World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 announces programme

World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 has announced the design year’s programme, which comprises roughly 250 events and projects. This is the largest design programme ever implemented in Finland and one of the largest globally. More programme items will be announced later this year.

Half of the programme consists of various development projects, aimed at making Helsinki and the partnering cities in the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 project better places to live. The projects are related to services offered by city departments, construction and work sites, schools, shared areas for outdoor activities, health care and public transportation, among other areas of life.

Approximately one-third of the programme consists of events and other offering for residents and visitors. There will be open city events and roughly one hundred exhibitions. Design will also be promoted with the help of new publications aimed at both domestic and international readers.

“World Design Capital is about better cities,” says Pekka Timonen, Director of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012, “and we especially look for lasting effects. This is more than a year of happenings or a festival. We want to make the role of design visible.”

The programme was compiled mainly through an open invitation to anyone to make proposals. The producers received more than 1,400 proposals.

The budget of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 is 16 million euro. Self-financing in projects is estimated to amount to more than 50 million euro.

Read more about World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 and the programme here.