Curator announces title of Istanbul Design Biennial

ISTANBUL

At a press conference, the curator of the Design Biennial, Zoe Ryan announced the title as ‘The Future Is Not What It Used To Be.’

The second edition of the Istanbul Design Biennial, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), will be held between Oct. 18 and Dec. 14, 2014. The title of the biennial “The Future Is Not What It Used To Be” was announced by curator Zoe Ryan at a press meeting on Nov. 13. 

In an opening speech, IKSV Chairman Bülent Eczacıbaşı underlined that the Istanbul Design Biennial had attracted high interest in Turkey and in the international arena, received positive responses and has been pivotal in opening up new areas of discussion in the field of design.

“With the biennial, Istanbul has strengthened its position in the design world. Benefiting from the experience of the first biennial, we believe that the second Istanbul Design Biennial will further the success of this biennial and become even more effective, productive, thought-provoking, creative and inspirational. With the aim of contributing to the accessibility and outreach of the event, admission to the next biennial will be free of charge.”

The biennial asks: “What is the future now?” As Ryan, in conversation with the Istanbul Design Biennial Director Deniz Ova explained, the biennial asks, how can we reclaim the manifesto for the 21st century and beyond, not only in the production of texts, but through actions, services, provocations, or objects and seize the potential to incite inventive outcomes? As a platform for generating new ideas, the biennial invites submissions for contemporary design manifestos that explore the complex role of design in today’s society. 

Ryan also added that the biennial would embrace designs that are visionary, yet grounded in everyday realities, innovative approaches that are transforming how we see, interact with, and understand the world. The biennial will articulate a portrait of design activity today, mapping the often unexpected ways the field intersects with contemporary life: with basic human needs such as food, shelter, health and safety, but also with less tangible issues, including love, play, fear, discord, abundance, sustainability, mobility, accessibility, community, and geopolitics.

Seeding ideas and fostering dialogue and debate, the Second Istanbul Design Biennial will feature new commissions and projects selected through a two-stage call for ideas.

The venues and the events program of the Design Biennial also includes the academy program, workshops, design walks, film screenings, seminars and panels.

Open call for design manifestos

The biennial encourages individuals from any field or background related to design to contribute. It is interested in receiving concepts for manifestos in all forms, including, but not limited to, images, animations, videos, graphics, diagrams, and/or texts. Ultimately, the form of each contribution should be determined by whatever most effectively communicates the idea.

To submit a manifesto, please visit: tasarimbienali.iksv.org/en. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 1, 2014.