27-09-2010

Tallinn for All! Fresh Designs and Open Minds on the Baltic

IF... Tallinn: September 16-25, 2011

Culture capital Tallinn, the tech-forward first city of Estonia, celebrates innovation and open designs during a variety-packed week of events from Sept. 16th through the 25th, 2011 . Tallinn is known for its medieval quarter and Hanseatic past, but it’s much more than that: two decades of freewheeling post-Soviet creativity has built a multifaceted city open to experimentation. But there are challenges on many fronts in integrating the past with the present. Tallinn for All is a project aimed at making the cobblestoned city more easily accessible and to open the arms of the city for all age groups, languages and physical abilities.

An international cast of design talent will be converging on Tallinn in Sept. 2011, as the city kicks off its annual Design Night, hosts the International Innovation Festival, IF…, and caps the week with a smashing European design management award gala.

Speakers and presenters will include a large cast of regional innovators; Design Night activities will run from exhibitions about Estonian innovation and design history  to showcases of social design and service design. Of special interest will be the results of a design competition under the Tallinn for All banner, where a set of 10 challenges, from better street mapping and signage to sidewalk improvements and information technology solutions for the disabled, are tackled by up-and-coming designers mentored by leading lights in the design world. Kalle Pabut and a group of international students will map the accessibility of the city under the mentorship of Francesc Aragall (Design for All Foundation, Spain), who’s work includes the barrierfree Barcelona project. The Royal College of Art’s Julia Cassim is slated to work with Kristjan Mändmaa on creating a consistent graphics and signage system for Tallinn—which, if you’re a driver in the capital or are trying to figure out the trams, will be a solid improvement. The results will be shown at exhibition in Estonia and in France.

The festival will take place in picturesque venue Rotermanni Quarter, where Tarkovski shoot his famous Stalker and at the harbor hangar district for seaplanes. Besides conferences on innovation and service design there will be a lot of events dedicated to social inclusion and open innovation. Tallinn will be also open for foreign design and will organise networking events with foreign guests. More relaxed atmosphere will be offered at the design auction, Pecha Kucha Night and fashion shows. The festival is hosted by Estonian Association of Designers,

Registration opens in May 2011

Come to where it’s happening for All—Tallinn!