On May 29 at Arminius, Rotterdam I will moderate a public debate on the climate for designers in different European cities.
We will take a look at Stockholm, Barcelona (and its concurrency with Madrid), Manchester (and its relation to London), Berlin and Antwerp.
We will take a look at Stockholm, Barcelona (and its concurrency with Madrid), Manchester (and its relation to London), Berlin and Antwerp.
The basis for the discussion are the following questions, posed to all representative designers from the different cities:
1. Perception
How do others view your city?
What do friends (and design colleagues from other cities) think of the city you live in?
What image does the city itself try to sell or promote?
In your opinion, in what ways is this image correct or incorrect?
2. Visual Language
Do you regard yourself as typical designer in your city? Why or why not?
What do you consider a typical visual (design) language or attitude in your city?
Is there a specific field that is stronger (fashion in Antwerp, graphic in Berlin, etc?)
Do you think design language is now fully global, and therefore not to be diverted back to specific places or cities?
3. The climate:
How would you describe the climate for design in your city?
Are you satisfied with this climate?
What could be better? Is the climate (in a specific field of design) better than in others?
4. Policy (not necessaraly politics)
Are your city officials and inhabitants (governmental bodies, commissioners, entrepreneurs) aware of the potential of creatives where they live?
If yes, what have you experienced from this awareness?
Do you regard the policies towards creatives in your city as successful?
What should they do according to you?
Do you feel that your (creative and entrepreneurial) value is acknowledged? What has been the greatest step towards improving the design climate in your city?
5. Belief
Do you believe in your city for the next 10 or 20 years?
Why do think the city will grow stronger or weaker?
What advice would you give to your local politicians?
Berlin
Drushba Pankow
Alexandra Kardinar und Volker Schlecht
Kollektiv für manuelle und rechnergestuetzte Bilderzeugung
Antwerp
Marga Weimans
Fashiondesigner
Manchester
Matth Booth
Digital designer and initiator of Lomowall and Northern Digitals
Spain (Barcelona & Madrid)
Helena Casanova+hernandez architecten
Rotterdam-based architects who came from Spain for the climate in Rotterdam
