Inspiring highlights of the Nordic & Baltic Design Summit 2024
In October 2024, visionaries, change-makers and creators from across the region gathered at the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg for the Nordic & Baltic Design Summit. Organised by SVID (Stiftelsen Svensk Industridesign), the theme of this year’s summit was “Designing for a green, vibrant and socially sustainable Nordic-Baltic region”.
The event showcased how design can bring about positive change in industry, communities and our daily lives, from thought-provoking presentations to innovative projects. Let’s take a look at five exceptional cases that resonated with both local and regional audiences.
Design as a catalyst for change
The Summit highlighted the transformative power of design – not only as a creative expression of form and colour, but also as a strategic driver of innovation, sustainability and progress.
Anne Raudaskoski, one of the keynote speakers, highlighted an important fact: 80% of a product’s environmental impact is determined during the design phase. This underlines the responsibility of designers to consider sustainability throughout the entire life cycle – from production and use to recycling and beyond.
Discussions covered the circular economy, urban development and sustainable industries such as energy and fashion. These topics are not just theoretical – they are immediate challenges and opportunities for design to lead the way towards a circular and sustainable future.
5 most interesting cases from the Summit
Krulli, Estonia
Speaker Indrek Hääl wowed the audience with his presentation of Krulli, an innovative urban regeneration project transforming a former factory site near Tallinn. Combining residential, commercial and recreational spaces, the initiative focuses on the reuse of existing buildings and materials, while implementing the concept of the 10 minute city. Krulli is an example of how thoughtful design can revitalise old spaces while promoting a slower and more sustainable lifestyle.
Pådriv, Norway
Aasmund Bunkholt presented Pådriv, a collaborative platform in Oslo that brings together public, private and social stakeholders to promote sustainable urban development. Its non-hierarchical approach is in line with what many cities need: bold, community-driven change that prioritises action over deliberation.
“Sunshine in my backyard (SIMBY), Sweden
Bodil Karlsson from RISE has inspired with SIMBY, a project that reimagines our relationship with solar energy. Using speculative design prototypes, such as elegant solar devices for personal use, the project invites communities to embrace renewable energy in new, understandable ways.
SPIN-IN for Sustainability, Denmark
Pia Hansen and Helene Jensen present a programme that empowers fashion brands to adopt sustainable practices through design sprints. In collaboration with students from various design and business disciplines, SPIN-IN fosters innovation and empowers the fashion industry to address its high environmental impact.
Slow Down Faster, Sweden
Design student Ingrid Öberg from HDK Valand presented her project exploring the juxtaposition between traditional crafts and fast consumption. Using compostable textiles dyed with food waste such as avocado seeds and coffee grounds, Ingrid’s work invited us to think about the beauty of slowing down and adopting sustainable practices.
Panel talks: A shared vision for a circular future
The Lithuanian Design Forum actively participated in discussions on design’s role in sustainability. On the first day, Audronė Drungilaitė, Director of the Design Innovation Centre at Vilnius Academy of Arts, joined the Panel Talk: How can we use design to create sustainable communities and lifestyles? This session explored guiding municipalities toward sustainability, involving citizens in the process, and fostering collaboration for a greener future.
Next day, Panel Talk: How do we shape a circular future? highlighted design’s role in transitioning to a circular economy. Representatives from Nordic and Baltic design organisations discussed urgent priorities and the need for cross-regional collaboration to address environmental challenges. The panel talk showcased how design can address pressing environmental challenges and drive sustainable innovation in communities, industries, and daily life. Representatives from across the region, including the Lithuanian Design Forum, shared insights on circularity and sustainability.
Heritage meets the future through storytelling
The Röhsska Museum’s Design Stories exhibition celebrated the intersection between design heritage and future-oriented sustainability. It highlighted how cultural heritage narratives can inspire future-oriented sustainable design practices in the Nordic and Baltic regions.
A shared vision for a circular future
The Summit underlined the great value of cooperation between the Nordic and Baltic design communities. By uniting around common goals – a circular economy, energy efficiency and strong communities – designers can tackle today’s most pressing challenges and build a sustainable future.
You’re welcome to revisit the highlights of the summit on the YouTube channel, where the organizers have uploaded videos from the event! Click here to watch the videos.
Additionally, the organizers have published an article about the conference (in Swedish). Read the news article here. Please note that all videos will be subtitled shortly.
If you’d like more information about the event or would like to revisit its goals and vision, follow this link to the event page.
The Nordic-Baltic design community is stronger together and ready to change the future!
