Our biological age tells a lot about what we are but not that much about what we strive for. Reaching out to genres and subcultures is key to reaching more (young) people. A couple of years ago we did a report for think tank Demos Helsinki on the power of peer groups. Our focus in […]

Three days in Vienna gives support to an even stronger emphasis on community work also in Helsinki. The success of cities should be measured based on the sense of capability of their people, not only based on the efficiency of its services.   Let’s start from the basics. Vienna is a city of 1,8 million […]

In order for a democratic community to function, all its members need to feel worthy of being seen. For this to happen, we need all to feel that we can chip in – that we are contributors. Amsterdam has managed to create a culture and youth policy with this ambition. They call it talent development. […]

(Tommi Laitio´s speech at the Closing Summit of World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 at Finlandia Hall on 29 November 2012) The true test for the World Design Capital year is whether it changes the core of government. We´re off to a good start in motivating communities of people to work with us. When tackling the […]