“A celebration of imagination - and a moment for deep thinking”

DesignTalks 2022 is happening on May 4th - DesignMarch signature and opening event taking place in Harpa, curated by Hlín Helga Guðlaugsdóttir since 2015 and this year moderated by Marcus Fairs, editor-in-chief and founder of Dezeen. Prepare for a day filled with inspiration from creative leaders that explore how design and architecture can help imagine and propose alternative futures and promote change. Check out the programme. 

The programme, running from 9 to 17, consists of three thematic sessions with a mix of talks, moderated conversations, surprises, breaks for coffee, drinks - and lots of mingle. 

The first session will be an exploration of resilient approaches, circular thinking, regeneration and reconnection with traditional crafts and indigenious wisdom. Whilst the second session deals with rewiring and rethinking current systems, environmental restoration and the notion of rewilding, the design of data and information and the digital space. The third and last session dives further into the digital realm, extending realities and speculation into the future as a form of creative and critical reflection of the now.

Doors open at 8.30
Fresh cup of coffee from Kaffitár to start the day for guests

9:00 - 12:15 Session I
Exploration of resilient approaches, circular thinking, regeneration and reconnection with traditional crafts and indigenious wisdom. 

With Michael Pawlyn, biomimetic and regenerative architect, author of Design Paradigms for a Planetary Emergency, “Barbara - a tale of transformation” a near future design fiction by Garðar Eyjólfsson and Janosch Bela Kratz, creative director Gabriela Sánchez y Sánchez de la Barquera, COMPANY’s Aamu Song & Johan Olin, designers, artists, sometimes more like detectives, who run their own shop Salakauppa (The Secret Shop) in Helsinki, Ragna Sara, director of furniture design brand FÓLK, excerpt from the documentary Interment by Anna María Bogadóttir,  Anders Lendager, sustainability pioneer, co-founder of award winning architectural firm Lendager group and Valdís Steinarsdóttir, experimental designer.

This session also includes a moderated conversation by Marcus Fairs with Anders Lendager, Ragna Sara Jónsdóttir and Kent Martinussen, dir.manager DAC.

13:00 - 15:00 Session II
The rewiring and rethinking of current systems, environmental restoration and the notion of rewilding, the design of data and information and the digital space, the design of data and information and the digital space.

With Tor Inge Hjemdal directing manager of DOGA, Oslo, Stefán Laxness, architectural researcher and formerly at Forensic Architecture, Giorgia Lupi, information designer and partner at Pentagram, advocating for data humanism,  Gunnar Vilhjálmsson & Kalapi Gajjar, typeface designers, founders of Universal Thirst, type foundry that specialises in Indic and Latin scripts, with clients like Frieze Art Fair, Monotype and Google.

This session also includes a closing conversation with Giorgia Lupi, Gunnar Vilhjalmsson & Kalapi Gajjar moderated by Marcus Fairs.

15:15 - 17:00 Session III
Diving further into the digital realm, extended realities and speculation into the future as a form of creative and critical reflection of the now.

With digital fashion designer Susanne Vos of The Fabricant, operating at the intersection of fashion and technology fabricating digital couture and fashion experiences, in a follow up conversation with Mosha Lundström, fashion director, stylist and contributor VOGUE. Arnhildur Pálmadóttir, s.ap. architects working at the intersection of creativity, technology and science, and last but not least renowned sci-fi architect and filmmaker, Liam Young and a closing conversation moderated by Bergur Finnbogason, creative director of CCP Games, with Nils Wiberg interactive designer, experience design studio Gagarín and Arnhildur Pálmadóttir s.ap architects.

17.15 Official opening ceremony of the festival in Harpa