Helsinki-based Studio Plenty works with styling, photoshoots and aesthetics in general. Their recently renovated office brings new energy to their creative work. Design Stories interviewed co-founder Anna Pirkola to find out more about the renovation as well as current trends in interior design. Read more
Paint brand Cover Story sees painting as decorating, not renovating. That’s why they try to make buying and using their paints as effortless as possible to encourage people to decorate with color. Read more
Franckly Friends, dedicated to friends of pre-owned design, is a column that visits the homes of interesting individuals and delves into stories behind their design treasures. First up, we had the pleasure of exploring designer Fanni Lyytikäinen’s home, full of surprises – a forgotten pearl of 70s architecture in Espoo's Olari district. Read more
Helle Herman Mortensen and Jonas Herman Pedersen work closely together with both their design agency Herman Studio and the Form & Refine brand. In an interview with Design Stories, the designer couple sheds light on their creative process and what makes their collaboration work so well. Read more
Finnish designer Katriina Nuutinen's glassware is characterized by a delicate nature that stems not only from the fragile material but also from Nuutinen's own personality. In an interview with Design Stories, she explains how she has harnessed her sensitivity as a resource for her design work. Read more
The Cover chair family, designed by Thomas Bentzen for Muuto, took a long time and a lot of work to develop. In an interview with Design Stories, Bentzen reminisces on the design process that lasted more than three years – and praises the patience of the manufacturer. Read more
Woodio’s founder, Petro Lahtinen, accidentally invented an ecological material made by no one else in the world. At the moment, the waterproof wood composite is used to make bathroom fixtures, and it has the potential for a whole lot more. Read more
The beloved, award-winning Matti Pikkujämsä will start drawing first thing in the morning, and takes out his sketchbook during the day many times. Part of his artistry consists of portraits, which can make their subjects either cry and laugh. Read more
Aoi Yoshizawa designed the gradient Saari pattern for Lapuan Kankurit. Interviewed by Design Stories, Yoshizawa talks about the stages of the design process and the magical views from the Harakka island in Helsinki. Read more
Documentary director Virpi Suutari was reading love letters sent between Alvar and Aino Aalto at her summer cottage. These and numerous other sources and film shooting trips around the world were the basis of her latest documentary, Aalto. Read more
HAY co-founder Mette Hay is the creative director of HAY Accessories and responsible for curating the accessory selection with her team. In Design Stories’ interview, she talks about the aspects that make the task challenging and the ones that make it so rewarding – and also reveals her current favorite HAY product. Read more
Ateljee Kukkapuro, which has been the home and workspace of Yrjö Kukkapuro and graphic artist Irmeli Kukkapuro for decades, is an international attraction. Design Stories had the pleasure of visiting the studio and hearing about Yrjö Kukkapuro’s life’s work and the importance of the space and collaboration for creativity. Read more
Edited by Florencia Colombo and Ville Kokkonen, the Iittala book is the first one to provide a comprehensive picture of the 140-year history and advanced design philosophy of this iconic Finnish design company. Read more
Jenni Roininen, who works as Nikari’s creative director, has won the Designer of the Year award at Monocle magazine’s Design Awards 2021. We interviewed Roininen to hear her thoughts fresh after the win. Read more
Aamu Song and Johan Olin of design studio COMPANY get to know and work with local artisans on their travels. The result is distinctive and warmly humorous products with influences from different parts of the world. Design Stories met the couple in their light-filled atelier in the artists' residence Lallukka in Helsinki. Read more
In Paris, walking around the city is a great experience in itself. Mondo selected three streets that everyone should see at some point in time. They feature memorable sights, attractions and authentic discoveries, loved by the locals. The first choice is Champs-Élysées, famous for historical monuments and grand culture. Read more
In the home of Lauri Kähkönen, creative director of restaurants Grön and Way, all the objects are meant to be used. The vintage Karuselli chair by Yrjö Kukkapuro makes even everyday life feel festive. Read more
If you’ve run out of interesting things to watch on streaming services and staring at your smart devices is a bore, good design books provide a pleasant change. These five titles from Finnish Design Shop’s selection introduce you to the work of Anni and Josef Albers, modern wooden architecture, classics of car design, life in nature, as well as evolution of furniture design. Read more
The bookshelves made by Finnish Lundia still have the same structure as seventy-three years ago, but their look and feel are quite modern. We talked about ecological and modifiable furniture with Lundia’s Chief Operating Officer Karri Koskelo. Read more
Located on the Greek island of Santorini, the Saint Hotel proves that Nordic and Greek aesthetics have, in fact, quite many things in common. In Design Stories’ interview, Marianna Kapsimali from Kapsimalis Architects talks about the challenging project and the stunning end result, which is complemented by furniture supplied by Finnish Design Shop's Contract Sales. Read more