Aune Siimes (1909 – 1964), Finnish ceramicist
2023-03-21
Aune Siimes (1909 – 1964) was a Finnish ceramicist. She attended Taideteollinen Korkeakoulu in Helsinki from 1932 to 1933.Read More →
Bertel Gardberg (1916 – 2007) Finnish Jeweller and Metalworker
2023-03-19
Bertel Gardberg was a Finnish jeweller and metalworker. Between 1938-1941 he studied at Taideteollin Korkeaukoulu, Helsinki. He began his working life in Copenhagen. Gardberg moved to Helsinki where he maintained a studio between 1949-1966. He was responsible for stainless steel and silver designs produced by the Georg Jensen Solvsmedie; Galeries Lafayette department store, Paris and Kilkenny Design workshops, Dublin. Although he was known for his metal wares, he also worked in wood and stone.Read More →
Tapio Wirkkala (1913 – 1985) Finland’s leading designer
2023-02-24
Tapio Wirkkala is widely regarded as one of Finland’s most influential designers. Wirkkala began hisRead More →
Finnish Design: A Concise History (hardcover)
2023-01-07
Finnish Design has contributed significantly to the country’s economy and international identity. This beautifully conceived study examines the influence of Finnish modernism and its essential characteristics. The book extensively demonstrates how architecture works in the tension between art and business. Numerous photographs, posters, and illustrations depict every conceivable element of Finnish design’s rich diversity.Read More →
Arttu Brummer (1891 – 1951) Finnish designer
2023-01-03
Arttu Brummer was a Finnish interior and glassware designer. Brummer set up his own interior design office in 1913. Read More →
Borje Rajalin (b.1933) Finnish Jewellery Designer
2023-01-03
Borje Rajalin is a Finnish Jewellery Designer.
Rajalin worked at Bertel Gardberg’s silversmith from 1952 – 1956. His design work included technical equipment, plastic fittings, cutlery, stainless steel table and cookware and with Anti Nurmesniemi in 1972 a train for the Helsinki Railway. They collaborated with station designers to make the metro stations modern and chic. Rajalin produced silver designs for Bertel Gardberg and jewellery for Kalevala Koru. He taught at Taideeteollinen Oppilaitos and was the director of Taidetelinen Ammattikoulu in Helsinki.Read More →
Marjatta Metsovaara (1927 – 2014) Finnish Textile Designer
2023-01-02
Metsovaara’s style ranged from designs made up of organic forms in vibrant hues to muted neutral tones. She designed for 10 mills in Finland and abroad by 1967, and she made both printed and woven textiles. She ran her design studio and weaving mill in Urjala, Finland.Read More →
Marimekko Finnish textile Company
2023-01-01
Marimekko, one of the most well-known Finnish textile companies, was founded by Armi and Viljö Ratia in Helsinki in 1951 as the trendy and innovative arm of their parent business, Printex, which they also formed two years earlier. At Printex, Armi Ratia created bold, experimental printed cotton textiles. Still, after this failed to catch the popular imagination, she founded Marimekko.Read More →
Armi Ratia (1912 – 1979) co-founder Marimekko
2023-01-01
Ammi Maria Ratia (1912 – 1979) was the co-founder of Marimekko Oy (‘Mary’s frock’) Clothing was created to free women from 1950s’ tight, body-shaping dresses and move them into fresh, free-flowing dresses, skirts, trousers, and shirts.Read More →
Design in Scandinavia travelling exhibition, 1954 – 1957
2022-07-31
Brilliant examples of contemporary home furnishings were shown from Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden and exposed Americans to Scandinavian design, inspiring a shift towards mid-century design.Read More →
Aimo Okkolin (1917 – 1982) Finnish Glass Designer
2022-07-24
He made deeply cut crystal objects that were often coloured. He used a lot of nature subjects. The most famous is “Lumpeenkukka”. This glass object, designed by Okkolin in 1960, was Riihimäki Lasi’s best-selling single object. Okkolini’s glassware was presented to several foreign heads of state. He continued working for Riihimäki Glass until 1976 when glassblowing by hand was stopped. After that, he worked as a freelance designer. He was granted a state artist’s pension in 1980. Read More →
Riihimaki Glass – Finnish Glass Factory
2022-07-24
Riihimäki Glass was a Finnish glass factory. The factory, established in 1810 for the production of domestic glassware, began production of window glass in 1919. It purchased various small factories, including the factory in which the Finnish Glass Museum is located today. After buying the Kaukalahti glassworks in 1927, Riihimaki became the largest glass factory in Finland.Read More →
Gunnel Gustafsson Nyman (1909 – 1948) Finnish glass and textile designer
2022-07-17
Nyman worked for all the great Finnish glass manufacturers of the 20th century: Riihimaki from 1932—47, Nuutajarvi-Notsjo from 1946—48, and Karhula from 1935—37 (and at littala from 1946—47). She designed for both production and studio glass.Read More →
Antti Aarre Nurmesniemi – Finnish Interior & Industrial Designer
2022-01-18
Between 1949-50, he was a furniture designer at the Stockmann design office, Helsinki; 1951—56, he was furniture and interior designer in the Viljo Revell architecture office, HelsinkiRead More →
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft – Folk and Textile Art
2022-01-18
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft aims to document and promote typically Finnish textiles. The association was founded in 1879 by Fanny Churberg and inspired by the Swedish Friends of Handicraft association, founded five years earlier. The association has always worked closely with artists and architects and, from an early date, cooperated with, e.g. Jac Ahrenberg. The association collected and published a pattern book of traditional textile patterns in its early days. Read More →
Lisa Johansson-Pape (1907 – 1989) Finnish Designer
2022-01-18
Between 1928-30, she designed furniture for Kylmakoski; 1928—37, she was a textile designer for Friends of Finnish Handicraft. From 1952, its artistic director, 1937—49, was furniture, textile, and interior designer for Stockmann, Helsinki. Read More →
Rut Bryk (1916 – 1999) Swedish ceramicist/graphic/textile designer
2022-01-14
In 1942, she worked for the pottery Arabia, Helsinki; from 1959, she was a freelance ceramics designer with Rosenthal, Selb. From the 1960s, she worked for Vassa Cotton Company.Read More →
Alvar Aalto (1898 – 1976) Finnish Architect, town planner and designer of furniture
2022-01-04
Aalto was considered a hero in Finland. He was responsible for much planning and construction following the end of the war between Finland and the soviet union in 1944.Read More →
Yki Nummi (1925 – 1984) Finnish Interior Designer & Colourist
2021-12-03
The versatile designer Yki Nummi (1925-1984) was born in China to a missionary family. He studied in Finland and after graduating from the University of Art and Design Helsinki, he was hired as a lamp designer for Orno. His most famous products are the timeless icons Modern Art table lamp and Skyflier pendant lamp.Read More →
Perttu Mentula (b.1936) Finnish architect & Interior Designers
2021-11-30
Perttu Mentula (b.1936) was a Finnish architect and interior, exhibition, product, graphic, and furniture designer.Read More →