The Renewal of the Maternity Pack
29.06.-02.09.2012 / 09:00 - 19:00
Maternity pack is the first benefit that the society offers for a family with a new born baby in Finland. The pack is given to around 40 000 families every year.
Maternity pack includes a wide range of baby products, such as clothes, cloth nappies, a hair brush, nail clippers and other essentials. The pack also includes a box-bed, mattress and bedding. In many families, the bed is being used as the first bed of the baby, and is being used throughout the first years.
Design competition for the look of the box-bed
Kela – the Social Insurance Institution of Finland wanted to modernize the look of the maternity pack by announcing a design competition for the students of graphic design at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture.
The competition task was for the students to design a new, fresh look for the pack – one which is long lasting, gender neutral, and indicates the function of the pack. More about competition
The importance of the pack is to improve the health and wellbeing of the baby and to give every child the same starting point in life in its first months.
More about maternity pack.
Exhibition in Gallery Virka
An exhibition in Gallery Virka showcases the results of the design competition, the history of the maternity pack and the contents of it.
The students of graphic design conseptualise and design the visual elements for the exhibition. The exhibition is open in Gallery Virka from 29 June until 2 September 2012.
Mrs Perkola and children looking at maternity pack at 1947.
Maternity pack at 1953.
Today maternity pack in use.
Current
News / Exhibition features a history of the Kela maternity package
Hurrah for a Good Start! is the name of an upcoming exhibition at the Virka Gallery, located in City Hall. It features the story of the so-called "maternity pack" - a big box bursting with clothes and other necessary items that is distributed free to all families with newborn children - from the 1930s to the present day. June 29th-September 2nd, 2012.
Key facts
Organizer
School of Arts, Design and Architecture / Department of Media / Graphic Design
Contact
Project planner
Katarina Broas katarina.broas [at] aalto [dot] fi
Important dates
Press conference at KELA – the Social Insurance Institution of Finland 8 December 2011.
Hurrah for a Good Start -exhibition 29 June – 2 September 2012, Virka Gallery.
Venue
Virka Gallery
Helsinki City Hall
Address: Sofiankatu 1 or Pohjoisesplanadi 11-13
Open: Mon-Fri 9-19, Sat 11-16
Partners
KELA - the Social Insurance Institution of Finland
The City of Helsinki