Hello Future - First Design Biennale Zurich
Text by Press Office - Design Biennale Zürich
Zürich, Switzerland
14.08.17
One route and six locations. Various exhibitions and a conference. Open talks and design walks. A Biennale to discover, explore and experiment. With the theme „HELLO FUTURE“, the focus lies on three subject areas: technology, society and material. They are like a red thread through around 20 positions at 6 exhibition locations of the Design Biennale Zurich. The initiators and curators Fabienne Barras, Gabriela Chicherio and Andreas Saxer will bring something to the city of Zurich that has long been one of the highlights in the cultural calendar of London, Helsinki or Vienna – an event for cultural and intellectual aspects of design.
Short interview with the initiators of the Design Biennale Zurich 2017
The Curators of the Design Biennale Zürich Fabienne Barras, Andreas Saxer und Gabriela Chicherio (from left to right). Photo: KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler
The Curators of the Design Biennale Zürich Fabienne Barras, Andreas Saxer und Gabriela Chicherio (from left to right). Photo: KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler
×What is the origin and motivation of the Design Biennale Zurich?
Gabriela Chicherio: The association Freundeskreis Design nds it astonishing that there are so many individual events take place in Zurich, but there is no larger, coordinated event for design.
What does the Zurich Design Biennale Zurich do?
Gabriela Chicherio: The Design Biennale Zurich wants to prove that design
is not only an important economic factor, but also an important cultural area.
Andreas Saxer: Our program wants to convey design and the research about design. The focus lies on the substantive discussion about the performance and effect of design and the perspectives that design can open up in a cultural context.
Fabienne Barras: The Design Biennale is intended to show design as a thinking discipline that moves between industry and production.
Why does Zurich need a Design Biennale? How does it differentiate from existing formats (Blickfang, Design Days, etc.)?
Gabriela Chicherio: The Design Biennale Zurich will focus on the experimental and process-oriented aspects, and not on the nal result.
Andreas Saxer: Furthermore, we do not want to be a sales exhibition. We want to show the background of design and its ability to think.
Fabienne Barras: The Design Biennale conveys current themes and addresses all those who are interested in design – amateurs and professionals. It offers exciting productions at various locations in the whole city.
How does the future of the Design Biennale look?
Gabriela Chicherio: The Design Biennale Zurich should grow sustainably
and in a controlled manner.
Andreas Saxer: We want the event to become an integral part of Switzerland's calendar of events and - as the name suggests - every two years.
Fabienne Barras: It should also become an international platform for design of all disciplines.
About the initiators
Fabienne Barras (*1973) is an exhibition organizer and concepter. Her focus lies on storytelling and mediating the contents in rooms and their surroundings. She curates and designs national and international exhibitions and festivals.
Gabriela Chicherio (*1980) is a product designer with her main focus on furniture, exhibitions and accessories. She develops products, works as a freelancer and teaches as a visiting lecturer at the ZhdK.
Andreas Saxer (*1975) designs products and spaces for the furniture industry as well as for cultural institutions. He is a lecturer in object design at the University of Lucerne and member of the board of the Swiss Design Association.
Facts & figures at a glance
September 7–10, 2017
CHF 25.- for a 4-day-pass (all venues included)
CHF 55.- for the Design conference (excl. exhibitions)
CHF 75.- for a 4-day-pass (all venues included) and the design conference
Free tickets for children under 18 years of age