See the best of design at city’s historic venues

ISTANBUL

Designers from more than 20 countries are participating in the Istanbul Design Week, titled ‘Design and the City.’

Designers from more than 20 countries are participating in the Istanbul Design Week, titled ‘Design and the City.’

stanbul Design Week, an established international design event held annually in the city, opened yesterday at several locations along the Golden Horn. The five-day event includes design exhibitions, conferences and workshops held at such venues as the Old Hat Factory, the Hasköy Wool Spinning Factory and the Rahmi Koç Museum.

This year’s Design Week is titled “Design and the City,” and features different exhibitions and conferences examine the effects of design on the city and the effects of cities on design. Designers from more than 20 countries are participating in the event, including representatives of Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and France.

‘Lost in Translation’ by Domus Academy

Domus Academy is celebrating its 30th year with its exhibition “Lost in Translation,” which includes 80 products designed by 50 large design firms and Domus Academy graduates.

“Lost in Translation” was originally opened to the public in April 18 on the Domus Academy campus, during Salone del Mobile week, and some pieces from the exhibition will be displayed at Istanbul Design Week. The exhibition is divided into four sections: “Lost in Production,” “Lost in Action,” “Lost in Identity” and “Lost in Materials.” It includes pieces of furniture, lamps and tableware, including electronic goods and accessories.

Another project at Design Week, “Politie – Polis – Caribi…,” is part of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands. The goal of the project is to create a single visual identity for European police. To this end, Turkish and Dutch students are going to design a single police uniform and a police car to represent the police of all of Europe, while exploring the effect of European police on the public. Selected designs will be exhibited as part of Design Week.

“Design Spirit Istanbul,” an exhibition of 40 products from 40 designers under 40, aims to present the innovations and improvements of the Turkish design world to the international community and support the dynamic identity of Turkish design at the international platform of Design Week by gathering together the work of young, promising Turkish designers. This will be the exhibition’s third edition. The theme of the exhibition will be “The relationship between Istanbul and design.”

Dutch design exhibition

The heart of Dutch design will be explored in the exhibition “Connecting Concepts,” which will lift the veil on the creative practices that make design from the Netherlands special. The Netherlands Institute for Design and Fashion sponsors the exhibit, which will be on display during Istanbul Design Week and in the weeks thereafter. A program of lectures will also accompany the exhibition during Istanbul Design Week.

Tom Foulsham, the current holder of the W Hotels Designer of the Future Award, will present an
installation titled “Tongue to Nose” as part of Design Week. He will also give a talk Sept. 18 at the Old Hat Factory.