Our journey through the most significant milestones at Finnish Design Shop’s 2023 includes the launch of a new sustainability tool, a Paimio Sanatorium poster competition, and the expansion of our showroom. Let’s dive into the highlights of the year together!
Introducing the Product Sustainability Framework
After over two years of dedicated development, Finnish Design Shop introduced its new sustainability tool, the Product Sustainability Framework, also known as PSF, in the fall of 2023. What does this mean for you? Simply put, the framework assesses the sustainability of our whole product selection by conducting an in-depth survey with manufacturers. This enables you to view the sustainability ratings and criteria met by each product directly on their respective product pages.
Unveiled during Helsinki Design Week, the PSF received an enthusiastic reception from design professionals and was also featured in the globally renowned design publication Dezeen.
“Sustainability is a hot topic in our industry, but finding concrete data on it can still be a challenge. The Product Sustainability Framework is our answer to this. It helps consumers make more responsible purchases and also serves as a tool for interior professionals when seeking sustainable design for their projects,” explained Teemu Kiiski, CEO of Finnish Design Shop.
• Read also: The Product Sustainability Framework is here – say hello to your new sustainability tool! >
Design finds on two floors
During the summer, our showroom & shop in Turku expanded into a second floor, offering even more space for hands-on exploration of design treasures. Alongside the seasonal exhibits, the showroom features an expanded range of small items as well as vintage pieces from Franckly.
According to the showroom team, highlights from the past year included a festive Christmas exhibition and the vibrant HAY section on the upper floor, visited even by HAY’s founder, Rolf Hay. The visitor counter, initiated in March, displayed 23,563 visitors by the end of the year – the showroom's busiest month was July, recording a visitor count of 2,956.
The Finnish Design Shop restaurant, adjacent to the showroom, continued to serve delightful and abundant lunch experiences throughout the year.
• Finnish Design Shop’s showroom & shop >
New perspectives on Paimio Sanatorium
In spring, Finnish Design Shop had the pleasure of collaborating in a poster contest organized by the Paimio Sanatorium Foundation and Grafia, the Association of Visual Communication Designers in Finland. The contest sought fresh perspectives on Aino and Alvar Aalto’s legacy, inviting participants to interpret the Aaltos’ views on the human relationship with the environment, architecture, and design.
Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Paimio Sanatorium’s opening in 1933, the international poster contest received a remarkable 444 entries from around the world. The winning and honorable mention posters are available for purchase at Finnish Design Shop.
• See the winners: Inspiring joy and intuition – this is how the winning entries in the Paimio Sanatorium 90 – Human Perspective poster competition were created >
Ever-expanding online store
During 2023, we added over 4,000 new products and introduced 31 new brands to our online store. Some of the new brands included the ceramic company 1616 / arita japan, Swedish rug manufacturer LAYERED, Spanish lighting brand Vibia, and Finnish bicycle maker Pelago Bicycles.
Our development team tirelessly worked on enhancing the technical aspects of the online store every week. In total, 699 new developments were released, ranging from small usability improvements to major projects like the Project Sustainability Framework. Notable improvements also included the Swedish-language site, revamped site search, and the addition of product-specific reviews to product pages.
At your service
Finnish Design Shop’s Customer Service received nearly 100,000 inquiries in the past year – precisely 97,865 customer contacts. These contacts came through phone calls, emails, and our increasingly popular chat channel. The customer satisfaction rating for the year was 4.5/5, maintaining exactly the same level as the previous year.
The popular Ask the Customer Service series on Design Stories continued with eight new articles, providing insights into topics like shelving system design, lamp installation, and choosing eco-friendly design products. Overall, the Design Stories editorial team published 210 articles in two languages.
• Finnish Design Shop Customer Service >
Vintage treasures and circular economy
Franckly, Finnish Design Shop’s marketplace for pre-owned design, was buzzing with activity throughout the year. In addition to private sellers, new vintage stores and manufacturers like Made by Choice and Juslin Maunula joined the service.
The Franckly team also contributed vintage furniture to professional projects. For example, in interior architect Joanna Laajisto’s Sponda project, 15 second-hand Domus chairs were sourced, renovated, and upholstered locally in Turku.
Franckly also had a standout presence at Finland’s leading interior and design fair Habitare Helsinki, participating in the Habitare Choice section focused on sustainable design and circular economy.
Projects near and far
In 2023, Finnish Design Shop’s Contract Sales delivered Nordic design to offices, restaurants, hotels, and private spaces worldwide. One notable project was at the Loviisa Housing Fair, where the team contributed to furnishing the serene and nature-inspired log house Villa Havu.
One of the most significant projects of the year was the headquarters of the technology company The Sandbox in Los Angeles. The cozy and futuristic interior was designed by Diana Cerrada and Jukka Halminen from the Finnish design agency KOKO3. Finnish Design Shop’s Contract Sales, a long-time collaborator with KOKO3, delivered the furniture to the metaverse entryway. The collaboration continues, with a new Paris office project planned for later this year!
• Read also: The Sandbox’s headquarters in Los Angeles serve as an entryway into the metaverse >
For a better world
Equality, human rights, and inclusivity in the workplace are fundamental values for us. For the fourth consecutive year, we proudly supported Helsinki Pride as an official partner. In celebration of Pride Week in midsummer, Finnish Design Shop donated €10,000 to Helsinki Pride, promoting equality and standing in solidarity with the rainbow community and the work for human rights.
Similar to 2022, our International Women’s Day campaign focused on supporting Ukrainian women. Together with design enthusiasts, we raised a total of €21,968 for the UN Women Finland emergency fund, with Finnish Design Shop and Franckly doubling every euro donated to the campaign.
• Finnish Design Shop continues to support UN Women’s work in Ukraine >
In the fall of 2023, Finnish Design Shop marked its 19th anniversary. This means that this year, we’ll be gearing up to celebrate two decades of Nordic design. Stay tuned for a design-filled 20th-anniversary year!
See also:
• Finnish Design Shop’s 2022 highlights >
Text: Nora Uotila