The 4th edition of Design September Brussels has just closed its doors offering nearly 80 events hosted in more than 100 locations across the Belgian capital. Year after year, galleries, associations, institutions and other independent organisations have joined the forces in order to offer a rich and varied programme that encompass design in the form of graphics, furniture, objects industrial products and architecture.
Between 9 September and 1 October 2010, the event featured both national talents such as Bram Boo, Raphael Charles, Sylvain Willenz, Pauline Gorelov, and internationally recognised designers: the equals of Michele de Lucchi, Harri Koskinen, Ineke hans, Kiki van Eijk and Anthony Burrill took part in exhibitions, conferences, debates and so on.
Brussels is a developing city in terms of design: there is no proper museum dedicated to it, but they are trying hard to follow the examples of the other metropolis in the world like London, Milan, Tokyo, Paris, Berlin which have invested in creativity for a longer time. However, Design September cannot stand comparison with the most important design festival and if we juxtapose it with Salone del Mobile in Milan or 100% Design London, there is still a lot to do in relation to event advertising and communication.
The upside of having such a young history consists in a more down-to-earth attitude of the protagonists involved who are more available to interact with the visitors and open to discuss and sometimes even to give advice. A clear example is Designers Open Doors which allows the public to enter into the world of Brussels designers, offering students, professionals and simple amateurs in design the opportunity to meet creators personally, to discover their work , to understand the creative and the production process.