 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Konstantin Grcic - Guest of Honour
”Function has always been the essential motivation for design. This has been captured precisely and famously by the Architect Sullivan, when he coined the term "Form follows function". Still today function remains the main driving force in design. However, the interpretation of what function means has significantly broadened. The function of an object refers not only to its practical use. 'Function' contains many considerations that affect many aspects of a product's life.
Besides its practical function, good design has to evoke our emotional senses. The identity of a product, the way it looks, feels, the memories it stores - all this is just as important for, let's say a chair as its comfort, stackability etc.
On another level there are functions, which are less apparent to the end user. An object has to be produceable, which is a function in itself, just as the fact that it can be stored away, packaged, dispatched. Even its afterlife is to be considered: can a product be repaired in case it fails, how will it be disposed or recycled? My concept of 'multifunction' doesn't aim at a literal interpretation only - objects that unify multiple practical functions. Multifunctional refers to the many different layers of functions within a product life cycle and they are all relevant in identifying the ecological profile”.
- Konstantin Grcic
EcoDesign 11 Exhibition Catalogue
The EcoDesign 2011 Special Exhibition winners!
Two awards granted in the Habitare's EcoDesign Special Exhibition. The Finnish Fair Foundation granted EUR5000 recognition award. The award shared among three designers. Tapio Anttila and Björn Dahlström both received EUR2000 and Eeva Lithovius received EUR1000. The main partner of the exhibition Sampo Bank Private Banking granted Beyond the Ordinary prize EUR2000 to Finnish designer duo Elina and Klaus Aalto. The guest of honor, German Industrial Designer Konstantin Grcic was the head of Jury.
Congratulations to the winners!
MultiFunction as the theme of Habitare’s EcoDesign Special Exhibition 2011
The 3rd international EcoDesign Special Exhibition, will be held in conjunction with Habitare Fair at the Helsinki Exhibition & Convention Centre on 14–18th September 2011. The exhibition is set to present ecological and MultiFunctional products. German Industrial Designer Konstantin Grcic has been invited as Guest of Honour.
Ecology is the main theme of the EcoDesign Special Exhibition in 2011 this means that the materials still has a very important role in design, but we also want to bring the functional usage of space to fore front, which is quite challenging. By “MultiFunction” we mean that the product can be functional by the usage of space or the product can be multifunctional itself. It could be for example a cabinet, a chair, a table, a drawer, a bookcase, a lamp, a watch, an iPod dock, a toolbox, a tea trolley, a bread bin, a wine bottle rack, a magazine rack, a fan or a flowerpot. The product can be a combination of some of these or for example a modern long case clock which is at the same time a stowage for small items, a sorting system for household garbage (batteries, bulbs, glass) designed for small space. These are just examples, the only limit is the designer’s imagination.
The designer’s own eco analysis will measure how ecologic the product is. One or more best concepts will be awarded in the opening of the exhibition on the 14th of September 2011. The prize €5000 will be donated by the Finnish Fair Foundation. Konstantin Grcic will act as the Head of Jury.
Konstantin Grcic (b. 1965) is one of the world’s most important industrial designers. Grcic was named Design Miami’s 2010 Designer of the Year, and the same year he won the Wallpaper Design Award in the Furniture designer of the year category.
Advertising Agency Valo and Konstantin Grcic will invite top-class international designers and young talents from Finland and abroad to take part in the EcoDesign Special Exhibition. The EcoDesign exhibition will feature approximately 80 ecological and multifunctional products.
The first EcoDesign exhibition held in conjunction with Habitare 9 – 13th September 2009 was a huge success. 97 designers from 16 countries took part with the eco-chairs they had designed. In 2010 it was time for the 2nd EcoDesign Special Exhibition with the theme of ecological lighting. The Curator was German Lighting Designer Ingo Maurer. The exhibition showcased over 90 solutions for ecological lighting. The exhibition was noticed widely in Finnish and international media. According to the TNS Gallup was the EcoDesign exhibition the most visited special exhibition in Habitare.
The success of previous EcoDesign exhibitions has set high expectations for the new exhibition 2011. We are eager to find out the designers’ solution for the MultiFunctional products!
The EcoDesign Special Exhibition is produced by Advertising Agency Valo Oy and organized by the Finnish Fair Corporation.
For more information regarding the EcoDesign Special Exhibition:
Advertising Agency Valo Oy, Managing Director Jari Pirhonen
tel. +358 50 525 70 62, Project Manager Linda Tavio
tel. +358 40 681 72 83 mail@mainostoimistovalo.fi
