FutureDesignDays 2001 started out as an experiment. Would it really be possible to gather designers and architects from all over the world to debate and talk about design? Would there be an audience, and would it understand how important it was to listen, learn and...

FutureDesignDays 2002 concentrated on highlighting the people with the courage to cross all boundaries in their work. The people whose work advanced the boundaries of what can be achieved and what design can signify. And they were all there. The stage was invaded by...

Exhibitions, parties, mingling, a very extensive speaker list and more than 1,000 visitors. The theme of FutureDesignDays 2003 was “They said it couldn’t be done”. But everyone who attended saw that it could be done. New ties were formed between visitors and speakers....

FutureDesignDays 2004 left its hometown Borås for the swedish capital Stockholm. The event grew big at the Stockholm International Fairs with a huge EXPO, compared to what was exposed at Åhaga in Borås. The conference developed further and Breakout Sessions were...

The festival of 2005 took on a different shape. It became more like four festivals in one – a conference with four blocks, each providing in-depth information and inspiration in the fields of industrial design, architecture, new media and fashion. The Breakout...

Since FutureDesignDays is an ongoing process, never completed or ready to settle down, this years festival­ just like all the other festivals took on a different shape.­ The intimicy was in focus. The goal was to create­ a tight and intensive meeting place with...

Managing director and design manager Finland Despite strongly worded warnings against buying Marimekko, Kirsti Paakkanen decided to take over the tottering company in 1991. What she has since achieved is almost beyond compare. Marimekko, which was founded in 1951 by...

Designer What have Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Lucy Liu, Mary J Blige, Björk, Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss got in common, apart from being famous? Yes, they all wear acessories designed by Lara Bohinc, one of the world’s foremost jewellery designers and the new design...

The Berlage Institute The Berlage Institute, which offers postgraduate studies in architecture, urban planning and landscape design, provides a unique balance of culture, courses, research, theory, practice and faculty. Since it opened its doors in 1990, it has won a...

Designer Japan When the Managing Director of Muji first saw Naoto Fukasawa’s prototype of a CD player in 1999 he was immediately interested. Its design reminded him of an old Japanese transistor radio from the 60s. He thought that the CD player would represent a new...

Rachel Cooper Professor UK Mike Press Professor UK Design Against Crime The research programme, Design Against Crime (DAC) develops and improves the efficacy of crime-preventive design. It creates an understanding for how design can prevent crime, and helps designers...

Senior Vice President Design, Volvo Car Corporation United Kingdom In brief: - Has worked as Designer and Design Manager in various positions at Daimler Chrysler, with Mercedes-Benz, for 17 years. - Started his career as vehicle designer at the age of 15 “A CAR IS A...