The Parties have become a highly popular and important part of the festival. They provide many fun opportunities to network and make contacts in relaxed and pleasant circumstances, and several FutureDesignDays partners schedule receptions and get-togethers for the festival. The climax of all these functions, which takes place in the Blue Hall in Stockholm City Hall, are the Design Awards Ceremonies in which the winners of the FutureDesignDays Award and other prestigious prizes are announced.

Because I work in a boundary-crossing way with my design, it means a lot to me to get the opportunity to get to know people in other parts of the design world, people I probably wouldn’t meet in a pure fashion context.

Sandra Backlund, Designer and winner of the FutureDesignDays Award 2005, Sweden

Sandra Backlund, the winner of the FutureDesignDays Award 2005, received her prize from Christian Alçenius, Festival General and MD of FutureLab, the organ-isers of FutureDesignDays. The host of the party in the Blue Hall was David Piper, flown in from London, who added a very festive touch to the gala evening. And one of the world’s greatest scratch deejays, Kid Sid, also contributed towards the super party mood.

The highlight of the festival

Relaxed mingling, top-notch award ceremonies and some of the world’s weightiest design prizes. That’s the scenario at the FutureDesignDays Award Ceremonies in the Blue Hall in Stockholm City Hall, the same venue that hosts the world famous Nobel Banquet every year. Naturally, the highlight of the gala evening is the announcement of the winner of the FutureDesignDays Award. And after the gala evening, it has become customary for the funmakers to continue partying into the wee small hours at the Nordic Light Hotel.

Relaxed networking

The FutureDesignDays Parties provide an interface for anyone and every-one with an interest in design, from design legends, new talents, students and teachers to prominent company executives. They come from a wide range of industries and sectors, and they come to Stockholm from all over the world. There could hardly be a more favourable opportunity for widen- ing your contact network and developing your business than through the tremendous sharing of experiences and knowledge, full flow of ideas, and high-spirited atmosphere of the FutureDesignDays Parties.

FutureDesignDays = design + rock’n’roll.

Tom Dixon, Designer, UK, seen here with Ora-Ïto on his left

A wonderful festival! And you guys have the best parties in Europe!

Patrick Whitney, Professor, Institute of Design, IIT, USA

I think it’s a lovely atmosphere. I really like it, it’s very big. It’s a grand party.

Amechi Ihenacho, Flux Magazine, UK