The International Aino & Alvar Aalto Design Colloquium – DESIGN & PEACE, challenges us to explore the ways in which design and peace are connected, along with the diverse meanings of design and peace, at an expert gathering in Säynätsalo Town Hall.

A fascinating series of talks will ask whether design can initiate a dialogue and promote co-existence between humankind and nature, and how conscious design can promote the preservation of world peace. Can the designer’s own peace of mind act as a catalyst for better results, when human health and wellbeing or new ways of responding to technological and ecological concerns are at stake?

Experts from various fields of design, architecture, information technology, education, communications and the social sciences will come together to discuss these and other questions. Contributors include among others: Marko Ahtisaari, Walter Bettens, matali crasset, Kaarina Gould, Ahmad Humeid, Miryan Ko, Matylda Krzykowski, Heini Lehtinen and Arto Sivonen.

This new event concept seeks to unpack the diverse roles and tasks performed by design in society. “This promises to be a unique discussion forum, where participants get together to share experiences and seek answers to questions raised by the Colloquium’s themes,” says event steering-group member, designer Ilkka Suppanen. “I am most looking forward to inspiring discussions with top experts from diverse disciplines who bring interesting ideas,” Suppanen adds.

The approach also draws on Aino and Alvar Aalto’s design heritage, since this was an active consideration in the architect couple’s own design work, but also in their views on future design.

The event is a collaboration between the Alvar Aalto Academy, the City of Jyväskylä, and several other partners.

The Colloquium will be accompanied by a rich and varied programme of events open to the public, including lectures, architecture tours and guided exhibition visits. See the whole programme here.

Web site of the event: www.alvaraalto.fi/designcolloquium

Further information:
Alvar Aalto Academy
Programme Manager Nina Heikkonen
+358 44 500 1257
nina.heikkonen@alvaraalto.fi

International Aino & Alvar Aalto Design Colloquium – DESIGN & PEACE
14 ̶ 15.6.2019 Säynätsalo Town Hall, Jyväskylä, Finland