Lilli Hollein on Vienna Design Week's 11th Edition: Design as Social Change

Lilli Hollein, director and co-founder of Vienna Design Week, discusses the festival's 11th edition in an interview with Artribune. The 10-day event, running until October 8, 2017, features 190 events across two main venues: Festivalzentrale Nord at Blaues Haus and Festivalzentrale Süd at Z-Sparkasse in Vienna's 15th district. Hollein, daughter of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Hans Hollein, emphasizes design as a dynamic field for social development and change. She highlights the festival's Passionswege project, pairing international designers with local manufacturers. The iconic ministerial-style chair, previously the festival logo, is now used as a physical guide at venues. Hollein rejects defining design with adjectives, calling it a continuously evolving phenomenon. She notes the public's intuitive ability to recognize beauty and the festival's aim to democratize design appreciation. The interview also touches on her background, including her work at Domus magazine (2000-2004) under Deyan Sudjic.