Design Finland

Art Supermarket Pikasso

In September a very interesting and innovative project took place in Helsinki - a supermarket selling modern art.

The project called Taidesupermarket Pikasso was really a supermarket. It was set up in a former supermarket with the original shelves and counters, shopping baskets and trolleys - they even had sale during the last days!

Pikasso started with a huge media campaign. They promised to give out 100 pieces of art to first visitors. And they were surprised - a line of over 100 meters for the opening day! There were not enough for all who came to get theirs.

Pikasso featured almost 100 different artists from Finland and abroad. The most expensive work was Andy Warhol's Campbell Soup graphic for 35,000€ whereas the cheapest items for sale was just couple of euros.  The number of visitors is said to have almost reached those of Kiasma, Helsinki Museum of Contemporary Art. As for sales, they reached par for monthly sales of top galleries in Finland.

The tho gentlemen behind this innovation are artist Jani Leinonen and marketing executive Jukka Kurttila. Jani Leinonen is one of the hot young artists in Finland with multiple very successful projects, and Jukka Kurttila is a successful marketer from Bob Helsinki, one of the most innovative marketing agencies in Finland.

I talked with Jani Leinonen and Jukka Kurttila about the birth of the project. They said it all started from a dilemma, that ordinary people feel it's very unconvenient to visit art galleries. Galleries have an image of being targeted towards the small group of art connoiseurs. Thus, the wanted to bring art closer to environment that is familiar to everyone. So they thought supermarket.

In Pikasso there were also much larger selection and variety of work available than in galleries. You needn't know whose work you want - just go browsing in and get pick the ones you like.

Pikasso premises were rented from a supermarket chain, so they still had all the furniture left. All they needed to do was to hang the art and produce some supermarket type signs.

The reactions from people have been very positive. There were more artists offering their works for sale than they could carry. The customers and the media have really loved Pikasso.

It's not yet known what will come out of Pikasso project. Will art be sold at supermarkets in the future? Is the role of art galleries going to change? Who knows.

Anyway , buying art was certainly much more accessible than before.

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

Ivana Helsinki Private Shopping in Helsinki

All you Ivana Helsinki lovers - here's another reason to come and visit Helsinki!

Ivana Helsinki, the evangelist of fennofolk style, is opening a private shopping premises near downtown Helsinki, in Kallio. Kallio is a rough neighbourhood favoured by students and creative people as  well as alcoholics and drug addicts . And it all takes place in the apartment where designer Paola Suhonen used to live. This is a first time in Finnish clothing scene, where a specific property is dedicated for private shopping.  Here's the details:

IVANAhelsinki has a marginal but loyal following worldwide, including people like Helena Christensen, Nina Persson (Cardigans), Eva Röse and Mew. Now the label is taking intimacy to a new level. Founder, designer Paola Suhonen will open her soon-to-be-ex-home to IVANAhelsinki clients.

What makes this concept unique, is the level of trust. Ten (10) keys will be available for anyone for two weeks at a time. During this time, the keeper of a key may go shopping to IVANAhelsinki Kallio store whenever (s)he wants – 24/7. Alone.

The idea is that future luxury shopping is not about presence but about giving people the time and space to do their shopping without surveillance and free of formal opening hours. IVANAhelsinki believes in the atmosphere of a home as a shopping stimulation. You may take along friends or maybe just visit alone and make some tea while peacefully checking out and trying the collection.

Should a customer of the store want to purchase items, all (s)he has to do is write down the specifics in a notebook and take the shopping with her. Invoice will be sent afterwards.

Though the new store will mainly be marketed to loyal customers, basically anyone can have a key. There’s a sales person present part of the week: Wed-Fri 12 -6pm and Sat 12-4 pm and at those times the store is open to anyone. (The only trick is to call a mobile number to get into the second floor apartment). Other times the store is solely for the keepers of the key. Should they need assistance, they have the number they can call.

This concept is an intriguing opening in retail. It suggests that “service overdose” is not the best way to serve demanding customers. It believes in people wanting independence, privacy and intimacy in creating their own personal style. To follow the same ideology, IVANAhelsinki believes in everybody being their own stylist: there’s no need for readily thought out, coordinated combinations. A person’s style is like an everchanging puzzle that people put together all their lives: something second hand, something borrowed from grandmother’s wardrobe, something ultra expensive and something homecrafted, perhaps. Certain refreshing roughness has entered the universe of design labels.

