Polish design makes its way to Saint-Étienne for the fourth consecutive year. The universal theme of the 2010 biennial is "teleportation". It intends to explore paths of discoveries that will tend in their extreme expression to lead to a possible teleportation as the dematerialization of movement which appears to be an incredibly revealing notion of our era
In April 2009, workshops took place in Dłużew hosting Polish and international students who had the opportunity to create their own products under the encouragement of professors from the Technical Institute in Holon and the Academy of Fine arts in Warsaw. Their projects were realised through a social programme for business development called "Być Razem" in Cieszyn through the Centre for Social Education. The students worked on their products from the conceptual level, through the design level, taking into consideration real-life conditions and essential factors like materials and methods of production that were available. There efforts resulted in ten unique objects, of which several will be produced on a larger scale by the foundation. The products are not only visually appealing and functional, but they are supplemented by any all-around marketing scheme and promotional campaign that are intended to support their sale on the real market.
The goal was to get students involved in a socially-aware, responsible design project, which takes into consideration community issues. It is not only focused on creating a particular aesthetic and make it profitable, but to make it beneficial to both the person who created it and its future user.
Professor Michał Stefanowski explains,
The result of the project was the promotion of the contemporary image of Poland in Israel, with the interaction between creative young people from both nation and the creation of a series of products for a social system. Their exhibition, when shown abroad, promoted young Polish design.
Future installments of the project are planned, organised by the Social Design Centre in Cieszyn, which could support similar initiatives and mediate between designers and social organisations across the country.
The Saint-Étienne International Design Biennial is a unique event in the domain of design, due to the exhibitions shown as well as the diversity of its attendees. The Biennial democratizes design and makes it accessible to all kinds of audiences, proving that this creative discipline can take many forms, and is often driven by human aspects, including its uses by humans.
Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Rhône Alpes Region, gives his own perspective on the significance of the Biennal them:
Although the quantum version of teleportation is no longer at its starting point, in spite of everything its 'science fiction' version is even more advanced. Although some scientists have managed to scratch its surface, for humanity it is still no more than an ideal. This beingso, and on the scale of our own lives, it is a matter of asking ourselves about this ability to decentralise activities, information and decisions; to loosen up journeys. Behind some surprising finery, the subject chosen by the 2010 biennial actually contains a decisive issue. It is the question of regional development which is raised, and this is a subject on which design can provide a lot of answers. The reason why we have thrown ourselves with such conviction and strength into the design adventure in Saint Étienne, with the Cité and the biennial, is because we believe in its incredible potential. In all areas - economic, scientific and cultural - we are aware of the innovative solutions that design can offer us and I am delighted to see that this biennial has once again set the Saint Étienne laboratory bubbling over with enthusiasm.
For more information on the International Design Biennal in Saint-Étienne, see: www.biennale2010.citedudesign.com