Linja Design gives up industrial product design

Linja Design, a well known industrial desing consultancy, will give up industrial product design services. They will continue on software user interface design.

Linja Design's product design team will be working for SWECO PIC, continuing with product design projects.

In my opinion, this is a shame. I've found that smaller independent units nurture more profound dedication to creativity and innovation.

Linja Design has been doing some great product designs for companies such as Suunto, Elcoteq and many others.

Go check their portfolio as long it's there...

Thanks for the tip for Perttu from Pajatorio

The press release:

23.08.2006
SWECO PIC AND LINJA DESIGN TO RE-ORGANISE THE DESIGN SECTOR
- LINJA DESIGN CONCENTRATES ON SOFTWARE USER INTERFACE DESIGN
- SWECO PIC STRENGTHENS ITS INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

SWECO PIC Oy and Linja Design Ltd have agreed on the sale of the product design business of Linja Design to SWECO PIC. The sale will take effect on 1 September 2006, making SWECO PIC one of the largest industrial design companies in Finland.

As a result of the sale, the product design team and product design projects of Linja Design, based in Helsinki, will be transferred to SWECO PIC. This will clarify the focus of Linja Design. After the sale Linja Design will employ 14 user interface designers.

"Designing software user interfaces a fast-growing sector and a special area that requires deeper specialisation as the competition grows stronger," says Eljas Perheentupa, Chairman of the Board of Linja Design.

"With the new focus, Linja Design can further deepen its knowledge in user interface design. SWECO PIC is our long-time partner and we know that our award-winning product design team will be working in a company that focuses strongly on design. They will have the support of a large international organisation and will be able to take part in international projects," states Vikki Noreila, Managing Director of Linja Design.

This re-organisation will result in closer cooperation between SWECO PIC and Linja Design, and strengthen the future development of both the user interface design at Linja Design and the industrial design at SWECO PIC.

"We want to be a forerunner – an engineering company that offers integrated product development services and design services for the industry. Engineering companies in general do not offer industrial design services and design companies do not have broad engineering skills. We employ nearly 300 specialists in different areas of product design, mechanics, automation, electronics and design. The industrial designers now moving from Linja Design will further strengthen our services for example in development projects dealing with consumer electronics," says Jaakko Anttila from the Manufacturing Industry R&D unit.