Innovative projects were presented in Kyiv within Dutch Design Week

Ukrainian designers and experts presented their ideas at the largest design forum in Northern Europe

The UNIT.City innovation park hosted an exhibition of Ukrainian projects within Dutch Design Week — the largest event in Northern Europe in the field of design and innovations. Ukraine was represented by three teams of finalists of the European Design Upgrade project: Changeable, NanoRetention, and Pink Glasses.

The participants of Dutch Design Week 2020 aimed to demonstrate the potential of design in combating social problems: looking for modern ways to organize urban life, developing innovative materials and methods of waste recycling, and drawing attention to disturbing societal issues. The event opened with presentations by finalists of the competition, who shared their ideas and presented the results for 9 months of the European Design Upgrade project.

"How can I change my life and the world around me? I think everyone eventually thinks about something like that. But when it comes to global problems, we usually say — later. So how about starting now?," addressed the audience the finalist of the European Design Upgrade and the founder of the Pink Glasses brand Oleg Bilyi. Oleg presented a collection with prints that change in ultraviolet light and draw attention to the problems of society. 

"I have always loved nature and was interested in how it works on a fundamental level. So, I went to study physics at the university – and now I have some ideas," the author of the NanoRetention project Kateryna Krolenko commented. Kateryna is developing a biomaterial that can retain water, block out noise, and help cities grow greener.

"Even the atmosphere on the project helped me. I have never worked in teams whose members have such a different experience and background," the author of Changeable project Olia Synyakevych said. Olia creates removable covers for prostheses, which turn them into a stylish accessory.

The European Design Upgrade project is being implemented in partnership between Ukraine (K.Fund, NGO GoLocal), Belgium (Brussels Creative), and Finland (Urban Mill).

"We are delighted to be the part of an international consortium of three countries and present the best works of the European Design Upgrade participants at Dutch Design Week 2020. This project was implemented in a hard time. I think we learned a lot and got a great opportunity to share ideas and experience. And we hope to continue our international cooperation," the vice-president of K.Fund and the conceptual leader of European Design Upgrade Olena Dobrorodneva commented.

The event ended with an international discussion "Radical creativity. How can we break the borders?". During the panel discussion experts from Ukraine, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Finland, and Poland discussed the problems that the creative community in Europe is facing and the opportunities for cooperation and partnership.