Design Finland

Better View - Elina Aalto for iukbox

 

Better View

is a series of perforated black out roller blinds designed by Elina Aalto for IUKBOX.

Light seeps in through the small cut out holes creating an image of a city by night. The cut-outs represent the

light in the windows of apartment buildings and office complexes in the city.

The series includes views from Paris, Tokyo, Helsinki and Stockholm in a limited edition of 1000 each.

I must say this is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while.

 

 

Elina lives and works in Helsinki. Her designs often combine practicality with decidedly

artistic qualities. She gets her inspiration from both fine arts and everyday observations and experiences. In

design, she aspires to strike a balance between an innovative approach and the longevity of the end product.

Young Designer of the Year 2007 prize to Julia Lundsten and Janne Kyttänen

Shoe designer Julia Lundsten (b. 1975) and designer Janne Kyttänen (b. 1974) have been awarded Design Forum Finland's Young Designer of the Year 2007 prize.

The awarded designers have both received their design training abroad – Julia Lundsten in London and Janne Kyttänen in Barcelona and Amsterdam. Lundsten established her shoe-design company FINSK in London, and Kyttänen the Freedom of Creation company in Amsterdam. Based on the designers' strong personal conception of design and intelligent insight into design and methods of manufacturing, these companies display international promise in both content and business skills.

The award jury noted that Julia Lundsten and Janne Kyttänen represent the best of Finland's internationally oriented young designers. Through their bold decisions and uncompromising work they are deepening the diversity of design and expanding its international character. At the same time, they express in their works the traditions of Finnish design – clarity and pure lines without ignoring a playful light touch.

The members of the jury were CEO Mikko Kalhama, Design Forum Finland, and curator Jukka Savolainen, Design Museum Helsinki.

Previous recipients of the prize are designers Harri Koskinen and Ilkka Suppanen (2000), interior architect Karola Sahi and architect Eeva Lithovius (2001), designer and cabinetmaker Tuuli Autio and designer and silversmith Pyry Tamminen (2002), graphic designers Antti Hinkula and Teemu Suviala (2005) and industrial designer Jukka Korpihete and furniture designer Mikko Paakkanen (2006).

Wooden heal shoes from Stratum collection (2007) by Julia Lundsten and Rollercoaster coaster by Janne Kyttänen (2006)

Interview: Kigge Hvid on Design and Innovation

In this interview Kigge Hvid, the CEO of Index: Design to Improve Life, talks about the essence of design and innovation. How design can go further than just form and function, how it can improve people's lives around the world.

Kigge Hvid is highly respected influencer worldwide. She recently gave a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

To read more about Index: Award 2007, follow this link.

Interview with a winner of Fennia Prize 2007 Honorary Mention

Shunjiro Eguchi is a Senior Designer with Nokia Design Group. He is the designer of Nokia N93 multimedia mobile phone and a winner of honorary mention in Fennia Prize 2007, an international design competition.

In this interview Shunjiro Eguchi explains the design principles of Nokia N93 and his view on the future of mobiles devices and mobility from a designer's point of view.

This interview was made in Design Forum Finland in Helsinki during Fennia Prize 2007 award ceremonies.

Fennia Prize 2007 Grand Prix to Rocla

The winners of the renewed Fennia Prize 2007 competition have been chosen. The main prize, the Fennia Prize 2007 Grand Prix (€ 15,000) goes to Rocla Plc for the design of the Humanic reach truck. Fennia Prizes of € 5,000 each were awarded to four companies: Huonekalutehdas Korhonen Oy, Halti Oy, PlusArkkitehdit and PaloDEx Group Oy (Instrumentarium Dental). In addition, 16 companies received the Fennia Prize Honorary Mentions. 

The Humanic reach truck which was awarded the Fennia Prize 2007 Grand Prix involved product development and design taking users as their starting point. Four years ago, Rocla Plc gave design an important strategic role in the company and employed an in-house designer. According to Design Manager Petteri Masalin, the prime considerations of design are usability, dependability, simplicity and functionality. The prize jury maintained that all these properties are realized with insight in the design of the prize-winning, user-friendly Humanic reach truck.

The Fennia Prize 2007 was awarded to four companies. Intended for adult students, the Flip chair and desk, which are stackable and can be joined in rows are made by the Huonekalutehdas Korhonen furniture company. Halti Oy’s prize-winning products were the ergonomic Gompa and Fiber jackets and the Green backpack, representing new production technology. PaloDEx Group Oy’s Ortopantomograph®OP200D- and Ortoceph®OC200D dental x-ray equipment received the Fennia Prize 2007 for their design and technical properties. The PlusArkkitehdit firm of architects received the Fennia Prize in the Open Series for its service concept for the single-family house and leisure home market. All four prizes entail a sum of € 5,000.

The selection of the prize-winners was carried out by a jury of distinguished representatives of design, media and the business community, including M.Sc.Pol. Hannu Ketola as chairman, designer Kristiina Lassus of Alessi as the jury’s Guest Member, and Design Forum Finland CEO

Mikko Kalhama

, chairman Jorma Pitkonen of the TKO association of industrial designers, creative director Ilmo Valtonen of Dynamo Identity, director for industrial design and content management Janne Viemerö of Tekes - The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation, Senior Adviser Janica Ylikarjula of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, and Pekka Ritvos, editor-in-chief of the Kauppalehti newspaper. Along with high-standard design, the criteria of selection were usability, responsibility with regard to society and the environment and impact on business.

