Slow Design is the slogan of Budapest Design Week this year, thus the design fest focuses on the so called “Slow Movements” that induce more considerate consumption in the hope of a better life quality, a more content and composed living, in the hope of economic, social and cultural sustainability. The Slow Movements emerging from the anomalies of consumer societies and globalisation began in Rome when the world first met the concept of Slow Food.

The conception has since broadened and conquered all fields of life: Slow Life, Slow Cities, Slow Gardening, Slow Sex, Slow Fashion, Slow Travel, Slow Living, and so on. The concept of Slow Design took root in the design profession a decade ago; above all it refers to a democratic and holistic approach to designing, by taking the entire life-cycle of objects into consideration it is a responsible and conscious design practice focusing on the long-term impacts of design, it believes in sustainable development, in regionalism and cultural diversity, in local values and uniqueness.

It strives to create a new quality while relying on local materials and resources thus strengthening local communities.

Following on the initiative launched last year Budapest Design Week welcomes Finland as the guest of honour in 2012. In accordance with its focal topic, the cultural, applied arts and design values, and even the gastronomy of Fiskars Village is brought to Hungary by Finnagora. The exhibition opening in the building of Design Terminal presents all the local values that positioned Fiskars Village as a Slow Life phenomenon even before the concept itself was conceived.

Some of the artists of the village are personal ly being introduced at the satellite events of the exhibition. The pop-up restaurant created in Budapest for the design fest is presenting contemporary Finnish gastro culture, while the pop-up store is offering design products from Fiskars Village.

The traditional festival opening exhibition is organised in the exhibition space of Design Terminal. Exploring the concept of Slow Design the exhibition presents a selection from the most progressive international and local results starting from green solutions, through bicycle culture and inclusive design to high-end city design, showcasing a wide range of exciting fields and projects.

Design Week's traditional programs are also dedicated to Slow Movements this year. The Open Studios initiative, the Design Week Discount, the Design Tours and Design Week Gastro direct the attention to the city's cultural, architectural and gastronomic values and help to explore the hidden or never realised local treasures with the guidance of experts.

The workshops organised for adults and children invite for creation and recycling in the name of the DIY objectives of Slow Movements. Similarly to the previous four years a star designer guest is also being invited and a design-related conference is being organised.

The most prestigious awards of the design profession (Hungarian Design Awards, Design Management Award) are presented at the Museum of Applied Arts in the framework of the festival and the exhibition accompanying the award ceremony is among the flagship programs of Design Week in 2012, as well.

The program of the festival again appears in a two-language catalogue, while our web site offers up-to-date and detailed information.

Source and further information: www.desigweek.hu