[SDW] UPMADE IN ESTONIA

Minimalism, Circularity, Innovation: The DNA of Estonian Design

Speaker:  Ilona Gurjanova

Estonian design is defined by a distinctive blend of minimalism, circularity, and innovation—principles deeply rooted in the nation’s cultural and environmental ethos. Drawing from its Nordic heritage and resource-conscious mindset, Estonian designers prioritise simplicity, functionality, and sustainability.

This design DNA fosters a forward-thinking ecosystem where traditional craftsmanship meets cutting-edge technology, enabling Estonia to punch above its weight in global design conversations. Whether in architecture, fashion, or product design, the Estonian approach reflects a quiet resilience and a commitment to shaping a more thoughtful, regenerative future.

Planet-friendly Future Materials

Speaker: Riina Oun

The lecture spotlights a groundbreaking approach to sustainable design through bio-based innovation.

Riina, a visionary Estonian designer and founder of the Riina O brand, transforms waste from kombucha production—specifically bacterial cellulose—into SCOBY-compo, a vegan, leather-like material that is flexible, water-resistant, and compostable. Her work bridges traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge biomaterials, offering a regenerative alternative to plastic-based “vegan leathers” and paving the way for a circular fashion ecosystem

Minimalism, Circularity, Innovation: The DNA of Estonian Design

Speaker: Kärt Summatavet

Kärt Summatavet, an Estonian jewellery designer and graphic artist, bridges ancient symbolism with digital technology to transform how precious metal jewellery is conceived and produced.

Her pioneering use of virtual models enables the experimental enhancement of product development, allowing freehand artistic drawings to be digitized and translated into reproducible 3D prototypes.

This approach preserves the emotional depth of handcrafted art while opening the door to scalable production. Her jewellery collections feature intricate metal ‘drawings’—soul birds, folkloric landscapes, and historical motifs—crafted around digitally modeled cores, including collector’s coins and rock art forms.

Summatavet’s work redefines the boundaries between unique art jewellery, traditional craftsmanship, and industrial innovation, earning her multiple awards for design and technological advancement.

Circular Design as a Solution

Speaker: Reet Aus

In her compelling lecture, Circular Design as a Solution, Reet Aus, PhD—visionary designer, researcher, and founder of the UPMADE® method—challenges the fashion industry’s wasteful norms.

As a pioneer of industrial upcycling, Aus presents circular design not just as a theory, but as a practical, scalable solution to global textile waste.

Drawing on her research at the Estonian Academy of Arts and real-world applications in manufacturing, she demonstrates how leftover materials can be transformed into high-quality garments with drastically reduced environmental impact.

Her talk is a call to action: design must lead the way in reshaping production, consumption, and sustainability.

Estonian heritage and the fusion of tradition with innovation

Speaker: Kärt Summatavet

Kärt Summatavet, PhD, is a visionary Estonian jewellery artist, researcher, and educator whose work bridges ancient wisdom and cutting-edge technology.

Drawing inspiration from Finno-Ugric mythology, oral traditions, and women’s life stories, she transforms heritage into contemporary design through digital tools and virtual modeling.

Her jewellery collections—often described as “metal drawings”—carry the emotional depth of folklore while embracing the precision of innovation.

Summatavet’s academic research and exhibitions explore how traditional ornamentation and storytelling can be reimagined using digital culture, artificial intelligence, and sustainable design methods.

Her work is not just a tribute to Estonia’s cultural memory—it’s a living dialogue between past and future, craft and code, soul and system.

Venue:

Estonian Embassy in Singapore

18 Robinson #21-03, 048547