Post-COVID-19, cities might increasingly become cultural and civic gathering places instead of shopping destinations and office hubs.
Giving new meaning to cultural ambassadorship — a principle that the design-minded Scandinavian country has a reputation for — there will be Design Diplomacy discussions in ambassadors’ residences. Ten embassies will take part in those talks that will each bring together a design professional from Finland with one from the embassy’s home country.
HDW and the city of Helsinki will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the World Design Capital on Sept. 1 by honoring a designer or design team for contributing something positive to the city. Environmental design ideas will be highlighted in Life 1.5’s “Designs for a Cooler Planet” exhibition. With help from the Helsinki International Film Festival, a series of surprise screenings will take place around the city.
Eyeing the future, there will also be a “What If? Alternative Futures” exhibition at the Helsinki Design Museum that culls from the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra’s report that explores such topics as whether feelings could be measured and different species could communicate. Helsinki city officials, designers and creatives may be onto something. While the preeminence of major cities is expected to be unaffected in a post-COVID-19 world, cities might increasingly become cultural and civic gathering places rather than shopping destinations or office hubs, according to the “Cities in a Post-COVID World” report.
There will also be more expected gatherings like the popular three-day Design Market, where designers and other creatives will sell fashion, accessories and other items. Understanding the importance of cultivating children’s interest in all disciplines of design, HDW will feature a slew of events for them in the “Children’s Design Week.” The main event will give children and youth a voice to express what type of city center would feel open to them.