The largest design festival in the Nordics, Helsinki Design Week (HDW), will be held for the 20th time this year. From 5–15 September 2025, the historic Suomitalo building will come alive under the theme Celebration.
For the eighth year in a row, Finland has been named the happiest country in the world. But can happiness be designed? This is the question posed by curator Anniina Koivu in the festival’s main exhibition. Drawing inspiration from the so-called happiness cocktail – the combination of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins – the exhibition features works by, among others, Eero Aarnio, Erwan Bouroullec, Oiva Toikka and Clara von Zweigbergk.
Inspired by the exhibition, a symposium will be organised on 11 September in collaboration with the City of Helsinki. Speakers include Bjørnstjerne Christiansen (Superflex), Isabel Gibson (Isabel & Helen) and David Sim (Think Softer).
Alongside the main exhibition, Suomitalo will host installations, talks, launches, workshops and evening events for both design professionals and the general public.
Celebrations are conscious pauses, moments to reflect on achievements and set hopes for the future. At Suomitalo, the theme will be explored through spatial installations by leading design brands and designers, including Artek, Shimber and SAAS Instruments.
The restaurant Kuurna, celebrating its own 20th anniversary, will open a pop-up on the top floor of Suomitalo. Dinner reservations open on 21 August. During Helsinki Design Week, the building will also feature its own wine bar, open without reservations.
Daily discussions on design and architecture will take place throughout the festival. The programme includes the Weekly Talks series, a fashion theme day and salon show, as well as expert panels on architecture and design.
Suomitalo exhibition ticket: €15 / €7.50
