Focus on Finnish design – six brands to know about

With my recent trip to Helsinki, I thought it was as good a time as any to shine a spotlight on Finnish design. It was my first city break in a while and it was such a delight to be back in Scandinavia once again to soak up the culture and Nordic design aesthetic.

A lot of the focus of Scandinavian design tends to traditionally be on neighbouring Denmark and Sweden, but Finland also has a strong design heritage and wealth of talent. Governed by Sweden, and then by the Russians, the country only found independence a little over 100 years ago. The Finns have since sought to create their own design identity, taking inspiration from the natural landscape, the country’s raw resources and a particular preoccupation with light (or lack of it).

Here I’ve profiled six Finnish design brands to have on your radar. Several might be well-known to you – you might even have some of their designs in your home – while a couple could be new discoveries to fall in love with for the first time.

1. Poiat
Poiat is a Helsinki-based multi-disciplinary design studio that creates interior projects as well as the modern furniture its become known for outside of Finland. Founded in 201o by Timo Mikkonen and Antti Rouhunkoski, their design philosophy centres on creating a feeling of elegance and enduring timelessness. The word Poiat has a double meaning – it translates to ‘boys’ in a local Finnish dialect but is also the name of a small village in the Italian Alps. The refined forms and sophisticated aesthetic of Poiat’s designs are inspired by their love for Italian design but it is their Finnish heritage that defines the way they work today.

Poiat recently opened a new showroom in the Ullanlinna neighbourhood, known as Helsinki’s design district. There, they unveiled their new range of sofas and armchairs, called the Unio collection. The graceful designs are a result of the Studio’s close study of the relationship between wood and soft furniture. With a wooden pedestal and piped detailing, the collection has a refined profile that’s instantly recognisable.

‘The most challenging factor in the design process was to find a design
language for the furniture that adapts into many different types of
spaces while still representing its own persona among other pieces of
furniture,’ says Mikkonen. ‘We invested a lot of time in designing the proportions of the essential parts and the form. I think we succeeded in finding a balance between old and new. The result is timeless: the product’s visual design is balanced with some influences from the past decades.

Images courtesy Poiat

2. Woodnotes
Woodnotes creates beautiful carpets and other interior products using spun paper yarn. The design company was founded in 1987 by textile designer Ritva Puotila and her son Mikko Puotila with the desire to utilise paper’s unique properties. The inspiration for the company came from Finland’s rugged landscape and the Finnish raw materials of wood and paper.

Derived from wood fibres, their paper yarn is natural, ecologically produced and biodegradable. You might think paper wouldn’t be very strong, but it’s surprisingly durable when tightly woven. Paper is also hygienic and collects neither dust or dirt, unlike other fibres like wool, which is ideal for those with allergies. Since their beginnings Woodnotes has expanded their collection to include blinds, furniture and accessories, and not just in paper.

Woodnotes’ new In/Out carpets, made of 100% recyclable polypropylene fiber, can used inside in high traffic areas such as kitchens, hallways and bathrooms, as well as outside and even next to a pool. They have a soft tactile feel and come in a range of neutral colours. They’re resistant to abrasion and are protected against sunlight and water damage too.

Images courtesy Woodnotes

3. Artek
I’m sure you’re all aware of Artek, and if not, you’d probably recognise some of their furniture, especially the iconic Stool 60. Artek’s history stems back to 1935 when it was founded by the young idealists Aino and Alvar Aalto, Maire Gullichsen, and Nils-Gustav Hahl to ‘sell furniture and promote a modern culture of living by exhibitions and other educational means.’ The name is a synergy of ‘art’ and ‘technology’; two concepts at the heart of the modernist movement in the early Twentieth century. Artek’s manifesto looked to achieve a synthesis of the arts, improve everyday living and bring modernism to Finland.

Today Artek’s collection combines classic by Finnish designers with contemporary designs by international names. The brand stands for clarity, functionality, and poetic simplicity, whether that’s in the plywood experiments of Aalto’s chairs from the 1930s or the pure lines of the Bouroullec brother’s Rope Chair of 2020.