The high level of the use of design by companies participating in the competition is shown by the fact that honorary mentions were awarded to 16 companies: Design House Idoli Oy, Finnzymes Oy, GE Healthcare Finland Oy, Hanna Korvela Design Oy, Lundia Oy, Marimekko Plc, Nokia Corporation, Nokia Corporation Networks, original habitek works, Rocla Plc, Suunto Oy, TAG Heuer S.A., Tulikivi Plc, Ursuk Oy/Suunto, Vivero Oy and YTV – the Helsinki Metropolitan Area Council. The award-winning companies and their products and concepts represent a wide range of design in various sectors of industry and the fields of furniture, interior design, textiles, medicine, high technology, precision mechanics, tourism and public transport.

Fennia Prize – Good design grows global is a design competition for firms and companies. It is open to enterprises making designed products or using design in other ways in their business. There are two series in the competition, the Product Design Series and the Open Series. The latter includes, for example, business and service concepts and environments. The Fennia Prize Grand Prix, individual Fennia Prizes and Fennia Prize honorary mentions are awarded in the competition. Awards include participation in the Fennia Prize exhibition, its tour of different venues and inclusion in the exhibition catalogue. The competition is arranged by Design Forum Finland. The prize sums are donated by the Fennia Group. The Kauppalehti newspaper is the competition’s media partner in 2007.

THE FENNIA PRIZE 2007 exhibition 16 February – 1 April 2007

Design Forum Finland, Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki

Warp Vases by Tonfisk Design

Tonfisk Design is announcing a new vase collection called Warp. The first public showing of the vases will be at the Ambiente Frankfurt in Franfurt am Main, Germany from 9th til 13th of February.

The shape of the Warp vases are made individually by hand, thus each vase will be unique in form. This is possible by a process where the vase is being treated manually right after removing it from the mold. In order to be able to maintain the high quality, a person with special skills is required.

This delicately organic form of the vase will fuction well with many type of flowers. Empty vase gives the interior a feel of  a very sculpture-like element.

The Warp vase is available in two heights, 21.5 and 31.5 cm.

Design with Quality

The Finnish design industry is constantly making effort to enhance the quality of design products. The latest advancement in the area is the announcement of Finnish quality label system, Laatumerkki.

Laatumerkki is a sign of quality in all areas of business, including marketing, manufacturing, design and economic issues. For the consumer this means a proof that the product with solid background.

To support the development, Laatumerkki board consists of experienced people that are committed to support the companies and their development.

The first set of Laatumerkki-certified products is now out. In Helsinki, they are for sale at Design Forum Shop.

• Sami Rinne Design, www.samirinne.fi
• Kuitukuu, www.kuitukuu.fi
• Kiuluverstas Jorma Pelkonen
• Pauliina Rundgren Handicrafts, www.prhandicrafts.fi
• Vislasi, www.vislasi.fi
• Design Any Pylsy
• Tättälän Tila, www.kolumbus.fi/tattalan.tila

For more information about Laatumerkki, please check out their website.

Finnish Fashion in Japan

The Finnish Institute in Japan will be introducing some of the top fashion names and brands in Finland. An exhibition called "Finland Collection - Fashion Design from the North"  (フィンランド新進ファッションデザイナー展) will take place in Tokyo between 13th and 19th of November at Spiral Omotesando Tokyo.

The show will feature the following Finnish fashion design brands.

IVANA Helsinki, the people behind fennofolk movement, with designer Paola Suhonen and Pirjo Suhonen

Lustwear, a two sisters' design company known for their ecological design principles.

Hanna Sarén,  a well-known artist with clothing and bags for men and women.

Naoto Niidome, a Finnish-Japanese designer introdusing his Koivikko cosmetics line, made out of Finnish birch sap.

Tiia Vanhatapio, an awarded young designer for women's and baby fashion.

St. Vacant, a shoe brand with unique sneakers and made-to-fit shoes.

Besides the exhibition, these designers have other activities. Naoto Niidome and IVANA Helsinki will have a VIP-show at the Finnish Embassy. Paola and Pirjo Suhonen will be lecturing at Bunka Fashion College and at Finland Café  2006 event.

For all those interested in Finland and Finnish design and close to Tokio - don't miss this great opportunity!

Kalevala Koru Goes Movies

Kalevala Koru just announced their first ever collaboration project with film industry. A limited edition pendant "Jadesoturi" l inks to the story of a new Finnish movie called Jade Warrior.

Jade Warrior's story links the Finnish epic story Kalevala with Chinese mythologies, creating a love story with combination of Kung Fu and fantasy.

Jadesoturi bronze pendant consists of flames from Kalevala in a shape of a wheel, a Chinese symbol of eternity. The text "Jadesoture (Jade warrior)" is included in Mandarin (Chinese) writing.

Jadesoture pendant is designed by Mari Saari, and will be available only for a limited period of time.

I personally believe this will be a collector's item, since the movie has been sold for commercial distribution in over 30 countries so far.

The Last Knit - a New Way to See Modern Finnish Design

In my view, design can be seen very widely. That's why I decided to include a great piece of modern design from Finland - 3D animation.

The Last Knit is one of the most viewed submissions in YouTube.com. Laura Neuvonen is behind this great 6:45 long animation, which has been shortlisted for Cartoon D'Or award, ie. the best animation in Europe.

The film is produced by Anima Vitae, which is known for it's great animation productions for TV and commercials. Their works are actually very well known in Finland.

I believe Anima Vitae and Laura Neuvonen will be the next 3D animation superstars. Just watch and see...

Since Typepad is not allowing me to embed YouTube content, here's the link to The Last Knit