Instruments – Iceland/Finland – www.saas.fiKO! – Estonia – www.k-o-i.eeMette Maya Gregersen (Denmark) -http://www.mettemayagregersen.com/wordpress/Sanna Saastamoinen-Barrois – Finland – http://sannasaastamoinen-barrois.blogspot.co.uk/R/H – Finland – www.rh-the-label.com
