The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design invited 7th-9th grade students to participate in the design competition ”Mind the Environment – My Ingenious Solution” in an effort to raise local design awareness. The aim was to inspire young people to be more observant of their surroundings, whether at home, at school or nearby, and to find places and objects that evoke ideas on how to improve them.

Design is everywhere around us, from chairs, cups and phones to buses, books and clothing. Even the way we access or receive necessary information, and much, much more, has been designed by someone. Design is generally not at the forefront of our minds, just like we don’t spend our days contemplating why things are the way they are.

More than a hundred young people impressed the museum with their observations, reflections and ideas from a user’s perspective. Each  jury member selected 15 ideas from the submitted entries, highlighting the top three by awarding 12 points to the first, 10 to the second and 8 to the third place. The selection of the six jury members resulted in an exhibition of 32 entries, and the top three were decided by adding up the points.

The highest scores were given to insightful ideas aimed at solving societal challenges that could serve their purpose with further development. Young people were most interested in urban space, leisure, waste management, home and school.

You can find all the entries in the image gallery on the screen and the museum’s website. We invite each visitor to pick the solution that appeals to them the most to announce the Audience Award at the end of the exhibition.

The museum would like to thank all the young people who participated and their supervisors!

The authors of the pieces selected for the exhibition:

Gustav Adolf Grammar School: Liisbet Vahesalu, Madeleine Josephine Veerpalu, Marilin Jaanus, Marta Paron, Nora-Carolin Silkin, Rome Pukk

Haapsalu Viigi School: Janek Kadarik, Rauno Kulbok

Merivälja Comprehensive School: Anna Mariita Rokk, Anna Meentalo, Astrid Heleen Tõnisson, Elis Carina Pärnsalu, Elisabeth Käosaar, Helin Sombri, Mia-Emilia Sirel, Saara Adele Väljamäe, Säde Liis Linkus

Sally Stuudio art school: Adon Sünt, Getter Maapalu, Gertrud Lööper, Gertrud Tire, Johanna Mia Sade, Karola Raja, Liisa Paumverk, Lisete Laineveer, Lotta Marie Vallner, Marta Paron, Mira Trink, Sandra Männik, Solveig Agur

Tallinn Art School: Adel Polovnikova, Bianka Lotman, Cameron Polovnikova, Ketli Parbo, Laura Müürisepp, Sandra Schmidt, Triinu Tamme, Varvara Šustrova

Tallinn Õismäe Gymnasium: Oliver Pärna

Students’ supervisors:

Sirli Kont – supervisor at Gustav Adolf Grammar School

Villu Baumann – craft teacher at Haapsalu Viigi School

Tiina Tarve – supervisor at Merivalja Comprehensive School

Anniki Kari – supervisor at art school Sally Stuudio

Kadriann Soosaar – supervisor at Tallinn Art School

Ave Lipping – supervisor at Tallinn Õismäe Gymnasium

Jury:

Martin Pärn – Head of the joint Master’s programme Design & Technology Futures of the Estonian Academy of Arts and TalTech, partner and designer at design firm Iseasi

Maria Pukk – Head of the industrial design specialisation at bachelor level and head of the master’s programme at the Estonian Academy of Arts

Kai Lobjakas – Director of the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design

Sandra Nuut – Curator at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design and lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts

Kristi Paap – Curator of the image archive at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design

Sandra Sirp – Curator of educational activities at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design

Graphic designer: Sandra Sirp