Organizers
Finnish Cultural Institute in New York
The Finnish Cultural Institute in New York aims to promote Finnish visual arts, design, and architecture in North America. In all its activity, the goal is to help create long-term collaborative relationships between Finnish and North-American professionals in the field of visual arts.
The Institute has three principal areas of operation: It runs an artist-in-residency program in Manhattan and in Brooklyn; it produces, curates and presents large scale touring exhibitions in collaboration with local galleries and museums in North America; and it develops active collaboration networks with North American educational institutions and organizations within the field of visual arts.
Currently the Institute has two large-scale exhibitions touring in the US and Europe. The Sauma exhibition project (2005–09) presents innovative designs and design concepts by young Finnish designers. In June, Stavanger in Norway will be the seventh city in the fourth country to showcase the exhibition. The Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future retrospective (2006–10) of the famed architect will reach its eighth destination when it arrives to New York City in the fall. The F2F exhibition (2000–03) was a groundbreaking media art exhibition presenting interactive artworks by leading Finnish media artists, touring the US and Canada.
The Institute was founded in 1990 by three Finnish artists’ associations: STS (The Artists’ Association of Finland), SAFA (Finnish Association of Architects) and Ornamo (The Finnish Association of Designers).
Consulate General of Finland in New York
The Consulate General of Finland in New York promotes Finnish culture in New York and in 37 states that fall under the consulate’s jurisdiction. Cultural promotion by the consulate strives to enhance the positive brand of Finland and to support Finland’s public diplomacy and foreign policy goals.
The Consulate acts as a catalyst between American and Finnish cultural organizations and provides Finnish artists new opportunities to collaborate with American counterparts.
Partners
Huippu Design Management
Huippu Design Management is a public relations and design management agency specialized in design. Huippu’s main focus is on managing designers and consulting companies as well as other organizations in the design branch.
Huippu is a forerunner in promoting and representing expertise in design, architecture and fashion. Their services include PR, communications and marketing, project management, concept building and consulting in product development. Huippu focuses primarily on international markets.
Huippu is a recognized opinion leader and information channel in Finnish design for the international and domestic media. Their clientele includes Finnish top brands, such as Iittala, Arabia, Nanso and the Helsinki Design Week.
Huippu is Finnish for top, summit, peak, best, and super.
Agent Pekka
Agent Pekka is an award-winning agency based in Helsinki that specializes in art direction, animation, graphic design and the representation of Finland’s best illustrators.
Established in 2007, Agent Pekka has been working in Finland and abroad, promoting Finnish creative talent worldwide. Agent Pekka strives for development of its illustrators market potential, helps them with networking and raises their profiles. The agency represents 20 of Finland’s finest illustrators: Jesse Auersalo, Vincent Bakkum, Emil Bertell, Johannes Ekholm, Ville Granroth, Minni Havas, Eero Johannes, Inka Järvinen, Matti Kataja, Maija Louekari, Sac Magique, Sanna Mander, Santtu Mustonen, Rami Niemi, Lotta Nieminen, Pietari Posti, Janine Rewell, Miika Saksi, Ville Savimaa, Helmi Sirola, and Antti Uotila.
Agent Pekka’s illustrators have served clients such as Absolut Vodka, Adidas, Amnesty International, Burton, Chiquita, Citroën, Computer Arts Magazine, Ctrl Clothing, Design Forum Finland, Dwell Magazine, EMI Finland, Finlandia Vodka, Finnair, Helsinki Design Week, Levi’s, Marimekko, Music Television, Nike, National Geographic, The New York Times, Nokia, Qatar Airways, Red Bull, Sony BMG, WAD Magazine, Warner Music, and World Vision. Agent Pekka aims at Finnish illustrators works to be displayed in all major industry events and in many publications worldwide, making them a part of quality design brands.
Fake Graphics
Fake Graphics Ltd. is Finland’s leading producer of advertising graphics and commercial films specializing in digital animation and illustration. Fake Graphics makes animations, post-production, and printed advertisements and are Finland’s leading producer of 3D animation. They are well-known for their level of quality and vision both in Finland and abroad.
Fake Graphics make visible something that does not exist, or is for some reason impossible to photograph. For example products that are not yet manufactured, items that are too difficult or expensive to make or transport, and seasonally unavailable items. Difficult or dangerous shooting locations are another reason to turn to digital imaging. Also serialized productions or shoots that need to be repeated exactly as is are further low-hanging fruit for digital imaging. Their business is based on knowledge on the latest technology and in their ability to make use of state of the art techniques. They pioneer in inventing new methods and ad-hoc solutions to their clients’ needs.
Fake cooperates with ad-agencies, movie production companies and they produce hundreds of advertisements every year. You can see their work daily in both the print media and in television. They pride themselves in hiring young, talented professionals in the field of graphics and they currently employ over twenty of the most experienced computer graphic whizzes in Finland. Fake is the largest company in Scandinavia in its field.
Silencio
Silencio was born in 2007 when two journalists from Helsinki, Finland combined their know-how on sound production to start a new company. Silencio is owned entirely by its founders. The company’s main branch is sound production for radio, television, internet as well as audio books, learning material and radio advertising. They also provide services in the audio guide, mastering and music supervision areas.
Silencio has made big investments in the latest technology and product development on the field of sound production. Some of their products are already in the beta-testing phase. The company has also built a network of international partners in order to license its products and services outside Finland. The company’s revenue is growing steadily and Silencio is expecting new client groups, new means of distribution and product and service launches to support this development.
Direct cooperation with companies that order sound production is increasing and Silencio has concentrated on developing this forward in response to the needs of our multinational customers. Silencio’s vision is based on the idea that their top notch know-how on sound production and the software systems they have developed create a strong foundation on internationalization.
In STRAIGHFORWARD Silencio is responsible for the event’s sound production.
Straightforward is presented in collaboration with
Meatpacking District Initiative
The event is supported by
Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Finland
Ministry of Education and Culture, Finland
Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland
World Design Capital Helsinki 2012