The University of Lapland is this week present at Milan Design Week, Italy, with an interactive design exhibition entitled ‘Vaana’. Vaana is an interactive space created by design students from the Faculty of Art and Design in collaboration with The Naked Approach research project.
The Milan Design Week is the world’s leading design event, and participation there is a dream for many designers. Last year, the event accepted less than 10% of applicants.
"Being accepted to Milan Design Week is a great achievement, and we have worked hard for this. For students, this is an important opportunity to show their talent, but also to learn about the quality level of other institutes and studios. The event brings international visibility for the University of Lapland, as well as to Rovaniemi as an arctic design city", says the supervising professor Jonna Häkkilä. Arctic Design is one of the strategic spearheads of the University of Lapland.
The keystones of Arctic Design are scarcity and minimalism. Vaana (Northern Sámi: sparseness) is inspired by the few remaining rays of light during the polar winter which embody the stark forms of the surroundings. In this time of darkness, even the dimmest colours seem brighter and inspiration is sought from the tiniest details. In the breaking of the polar winter, rays of lights emerge, and snow and ice melt. The exhibition introduces an interactive Arctic experience through the lens of design, combining traditional and modern elements.
Vaana uses conventional design materials, such as wood and reindeer leather, but introduces also wearable technology and printed electronics solar cells as part of the exhibition pieces.
Vaana exhibition is presented at Milan Design Week, Ventura Lambrate, on 4.-9.4.2017.
Contact:
vaana2017(at)ulapland.fi
vaana2017.fi
facebook.com/vaana2017
Instagram: @vaana2017
Hanna-Maria Viertola, Vaana co-ordinator, +358 40 8346192 (Italy: +39 333 860 9828)
Jonna Häkkilä, professor, +358 40 4844203
Ulapland/Communications/ J-EK