Enriching its exhibition programme, each year COLLECTIBLE devises a diverse programme of talks addressing themes around contemporary collectible design, and invites leading figures from various backgrounds to gather together and discuss specific subjects.
For many contemporary art collectors, design is still a dirty word - it is something functional - ‘how can a chair cost this much?’ However, design has no reason to shy away from the sacred confines of fine art. A young market where you can still play a role as a collector, contemporary design collectibles are increasingly catching the eye of young collectors.
Speakers
Moderated by: Kristen de La Vallière, design curator and editor of say hi to_
With: Edoardo Monti, collector and founder of Palazzo Monti, and also jury member of the Curated Section | Berry Dijkstra, design collector, curator and exhibition maker.
Design has always been marked by a white CIS male stamp. Already during the era of the Bauhaus women were directed to weaving or ceramics which were believed to be more suitable for women. Gender and race stereotypes are very strong in the design sphere. The resurgence of indegenous design and the merging of the craft, art and design disciplines are welcome ways to make this world more inclusive. What can be done concretely to tackle this?
Speakers
Moderated by: Kristen de La Vallière, design curator and editor of say hi to_
With: Simone Brewster, spatial designer and artist, creating furniture, jewellery and environments | Prince Jewiti, co-founder of Artskop3437, the new african art and design powerhouse | Amanda Pinatih, Design Curator at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and co-founder of the Design Museum Dharavi in Mumbai, India.
Beyond taste and gastronomy: Why is Food Design key to our sustainable future?
Food design is, albeit a proper sub-discipline of design, still very recent, unknown and misunderstood. It relates to the process of design and food, mixing different disciplines, such as biology, sociology, genetics, nutrition, anthropology and art. Beyond being creators of 'small portions of pretty food', food designers are committed to conveying a message of the urgency of developing a sustainable future for our planet and their research is far from futile.
Speakers
Moderated by: Axelle Minne, Co-Director of Faim Studio and Artist (Belgium)
With: Nicolas Carbonnelle, Food Regulatory Lawyer, Member of the Brussels Bar (Belgium) | Benjamin Stoz, Curator of the exhibition 'Serial Eater, Food Design Stories' at CID Grand-Hornu (Belgium) | Sonia Verguet, Food Designer (France)
Thriving as emerging collectible designers: How to maintain a healthy environment?
Collectible design is not a discipline taught during design studies, so deciding to focus your career on creating mostly unique pieces or limited editions is not an easy choice. What elements are fundamental to create a healthy ecosystem?
Speakers
Moderated by: Laura Houseley, Founder of Modern of Design Review and MDR Magazine (UK)
With: BRUT Collective, Design Collective (Belgium) | Boris Devis, Founder of the artists' residency alfa.brussels (Belgium), Founder of Everyday Gallery (Belgium) | Amanda Pinatih, Design Curator at the Stedelijk Museum (Netherlands) | Chloé Valette, Founder of the online media and gallery HUSK (France)
Design/Art, Applied Art, Utilitarian or Functional art:
Has functionality changed?
In the noughties, it was called Design/Art or Limited Editions Furniture, way before Applied Art, Utilitarian Art, Functional Art… Terms changes but design remains design because of its function, whether in the initial process or the end-result. However, has this functionality changed? What does ‘function’ mean when we consider the current collectible contemporary design scene? How are emerging designers using functional pieces to convey a strong message?
Speakers
Moderated by: Laura Houseley, Founder of Modern Design Review and MDR Magazine (UK)
With: Arthur Hoffner, Designer (France) | Anna Aagaard Jensen, Designer (Denmark) | Annelies Thoelen, Design Curator, Head of Programme at Z33 (Belgium) | Benoit Wolfrom, Owner and Founder of Functional Art Gallery (Germany)
Veden äärela / By the water:
Finnish design
Veden äärellä – In a talk with designers Jonas Lutz, Rasmus Palmgren and LOKAL's founder Katja Hagelstam, we dive deeper into the unique aspects of Finnish design and its close connection to its surroundings.
Speakers
With: Jonas Lutz, Designer (Netherlands) | Rasmus Palmgren, Designer (Finland) | Katja Hagelstam, Founder of LOKAL (Finland)
Undoing the mass production damage: Why are collectible designers turning to re-use of waste materials?
Design has always been marked by choice of material and how they are handled, used and crafted. The current panorama of the young creation shows an overwhelming use of waste material such as leather, jeans, newspaper, plastic, etc. Collectible designers are aligning strong design with a strong ecological message as if they tried to undo the damages of mass production. What sort of practices can be highlighted? Why is there such a predominance these days? And what are the actual impacts?
Speakers
Moderated by: Laura Houseley, Editor in Chief of Modern Design Review, owner of MDR Gallery (UK)
With: Jan Boelen, Artistic Director of Z33 in Hasselt (Belgium) and Atelier LUMA in Arles (France) | Wendy Andreu, Designer (France) | Théophile Blandet, Designer (France) | Roxane Lahidji, Designer (Netherlands)
The collectible design ecosystem: What can we learn from the art world?
Contemporary collectible design is increasingly present on the forefront of the design scene with new events converging art and design. That section of design tends to follow a system that is well known by the art crowd: galleries, representations, fairs, secondary market. This departs greatly from the regular product design system that is made of brands and large studios. If art has developed a reputation of unregulated market, it seems that design is even further from any form of regulations, contractual relationships, etc. Is there anything design can learn from the art market? Is it even desirable? How can we contribute to make this ecosystem healthy and benefitting for the designers?
Speakers
Moderated by: Gabrielle Kennedy, DAMN° Editor (Netherlands)
With: Valérie Maltaverne, founder of YMER&MALTA (France) | Antonella Villanova, Owner and Director of GALLERIA ANTONELLA VILLANOVA (Italy)
Design in public collections: Presentations of three art and design institutions
What does a design collection represent today? How does public and private institutions define the orientation of their collection? How to distinguish it from an art collection? What are the challenges for the selection? What are the issues faced in conservation? What are the iconic pieces? What are the procedures regarding acquisition and donation? Major French and Belgian institutions tried to answer those questions through three presentations: 'The design collection, decorative arts and craftsmanship of the CNAP, the collecting agency of France'; 'The design collection of the Centre Pompidou: from modernity to numerical technology' and 'Design collection in Belgium'. Three stories.
Speakers
Moderated by: Dieter Van Den Storm, Journalist, Curator and Communication Expert (Belgium)
With: Marie-Ange Brayer, Head of the design and prospective industries department of the Mnam-Cci, Centre Pompidou (France) | Sandra Cattini, Head of the design collection and decorative arts of the CNAP - National Center of Fine Arts (France) | Marie Pok, Director of the CID Grand-Hornu (Belgium)
