Good life in Łódź

Next Friday, on May 17, 13th edition of Łódź Design Festival starts. Its goal and ambition is to ask questions about our life with objects and how we are using them. This year’s theme – “Good life” – together with a rich programme invites reflection.

After consultation with Katarzyna Dubik (Festival development director) we have selected a few suggestions out of this year’s programme:

1. „At the junction of culture and industry”

An exhibition created by FORM US WITH LOVE (cocreator of this project studio, Jonas Petterson, was our guest last Autumn) is 7 projects dissected: from prototype to a finished article, in order to show how complex the design process is. Additionally, on Saturday May 25 Jonas Petterson will give a lecture and a day later he will take part in a panel hosted by Dominika Olszyna. 

2. „From materials to products”

An exhibition curated by Agata Nowotny shows how out of raw materials things become products. – When buying new products – furniture, accesories, other furnishings – we usually ask how much does it cost, who designed it and will it fit my apartment and way of life. Increasingly frequently we ask how things were made, where do they come from, what shaped them and what will happen when we stop using them. How will they be recycled and whether they will contribute to pollution. It’s difficult to responsibly curate design and product exhibitions in the age of excess – says Nowotny. That’s why it’s worth asking how many days does it take to manufacture a cup? How many pairs of hands does it take to produce a crystal glass? What happens with waste after manufacturing a chair?

3. „Masquemask”

14 large-format (2,5 x 2m) masks by Jaime Hayon. The designer, enchanted by the city during  Łódź Design Festival, decided to explore its textile industry tradition. Varnishing-day with the designer on Saturday, May 18 in Central Textile Museum (ul. Piotrkowska 282).

4. Wise conversations about architecture: ARCHIBLOK (Sunday, May 19, 11:00-14:00)

When saying “good city”, do Poles have the same in mind as Danes, Germans, Spaniards or Britons? – asks Filip Springer. – We will try to answer the question whether money (mainly from the EU) used for modernisation and rebuilding of Polish cities truly improved them. 

5. “GOOD LIFE” block (Sunday, May 26, 10:00-15:35)

A series of lectures with Jonas Peterson (FUWL), Maja Ganszyniec (Studio Ganszyniec, Nurt), Anna Wróblewska (Metaphor) and Piotr Kalinowski (Mixd) among others.

Last but not least:  „Office of the future” exhibition is a result of interdisciplinary cooperation of science facilities and business: infuture hatalska foresight institute, Skanska and Gdańsk universities: Academy of Fine Arts and Polytechnic. The exhibition presents 12 futuristic office interiors. Each is a unique solution of problems arising today (e.g. breakdown of social interactions, nomadism, ageing society, lack of contact with nature).  

Full programme is available online, more information on the  Festival website..