The Helsinki Design Residency offers an opportunity for practitioners to explore and reflect on the evolving life and context of Helsinki as a Nordic capital. The residency focuses on stimulating new research and is open to a broad range of UK-based practitioners at the intersection of art, design and architecture, encouraging speculative and critical thinking.

The residency is an opportunity for the practitioner to create new connections with local designers, curators, researchers and design experts. The resident's research provides fresh perspectives and interpretations on Helsinki and its context, while also fostering fresh debate and dialogue more broadly.

The Helsinki Design Residency was established in 2012 as part of the World Design Capital programme and has been run in collaboration with the Helsinki International Artist Programme (HIAP), Helsinki Design Week (HDW) and Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture, recently joined by Design Museum Helsinki (DM) and Strelka Institute.

Previous Designers in Residence 

Laura Spring (2018) research focused on the ancient Finnish weaving technique Täkänä.

F͡RA̴UD̸  (2017) Artist duo Audrey Samson & Francisco Gallardo investigated the emerging material realm of carbon derivatives materials. 

Luca Picardi (2016) developed a project called ‘Familiar'; a design research publication exploring patterns of mimicry in urban regeneration projects across Europe. 

Teresa Dillon (2015) researched future plans for the city of Helsinki and proposed a free-to-use urban hut to be used by tourists visiting the city.

Tobias Revell (2014) offered a critical view into the design community in Helsinki, based on the theme Take the Leap.

Tzortzis Rallis (2013) explored the Helsinki graphic design scene on the theme of Public Acts / Quiet Riot.  

Julia Tcharfas (2012) responded to the residency theme Embedding Design in Life with a sound composition titled 'Eco-System'.