Event info

“A celebration of imagination - and a moment for deep thinking.”  - curator, Hlin Helga

DesignTalks 2022 is happening on May 4th - DesignMarch signature and opening event taking place in Harpa, curated by Hlín Helga Guðlaugsdóttir since 2015 and this year moderated by Marcus Fairs, editor-in-chief and founder of Dezeen. Prepare for a day filled with inspiration from creative leaders that explore how design and architecture can help imagine and propose alternative futures and promote change. Check out the programme.

The programme, running from 9 to 17, consists of three thematic sessions with a mix of talks, moderated conversations, surprises, breaks for coffee, drinks - and lots of mingle.

The first session will be an exploration of resilient approaches, circular thinking, regeneration and reconnection with traditional crafts and indigenious wisdom. Whilst the second session deals with rewiring and rethinking current systems, environmental restoration and the notion of rewilding, the design of data and information and the digital space. The third and last session dives further into the digital realm, extending realities and speculation into the future as a form of creative and critical reflection of the now.

Doors open at 8.30
Fresh cup of coffee to start the day for guests

9:00 - 12:15 Session I
Exploration of resilient approaches, circular thinking, regeneration and reconnection with traditional crafts and indigenious wisdom.

With Michael Pawlyn, biomimetic and regenerative architect, author of Design Paradigms for a Planetary Emergency, “Barbara - a tale of transformation” a near future design fiction by Garðar Eyjólfsson and Janosch Bela Kratz, creative director and print designer Gabriela Sánchez y Sánchez de la Barquera, COMPANY’s Aamu Song & Johan Olin, designers, artists, sometimes more like detectives, who run their own shop Salakauppa (The Secret Shop) in Helsinki, Ragna Sara, director of furniture design brand FÓLK, Anders Lendager, sustainability pioneer, co-founder of award winning architectural firm Lendager group and Valdís Steinarsdóttir, experimental designer.

Lunch break

13:00 - 15:15 Session II
The rewiring and rethinking of current systems, environmental restoration and the notion of rewilding, the design of data and information and the digital space.

With Tor Inge Hjemdal directing manager of DOGA, Oslo, Stefán Laxness, architectural researcher and formerly at Forensic Architecture, Giorgia Lupi, information designer and partner at Pentagram, advocating for data humanism, Gunnar Vilhjálmsson & Kalapi Gajjar, typeface designers, founders of Universal Thirst, type foundry that specialises in Indic and Latin scripts, with clients like Frieze Art Fair, Monotype and Google.

15:15 - 17:00 Session III
Diving further into the digital realm, extended realities and speculation into the future as a form of creative and critical reflection of the now.

With digital fashion designer Susanne Vos of The Fabricant, operating at the intersection of fashion and technology fabricating digital couture and fashion experiences, Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, s.ap. architects working at the intersection of creativity, technology and science, and last but not least renowned sci-fi architect and filmmaker, Liam Young.

17.15 Official opening ceremony of the festival in Harpa DesignTalks will be streamed via Dezeen, DesignMarch  mediapartner.

Read more about the speakers here.