Design Expedition to Ukraine 2019 "Land Inspires"

On 24-28 June 2019, a group of 12 international design experts and journalists visited the craft centres of Transcarpathian Ukraine. Initiated by the architect and founder of the living design collection FAINA – Victoria Yakusha, a design expedition to Ukraine “The Earth Inspires” covered 5 unique handicraft centres. The project was implemented with the support of the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation.

This unusual trip has brought designers from UK, USA, France, Denmark and Finland to some mystique and absolutely original craft workshops at the Carpathian region: black-smoked ceramics, Hutsul sheep-wool carpets, the world's longest musical instrument Trembita and many others.

Unexplored Ukraine, a true Terra Incognita, known in history as the cradle of Slavic 900 old civilization, has been opened for the following group of “design- researchers”:

– James Shaw (UK, London) – is a brave experimenter and inventor, he converts recycled thermoplastics into exuberant furniture using the hand-held plastic extruding gun he invented. James has exhibited internationally including The Design Museum, The V&A and MoMA. Past awards include being nominated for Designs of the Year.

– Kristen de la Vallière (France, Paris) – is American trendsetter and influencer from New York, the founder of “Say hi to” design platform, design jury, art director and curator at 'Maison et Objet', 'Design Korea' in Seoul, “Design Trends”.

– Eny Lee Parker (USA, NYC) – is Korean design-maker based in Brooklyn, NYC. Eny is a spatial designer emphasizing in objects, furniture and lighting, using clay as her main medium. She creates contemporary objects that brings awareness to our presence as well as to non-living things.

– Reeta Laine (Denmark, Copenhagen) – is a Danish interior designer, a teammate at the Nina Bruun design and consulting studio, which has evidenced its recognition within several features including Wallpaper, Design Milk, Herald Tribune, Washington Post, Le Figaro and many others.

– Luke Eastop (UK, Kent) – is a third-generation ceramicist, focusing on pared-down ceramic pieces, exploring the basic material qualities of clay, form, function and utility. His ceramic works and drawings are exhibited in London and New York.

– Ulla Koskinen (Helsinki, Finland) – furniture and interior designer, editor of ASUN from Finland, explores textile design at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. Ulla collaborates with the Woodnotes brand, as well as with numerous Finnish companies: Artek, Durat, Kannustalo and Marimekko.

International media partners of the second design expedition "Earth inspires":

Eva Sluneckova - "Elle Decoration" (Czech Republic)
Emmy Toonen - Feeling Wonen (Belgium)
Tanja Pabelick - DEAR Magazine (Germany)
Maria Diaz del Rio - Architectural Digest (Spain)
Joe Lloyd - Designo Magazine (UK)
Laura Todd - Wallpaper * (United Kingdom)

The organizer of the design expedition – Victoria Yakusha – aims to outline Ukraine on the world`s design map, to inspire design colleagues all over the world with a unique craft techniques of this region, true cultural heritage of Eastern Europe:

“Considering all the political and economic conditions, it is hard to imagine Ukraine as a perspective design-tour destination, but I decided to take a challenge and prove that we also have something to interest foreign guests.

My mission here with this project is to mark Ukraine on the world`s design map. We have a lot of talented people with unique knowledge and experience, which makes our country worth coming for and discovering, even if one has to travel thousands of kilometres.

I personally selected all the places and workshops along the route of the expedition, communicating and getting to know each artisan, working through master classes with them. Many of these crafts are endangered, so interest in them from foreign designers and the media will also help to attract the attention of the internal audience.”

The project was implemented with the support of Ukrainian Cultural Foundation - https://ucf.in.ua/en//

Видео Design Expedition to Ukraine 2019 "Land Inspires" канала FAINA Design