THONIK – Thomas Widdershoven & Nikki Gonnissen

Design & Crafts Council Ireland, in collaboration with 100 Archive presents an exciting presentation on Communication Design with Thomas Widdershoven and Nikki Gonnissen, co-founders and creative directors of THONIK, a renowned digital and motion-first design studio based in Amsterdam.

Nikki Gonnissen and Thomas Widdershoven are co-founders and creative directors of Thonik, a multidisciplinary design studio based in Amsterdam. Through strong visual identities for clients such as the broadcast corporation VPRO, Holland Festival, Museum and Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Power Station of Art in Shanghai, and M+ Museum for Visual Culture Hong Kong, Thonik connects important public institutions with a new, younger, and more diverse audience. Their work spans graphic, digital, and spatial design, often with the moving image as a starting point.

Beyond their work at Thonik, Nikki and Thomas have each played active roles in the design field. Nikki regularly lectures at international events, focusing on inclusion, diversity, and the empowering potential of design. She also served as International President of the Alliance Graphique Internationale, leading conferences in Seoul, Mexico, and Paris on the value of design in a rapidly changing society. Thomas, meanwhile, was creative director and chair of the Design Academy Eindhoven and curated four exhibitions at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven, exploring contemporary design’s impact.

Event Schedule

• 5.30pm  Doors Open

• 6.15pm – 7.15pm
  Design Diplomacy

  Collaboration Country: Finland

  Irish Designer: Joanne Byrne

  Finnish Designer: Klaus Aalto

• 7.15pm – 7.30pm  Interval

• 7.30pm – 8.30pm
  Headline Event – Collaboration with 100 Archive

  THONIK – Thomas Widdershoven & Nikki Gonnissen

EVENING EVENT

Design Diplomacy.

Design Diplomacy is a concept developed by Helsinki Design Week, and produces unique, intimate conversations between two creative minds. During the event the international design professional meets an Irish designer over a card game of questions. Visitors will have an opportunity to experience carefully curated and unique conversations as in each situation the interlocutors meet for the first time.

Joanne Byrne is known for her expertise in interpretive design and storytelling within the built environment. With 20 years of industry experience, Joanne has successfully tackled projects across cultural, corporate, and heritage sectors. As a visiting lecturer and mentor, she brings a wealth of knowledge to this intimate conversation. Don’t miss this chance to engage with a leading designer and explore the transformative power of design!

Klaus Aalto is a Finnish designer working with furniture, small objects and spatial design projects. Common to all of his works is a simple and pragmatic approach. His designs offer imaginative and whimsical solutions to the most basic needs of the everyday. Sustainability and the responsible use of materials are important principles to his works. Klaus Aalto wants the design to be both inspiring and useful. Klaus Aalto’s works have been exhibited around the world and he’s works are represented in the collections of the Helsinki Design museum and the Museum of Modern Art in Quebec. Klaus currently works together with his wife, the designer Elina Aalto. Together they started the joint design studio Aalto+Aalto in 2010. The studio focuses mainly on product design and exhibition architecture. They enjoy working on projects that functionally, aesthetically as well as emotionally bring something new to our material world. Their work often brings a new point of view to everyday objects. Klaus and Elina are also part of the conceptual 1+1+1 -project, a joint co-operation with two other Nordic design studios form Sweden and Iceland. Among their most well-known works is the Vakka storage series for Iittala, which was awarded the iF Golden Design Award in 2014.

Special Thanks To

 

Additional Information

• Advanced booking required

• Suitable for all audiences

• Wheelchair accessible