Design Museum hosts a key WDC exhibition “Designworld – Designing the New World" (through May 6). How can design be usable, ecological and responsible yet still beautiful? Featuring designers from Brazil, Italy, China, the US and elsewhere. Builders of the Future (May 25-Sept. 23) spotlights stars of the ‘golden age’ of Finnish Design, from the late 1940s through the ‘60s (Korkeavuorenkatu 23).
Think Corner, next door to the University of Helsinki’s main building, is a meeting place with weekly scientific themes. It also hosts the latest incarnation of the Ihana café, which first popped up in a shipping container on the Kalasatama dock last summer, as well as shops selling books and design goodies (Aleksanterinkatu 7).
Kauko (‘Remote’), an experimental café in downtown Helsinki, offers free coffee, wi-fi, magazines – and a decidedly odd experience. Elements of the café including furniture height, music and lighting, can be controlled and watched online by anyone via www.youdesign.fi. “With Café Kauko, we wish to stimulate discussion on how design can make residents' everyday lives better, more convenient and functional,” says WDC Helsinki 2012 Director Pekka Timonen. Other locations are being planned (2nd floor of Forum shopping mall).
Helsinki Airport’s Design Gallery, which opened near Gate 11 in mid-February, includes interactive art and a variety of seats that range from comfy to...interesting.