If you’re in Helsinki make a point to visit Artek’s 2nd Cycle store, where you can find a treasure trove of vintage Artek designs, many of which have become collector’s items. They regularly host selling exhibitions to highlight these unique, pre-loved pieces. It was in 2006 that Artek began collecting used Aalto chairs and stools, trawling flea markets, old factories, schools and shipyards to find lost pieces. The idea stemmed from the desire to promote conscious consumption – ‘the idea that what we buy should be carefully chosen, cherished rather than disposed’ – and seeks to showcase the longevity and enduring appeal of these designs.

Image 1: Mikko Ryhanen, 2: Erik Undehn, courtesy of Artek

 

4. Nikari
I first met Finnish design studio and furniture manufacturer Nikari at Milan Furniture Fair in 2o19 and then again this year at London’s Planted. Established in 1967, Nikari was founded on the idea of bringing out the best of wood in contemporary design. The company name is a play with the Finnish word ‘nikkari’, meaning a cabinet maker, the name of the area Nikkarinkoski (meaning ‘the river stream of the cabinet maker’) and the founder’s own name, Kari Virtanen. Seeking to find a balance with nature, their values prioritise uncompromising craftsmanship and sustainable production as well as ‘peaceful and authentic living’.

Sustainability isn’t just a buzz word for Nikari. Their studio and workshop use only next generation renewable energy from the hydro power plant next to their building in the village of Fiskars. The wood Nikari uses is mostly supplied by a sawmill next door in Fiskars, sourced from Northern European forests that promote sustainability and biodiversity.

Their most recent design is the new FRAME table. Designed by British architect John Pawson for his own family home in the Cotswolds, FRAME is all clean lines and sharp edges. Made using traditional wood joinery techniques, it’s solid and beautifully crafted. FRAME is made of sustainably grown solid ash or oak and has a life expectancy of over 100 years. Find out more here.

Images courtesy Nikari

5. HIMMEE Lighting
Founded in 2014 by Timo Niskanen, Helsinki-based company Himmee creates contemporary lighting that’s designed to be timeless and easy to use. The name Himmee comes from the Finnish word ‘himmeä’, referring to a light that is gentle and soft, not too bright. In slang, ‘himmee’ can also be used to describe something that’s great, grand or cool. Inspired by the particular light conditions of the northern hemisphere and the seasonal changes Niskanen grew up with in Finland, Himmee calls itself an ‘expert in light’.

Niskanen describes his designs as small sculptures that allow a certain freedom of expression. ‘What matters most is that the light functions as it’s expected to; but the design must be beautiful to look at even when the lamp is switched off. When a stylish light has been made of high-quality materials and it doesn’t follow passing trends, it will never go out of fashion. Then, the light can stand the test of time, use and rapidly changing fads,’ he says.

With sustainability at the heart of the company, Himmee’s lights are built in their studio in Vallila, Helsinki using responsibly sourced materials that come from a small radius, mostly in Finland. Himmee can also deliver spare parts and repair products to ensure they stand the test of time.

All images Himmee

6. Iittala
Internationally renowned design company Iittala began life as a small glass factory in its namesake village of Iittala in 1881. Dedicated to ‘inspiring better living’, Iittala creates functional and enduring designs that have become everyday essentials on many a kitchen table. ‘We believe that good design is always designed with thought and with function in mind and made available for everyone,’ they say. With its values firmly planted in its Finnish and Nordic heritage, Iittala continues to produce the majority of its glassware and ceramics from the same Glass Factory today (where I once went to see the famous Aalto vase being made!).

Iittala first made its name when they transitioned from ornamental dinner sets to making progressive Nordic designs in the early Twentieth century, collaborating with pioneers such as Alvar and Aino Aalto, Kaj Franck and Tapio Wirkkala to create today’s design classics. They continue to collaborate with contemporary designers including the Bouroullec brothers and Philippe Malouin.

In 2019, littala created its first recycled glass collection, produced from melted down waste glass at the Iittala Glass Factory. Each piece is one of a kind, ranging in colour from cool blues to calming greens and earthy neutrals. With sustainability in mind, Iittala’s Vintage Service also buys and re-sells pre-owned Iittala products as well as enabling customers to recycle broken or damaged glassware. The service is currently available in Finland and Sweden, with plans to expand elsewhere.

All images: Iittala