Tallinn Design Festival – an exploration of empowering spaces

Welcoming over 10,000 annual visitors, the 2024 Tallinn Design Festival will focus on urban environments, the design of small spaces, and how to install visions in a human-centred fashion.

Scheduled for 16 to 22 September, Tallinn’s celebration of design will feature events across the Estonian capital, but will be based in Krulli, a newly rejuvenated industrial suburb on the city’s northern edge. Though known as ‘Disainiöö’ (Design Night) in Estonian, festivities will be held throughout the week. This year’s theme for the festival is Make room for design! – Design empowering spaces.

Products on display at a previous edition of the Tallinn Design Festival.

“The festival will include workshops, exhibitions and sustainable fashion performances,” says Evelin Ojamets, its head of communications. “We’ll also hold an international conference and present BRUNO awards for innovative product design.” The hope is, she adds, that 2024’s edition will build on last year’s success, which focussed on the impact of artificial intelligence.

Now, one of the region’s largest design festivals, Desig Night has helped carve out Estonia’s creative identity. “The festival is international on purpose,” says Ojamets, explaining that keynote speakers and the BRUNO design jury members are invited from around the world. “Our country is small, and we’re predominantly known for our technology sector. Step by step though, we’re becoming recognised for our design too.”

Artwork at the 2019 edition of the Tallinn Design Festival. Photo: MorroW Shoots

Ojamets says that although Estonia has aligned itself with the Nordic countries, it can’t forget its proximity to Russia. “Our design is a gateway between the East and the Nordics,” she continues. “Our contemporary design, however, is based on the Nordic tradition. It’s rooted in innovation and sustainability, given our abundant natural surroundings.”

The Tallinn Design Festival will take place in the suburb of Krulli. Photo: Kevin Loigu

Web: www.tallinndesignfestival.com/en