The festival Design.Future 2009 was launched on 1 October with a press conference and the announcement of the European Design Day. Organisers of the festival, the president and Board members of the Bureau of European Design Associations (BEDA) participated in the press conference.

 

When opening the press conference, the head of the Design Information Centre (DIC) Daina Vītoliņa stressed that the current situation in Latvia is radically different from the one in Europe. On behalf of DIC she expressed support to advocacy of culture in the context of preparation of the next year’s state budget. She also invited everyone to support an initiative of the Council of Creative Unions and LKNVOA to participate in a campaign “I Am for Culture”.

 

BEDA and its president Jan R. Starvik nominated 1 October as the European Design Day in Riga to emphasise the significance of design as an important instrument for European industry within the framework of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation announced by the European Commission. Jan R. Starvik: “BEDA accentuates the importance of design in increasing business competitiveness, in development of industry and in economic growth, as well as invites every European country to include design development in the policy building agenda”.

Deborah Dawton explained the necessity of design organisations to actively engage and participate in BEDA to ensure representation of a uniform position. 

 

Peter Kercher provided information about the role of Design for All Europe in development of future design and about the organisation’s plans regarding implementation of ideas. 

 

Artūrs Martinsons, Xcelsior, stressed the significance of education and popularisation of design; he also spoke about the necessity to create a contemporary design space and about development of Kalnciems design district. 

 

Inita Saulīte-Zandere, magazine Pastaiga, told the audience about the Latvian Design Month at the department store Stockmann and informed about the surprise prepared by the magazine Pastaiga – an award for designers to be presented at the conclusion event of the Design Days. 

 

Inese Pētersone, DIC, spoke about the growth of Design.Future over the past five years and presented the programme of this year’s festival by emphasising the most important events and the 2nd Riga International Young Designers Biennial – ECO design taking place in the exhibition hall of Riga City Riga Art Space of the Riga Culture Agency.

 

The press conference took place in the library of the newly opened hotel Neiburgs.