Lantern candleholder, 600 mm, white

Harri Koskinen (b. 1970) is a Finnish designer whose uncompromising and bold aesthetic has earned him international acclaim from the very beginning of his career. His breakthrough came in 1996 with the launch of the Block lamp. Today, Block is considered a true classic of Scandinavian design and has been part of the permanent collection at New York’s MoMA since 2000.

Koskinen has collaborated with numerous leading brands, designing everything from furniture and tableware to glass objects, lighting, watches and textiles.

Harri Koskinen – a master of conceptual design

Harri Koskinen is a renowned Finnish designer who studied at the Lahti Institute of Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki.

Rising to wider recognition in the late 1990s, Koskinen has since established himself as one of the key figures in contemporary Finnish design. His work is defined by originality, clarity and functionality – with a constant drive to develop new solutions for both users and manufacturers.

A driving force in contemporary Finnish design

Koskinen’s creations include the Lantern tealight holder and All Steel cookware series for Iittala, the K Chair for Woodnotes, and active loudspeakers designed for Genelec.

In 2000, Koskinen founded the design studio Friends of Industry Ltd., specialising in product, concept and exhibition design. In 2009, he introduced his own brand, Harri Koskinen Works, at the Milan Furniture Fair.

From 2012 to 2016, Koskinen served as Design Director at Iittala, and since 2024 he has continued with the brand as Design Development Lead.

International success

Koskinen has received numerous prestigious design awards, including the Compasso d’Oro in 2004 for his Muu Chair. His accolades also include the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize in 2009, a Wallpaper* Design Award in 2010 for the Sofabed, and the Kaj Franck Design Prize in 2014.

His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world.

Who: Harri Koskinen

• Finnish designer (b. 1970).
• Education: Lahti Institute of Design and University of Art and Design Helsinki.
• Works across industrial design, furniture, lighting and everyday objects.
• Design Development Lead at Iittala since 2024.
• Notable works: Block lamp (Design House Stockholm), Muu Chair (Artek), Lantern lamp (Iittala).

Read more in Design Stories

• Harri Koskinen: “Design begins with dialogue” >