Finnish Design on View in New York

Featured items range from product design to fashion and graphic design.

Mairi Beautyman -- Interior Design, 4/10/2008

New York's Design Week is just around the corner and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (May 17-20) is not the only design event the city has to offer. In the Meatpacking District, a curated exhibition will feature 20 unique design projects and concepts from Finland.

On view May 17-19, "Hardcore: New Finnish Design" includes a lounge sponsored by Finish design companies Iittala, Artek, and Marimekko -- major players in the market.  Conceived to offer an insider's look at today's design scene in Finland, with a special focus on Helsinki as the design capital of Scandinavia, the exhibit is curated by designer Ilkka Suppanen. Items on view range from product design to fashion and graphic design.

Featured designers include Noa Bembibre, Fokus Fabrik, Jaana and Päivi Haaksiluoto, Kokoro & Moi, koneHelsinki, Harri Koskinen (Genelec), Yrjö Kukkapuro and Henrik Enbom (Saas Instruments), Janne Kyttänen (Freedom of Creation), Hannu Kähönen (Creadesign), Mikko Laakkonen, Arihiro Miyake, Mikko Paakkanen (Saas Instruments), Pentagon Design (Tikkurila), Provoke Design, Anne Kyyrö Quinn, Anna Ruohonen, Stepan Sarpaneva, and Tonfisk Design.

The exhibition will be held at 413-415 West 14th Street (between 9th Avenue and Washington Street). It is organized by Design Forum Finland, the Consulate General of Finland in New York, and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, and presented in collaboration with the Meatpacking District Initiative and Abe NYC.

Hours are Saturday, May 17, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Sunday, May 18, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., and Monday, May 19, 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. An opening Party will be held Saturday, May 17, 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.

From top: Glass Knives by Noa Bembibre. Medusa pendant for Saas Instruments by Mikko Paakkanen.