Ivana Helsinki Kallio Store is open from TODAY. All fans celebrate! The address is Franzeninkatu 21 A 7 - but you need to get the key or know the number...

This text contains excepts of a text written by Anna Moilanen to the Future Laboratory's Autumn06 Trends Newsletter. All pictures courtesy of Ivana Helsinki

Helsinki Design Week

Helsinki Design Week, a series of design-related events, is about to start. There will be a large number of different events from Sat the 23rd of September until Sun the 1st of October.

Some of the key event are listed below.

Tuunaa Stadi, or in English, Pimp My City, is a competition for creative students in Finland. The idea is to use creative designs to do something about the ugly construction projects in cityscape. The four finalists are available for the public at Stockmann and World Trade Center renovation sites (both located on Keskuskatu).

Desing Market is a open marketplace for design from on 23rd and 24th at Merikaapelihalli.

Open Studios event gives access to designers offices and KOTI will allow people to some of the private homes in Helsinki.

The main event of the week, Designpartners06 will start on Wed the 27th and last until Sat the 30th. Designpartners is hosting a number of seminars, events and award ceremonies.

Most of the design shops have special events and discounts for the public - really a great chance for design shopaholics - whether your're into Marimekko bags or Ivana Helsinki's fennofolk items - this is your week!

Also, do not forget the Habbo Hotel's pixel art event and charity event Empty Bowl - Tyhjä Kulho on Sat the 30th.

For more information in "traditional" web format - go to http://www.helsinkidesignweek.fi/english/

To see their web-tv, the right address is www.helsinkidesignweek.tv

A tribute to Maija Isola's Unikko by Marimekko

Marimekko is one of the best known Finnish design and fashion companies. Unikko (poppies) is their most successful pattern today with dozens of applications.

Unikko was designed by Maija Isola and first introduced in 1964. Walking in Helsinki today will make you see Unikko several times every day. Here is a collection of examples where Unikko can be seen. All applications pictured here are official Marimekko approved designs, but people have produced various other applications by using Unikko textiles.

Bed linnen, trivets, rubber boots, kitchenware, bags, towels, nordic walking sticks, shower curtains, chairs...

Just pick your favorite and enjoy the Unikko experience!

Tapio home textiles by Finlayson

Finlayson, a traditional Finnish textile manufacturer, has been modernising their brand image for a while. A good example of that is Tapio collection designed by Sami Vulli.

Tapio design is featuring moose, one of the emblem animals for Finland and Scandinavia. According to Finlayson, Tapio is ideal for those interested in hunting, but I've found that these cute moose figures attract animals lovers all over the world.

Tapio includes a duvet cover set and two towels of different size. Tapio is available through whole Finlayson retail channel.

(picture: Finlayson)

Real everyday fashion from the streets of Helsinki

HEL LOOKS is a website run by Liisa Jokinen (a fashion journalist) and Sampo Karjalainen (one of the founders of Habbo Hotel).

On their site they publish pictures of people with different clothing styles - straight from the streets of Helsinki. They also interview the people and ask them to tell what they are wearing.

HEL LOOKS is a very good gallery of original and mostly very stylish people. This really is something you can on the streets of Helsinki - every day.

Something for the fashion freaks to check out.

Maija Isola patterns for Marimekko

Holly wrote about Marimekko cows in Decor8 today. The fabríc in question is Unikko, one of the best known patterns by designer Maija Isola.

Maija Isola designed over 500 different patterns for Marimekko from 1950's to 1980's, and is propably the most famous designer Marimekko has ever had.

Unikko (poppy)  pattern was introduced in 1964 and is still very much alive today, It exists in dozens of applications from bed linnen to nordic walking sticks.

Just to give you an idea of various Maija Isola designs, below is a set of examples by Maija Isola. For more information, please check out Maija Isola's information.

Examples in order are Unikko (poppy), Kivet (stones), Appelsiini (orange), Heinä (hay), Lokki (seagull), Kaivo (well), Kioto, Tuuli and Primavera.

Chao-Hsien Kuo for Lapponia Jewelry

A young talented designer, Chao-Hsien Kuo is a fresh designer to contribute for Lapponia Jewelry. Chao-Hsien has designed her selection called Orientale to contribute to the line of excellent Finnish jewelry design selection Lapponia jewelry has. It's also notable that she is the first female designer Lapponia has ever had.

Previously, Chao-Hsien has designed for Chao & Eero Jewel with very nice results.

Other famous designers working with Lapponia include Björn Weckström, Christophe Burger, Pekka Hirvonen and Poul Havgaard.