Nordic happiness from Finland to Mongolia – Finnish Design Shop’s 2024 highlights
The PELATA pieces collection, launched in celebration of Finnish Design Shop’s 20th anniversary, invites to slow down and enjoy playful moments together. Photo: Mikael Niemi.
20 years of joyful design
Autumn 2024 marked the 20th anniversary of Finnish Design Shop. And what’s a party without a bit of fun? To mark the occasion, PELATA pieces, a spirited collection of wooden outdoor games and musical instruments, was launched. This first in-house collection was created in collaboration with Studio Kaksikko, Anderssen & Voll, Studio Tolvanen, and TAF Studio.
Another highlight of the anniversary year was the launch of a rare wooden relief by Alvar Aalto. Inspired by the iconic curves of the Paimio armchair, the Aalto relief was first introduced in 1933. Designed in partnership with Artek and the Aalto family, the handcrafted collector’s item is produced in Finland, with the first 20 pieces exclusively available through Finnish Design Shop.
After two decades, founder Teemu Kiiski still continues to steer the company as CEO. In spring 2024, the leadership team gained a boost with the arrival of Noora Tirkkonen as managing director, bringing expertise from the U.S. furniture market to the table.
• Read more: 20 years of pieces of Nordic happiness – Finnish Design Shop’s highlights from 2004 to 2024 >
As a member of the Friends of Nordic Happiness program, you’ll enjoy both exclusive rotating offers and permanent member benefits. Photo: Juho Huttunen.
Design deliveries around the world
In 2024, Finnish Design Shop shipped packages to 92 countries, reaching destinations as far-flung as El Salvador, Mongolia, Paraguay, and the Seychelles. Thanks to our own logistics centre located in Turku, southwest Finland, all in-stock items are processed and dispatched quickly. For the third year in a row, the warehouse team broke its record for order picking.
Our in-house customer service team is also based in Turku, ready to assist you via phone, email, or chat. Last year also saw the launch of our customer loyalty program, Friends of Nordic Happiness, which provides our friends with exclusive perks and member-only prices.
• Discover more: Let’s be friends! Finnish Design Shop’s customer loyalty program offers exclusive benefits for design enthusiasts >
Danish brand Fritz Hansen, known for iconic designs such as Arne Jacobsen’s Ant chair, was one of the new additions to Finnish Design Shop’s selection in 2024. Photo: Fritz Hansen.
5,528 new arrivals
Timeless design is the cornerstone of Finnish Design Shop’s curated collection. Many pieces have been part of the range since the beginning, but the selection continues to grow with future classics. In 2024, the online store introduced a staggering 5,528 new products – that’s more than 100 new items per week!
The collection now includes well over 300 design brands, both Nordic and international. Among the 36 new brand additions in 2024 were the famous Danish brand Fritz Hansen, Japanese ceramics manufacturers Sabato and Hasami Porcelain, Spanish rug maker Nanimarquina, and Swedish Masimalo known for its Scandi-style dog accessories.
• See also: Most popular design products of 2024 >
The showroom’s spring exhibition featured soft pastel tones and natural materials, creating a fresh and inviting atmosphere. Photo: Suvi Kesäläinen.
The showroom’s bustling year
Finnish Design Shop’s showroom & shop, along with its adjoining lunch restaurant, drew design and food enthusiasts from near and far. Summer months were especially busy, with August and July leading the pack, followed by the pre-Christmas rush. Seasonally changing displays, floral workshops, an art exhibition, and the showroom’s first-ever friends’ sale – with queues stretching far out the door – added to the excitement.
The showroom’s interior designers at Finnish Design Shop Studio tackled projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the year. One standout project was a holiday home in the archipelago of Kimitoön, which underwent a remarkable transformation.
• Read the story: This vacation home blends modern design with Finnish archipelago charm >
In addition to its original furniture, Finlandia Hall’s new café showcases pieces supplied by Finnish Design Shop’s Contract Sales. Photo: Riikka Kantinkoski.
Furnishing iconic spaces
Finnish Design Shop’s Trade and Contract Sales team had a big year in 2024, supplying furniture to projects both at home and abroad. Among the highlights was the newly renovated Finlandia Hall in Helsinki. This Alvar Aalto-designed gem, completed in 1971, reopened to the public after an extensive restoration. The Contract Sales provided furniture and lighting to complement the hall’s original pieces and outfitted the Finlandia Homes, new hotel-standard apartments that were originally built for the hall’s staff.
Other major projects included the new Finnair Lounge at Helsinki Airport and the revamped, colorful interiors of Sokos Hotel Royal Vaasa.
• Explore the story: Alvar Aalto’s Finlandia Hall enters a new era >
Iittala’s Sarjaton collection became a Franckly bestseller after its production ended in 2018. The Metsä pattern was created by the design agency Musuta. Photo: Jose Jompero.
Franckly: 5 years of vintage
Franckly, Finnish Design Shop’s curated marketplace for pre-loved design, has been connecting vintage treasures with new owners for five years already. Here are the team’s top three picks for trending products right now:
The classic: The ever-popular String shelving system is a versatile favourite that can be updated to suit changing needs. On Franckly, people look for both complete shelving setups and individual components to expand their existing String systems.
The surprise: The enduring popularity of Iittala’s Sarjaton collection shows no signs of fading. Perhaps it’s the soft, organic forms designed by Harri Koskinen combined with delicate, nature-inspired patterns.
The next big thing: The chrome comeback. Chrome has been trending for a few years now, and demand for pre-owned design pieces featuring this shiny material is on the rise. Popular picks include Panton Wire modules as well as the Curva stool and magazine rack.
• See also: Franckly Favorites: The season’s most followed pre-loved designs >
Suvi Suitiala’s illustration celebrates women’s and girls’ rights as part of Finnish Design Shop’s International Women’s Day 2024 campaign.
Advocating for equality
Finnish Design Shop’s traditional International Women’s Day campaign once again raised funds to support women’s and girls’ rights. This year, we donated €5,000 to support UN Women’s global work in crisis areas such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. We were also honored to serve as an official partner of Helsinki Pride for the fifth consecutive year, contributing €10,000 to support the vital work of the Helsinki Pride community in promoting equality and human rights.
Home stories are among the most-read and sought-after article types in Design Stories. This article featuring a colorful Helsinki home was one of last year’s top reads. Photo: Sameli Rantanen.
10 years of Design Stories
2024 wasn’t just about 20 years of Finnish Design Shop or 5 years of Franckly – it was also a milestone for Design Stories, celebrating 10 years!
First launched as a print magazine in 2014, Design Stories became an online publication in 2017, offering fresh content in both Finnish and English languages several times a week. In 2024, the editorial team produced a total of 158 articles across both languages.
Design Stories’ most-read articles of 2024:
Art and design blend harmoniously in this unique home in Helsinki >
A sense of belonging – Mikko Nissilä’s family home in a modern wooden house is an art of balance >
Published on 17 Jan, 2025
