INTERIEUR 08
21st international biennale for creative interior design
17 - 26 October 2008
INTERIEUR 08, the 21st international biennale for creative interior design, will open its doors on October 17. During ten days, INTERIEUR will be the most important venue in the sector, with more than 300 international exhibitors as well as young designers and new talents. The event will occupy 40000 m².
MAIN EXHIBITIONS
JAIME HAYON, GUEST OF HONOUR
AT INTERIEUR 08
For some he is The Spanish 'enfant terrible', for others a creative millipede. The youngest and first ever Spanish guest of honour is renowned for his frivolous design and boundless fantasy. He is somewhat of an ugly duckling in the world of contemporary design, someone who stirs up colourful controversy wherever he goes, fanning the flames of discussion about good and bad design.
A cursory look at Jaime Hayon's CV shows that the above is absolutely the case. His design concepts break the mould of everything one expects. This is why he is a perfect fit with the vision of Interieur about guests of honour. Ever since the first edition in 1968, Interieur looks for a guest of honour who can surprise us, who signifies the spirit of the times and preferably transcends it. In the past, renowned designers such as Raymond Loewy, Verner Panton, Andrea Branzi and Jean Nouvel were given an opportunity to display their work in an innovative public context.
Jaime Hayon about his role as guest of honour at INTERIEUR 08: “I am pleased with the chance I am given. Interieur is known as a quality biennale, and it's exciting to be a part of it. Moreover, it's a great feeling to share a list with previous guests of honour such as Konstantin Grcic, James Irvine, Philippe Starck and Jasper Morrison. These are quite big shoes to fill. It is quite an honour to be able to do here in Kortrijk what I like doing, in an environment which appreciates and promotes quality.”
The installation at INTERIEUR 08 is the first major retrospective of Hayon's work, from his first designs and objects to his most recent creations. For the first time, smaller installations which he has shown previously, will be brought together here. Jaime Hayon: “I hope we can build an original event with the best of our work. Visitors can count on a surprise.”
For more info: www.hayonstudio.com
THE DESIGN AT WORK EXHIBITION
DESIGN at WORK was created in order to promote good design across various sectors and to act as a stimulus for innovative product development. DESIGN at WORK takes place under the auspices of Mr Vincent Van Quickenborne, minister of Industry. It promises to be one of the most important satellite events at INTERIEUR 08.
DESIGN at WORK at INTERIEUR 08 will consist of three distinct streams:
1. First of all, on October 20th, the first Belgian Design Awards will be presented. The “DESIGN at WORK Awards 08” will be selected by an international jury (visit www.designatwork.be) on September 2nd. Any company which has introduced a new product on the Belgian market can register, before 15 July 2008, to take part in the Design at Work Awards, in the categories communication, mobility, leisure, work and care. All products will be on display during Interieur in the Rambla, the main axis between the various halls.
2. At the same time, a selection will be made of international innovative products – THINGS TO COME – which will also be on display in the Rambla. This selection will include cars as well as leisurewear, telephones, solar lighting, office furniture and blood pressure meters. A guaranteed spectacle.
3. In cooperation with various partners, the Forum (hall 4) will house lectures, presentations, workshops, films etc. about design, innovation and product development. Topics will include mobility, futurotextiel, cradle to cradle, etc.
All DESIGN at WORK activities during INTERIEUR 08 are a precursor to the new Biennale DESIGN at WORK, in December 2009.
THE UNDERGROUND: a space for young spirits
During INTERIEUR 08, a large number of international companies will present their latest and most attractive products to an audience of professional and public visitors. Alongside the established design industry, however, today’s and tomorrow’s young talent should not remain absent at this Interieur Biennale. This will be the fourth time the doors of the 'underground' are opened wide for young talent, and up and coming creative designers.
THEYOUNGDESIGNERSFAIR
This low-budget initiative is made-to-measure for young designers and for educational and supporting institutions. It offers space to display designs, initiatives and educational programmes in a relaxed but interesting atmosphere, alongside major design manufacturers. It is an international platform for young designers to put their first steps in the profession, and an ideal forum for institutions to introduce their programmes to a wide public audience.
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR 2008 STEFAN SCHÖNING
This will be the third time that the Interieur Foundation, together with the magazines Weekend Knack and Weekend Le Vif/L’Express, awards the Designer of the year distinction. For the first time, this important initiative is also supported by the Design museum Gent and Grand-Hornu Images. After Alain Berteau in 2006 and Nedda El-Asmar in 2007, this year's honour goes to Stefan Schöning. Visitors to the Biennale in October will have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with his varied portfolio.
THE REPORT OF THE JURY
“The broad and diverse range of products designed, developed and produced during the past few years by Stefan Schöning (BE, °1968), is neither spectacular nor trendy. They are, however, extremely well considered in terms of form and choice of materials. He is a designer who wants his products to succeed, to create a feeling of well-being, to answer everyday needs. Most of all, he displays full mastership of the constraints and rules of mass production.
Stefan Schöning is a product designer in the true sense of the word, not an artist/designer, nor a designer/stylist. He loves the mass-produced product, and is conscious of the fact that design must not pamper to extravagant needs, but fulfil the functional requirements of banal, everyday objects. In order to achieve this, he does not use complicated recipes or theoretical models. He follows a certain logic, works in an analytical way and, step by step, reaches his goal. He is obviously very familiar with production technologies and materials. Several of his products have already won awards. His colleagues and his clients often describe him as an outstanding industrial designer, and he receives commissions from an increasing number of manufacturers.
A keen eye for correct comfort, for functional form and an exact play with line and colour, characterise the work of Stefan Schöning. Many of his designs are user-friendly and most display the functional beauty of an outstanding, durable industrial product which will transcend time. Stefan Schöning approaches his commissions with common sense and a keen feel for achievable compromise. In short, Stefan Schöning offers good design, in form and content.”
For more info: www.stefanschoning.com
TO READ MORE ABOUT INTERIEUR 08: www.interieur.be
The following companies from the Nordic countries will participate at the fair:
FROM DENMARK: CARL HANSEN & SON, FREDERICIA FURNITURE, FRITZ HANSEN, GUBI, VOLA
FROM FINLAND: AVARTE, INNO, LUMI DESIGN, SECTO DESIGN, VERSO DESIGN
FROM SWEDEN: BOLON, NCS SCANDINAVIAN COLOUR INSTITUTE, PERSONALITY GYM
