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Werklig summer holiday plan ↑

"Men’s month. – Basically life couldn’t get any better”

Midsummer – Hot topic at home: “What, there is no TV on that island?!” 

(Brazil – Portugal, 25th June, 5 pm) Panic.

As usually, and even in this case, after all, there really seem to be a possibility to find the bright side of things. Bright side of life. I, accidentally, as a result of very random googling and after browsing couple of FIFA-related pages, succeed to start to see this very strongly more as a women’s month. 

Personally I chose to follow following players for one month:

Tsuneyasu Miyanoto (Japan) Photo via Daily Telegraph



Claudio Marchisio (Italy) and Roque Santa Cruz (Paraguay)

Conor Casey (USA) and Marco Borriello (Italy)

Thierry Henry (France)

Mourad Meghni (Algeria) and Miguel Torres (Portugal)

AND of course Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden) Ok, he didn't not actually make it to the FIFA World Cup - but I'm sure he will be in South Africa....and still hot. The coolest.

At Balihai 

A couple of weeks ago I met mr. Du Qin and mr. Zhao Yu from well-known international Design 360^o magazine during their journalistic trip in Helsinki. That was their day 7/10 in Helsinki and already before our date they've had over 60 design-related meetings all over the metropolitan area! Including all the prestigious Finnish design institutes, corporate giants, the most interesting Helsinki based design agencies, collectives and illustrators.

That night their host Professor Tapio Vapaasalo from the Aalto University had convened a group of passionate people to have a get-together at Balihai and to discuss about the special sense of community you can feel in Helsinki among the small graphic design studios, design collectives and illustrators. Those vital vibes. 

Also, it's always very interesting to hear others' points of view and notes about Finnish design scene. Actually I found it VERY fascinating to spend some time thinking about our unique Finnish vibes and state of mind. Like update one's own mind every now and then in the best possible company according to topic (Kaarle Hurtig, Lotta Nieminen, Johannes Ekholm, Janine Rewell).

I'm really looking forward to see the coming soon Finland Design Issue for Design 360°. That was the reason of Sandu Publishing guys' Helsinki trip of course. Now let their minds and eyes browse over & over and inside out all their Helsinki materials – Books and notes, interview tapes and pics, they managed to carry home and create a killer issue about our creativity!

Finnish Design Yearbook 2010-11 by Design Forum Finland is out now

Finnish Design Yearbook explores design as a tool of business success, a means for creating a better life and a better society, an aid for the commodification of innovations, and as an aspect of self-expression. Four very relevant viewpoints. 

The book is primarily aimed at the international market. Its international distribution will include bookstores, sales on the Web, design fairs and events, and the press. 

Werklig and our work is introduced in Page 101 – "Design as a business tool" section: Werklig is a Finnish brand design agency that has become a noteworthy contender in its field in only a few years. In 2009, Werklig designed an ingenious logo for the Best of Year graphic design competition, displaying the name of the contest in ribbon-like text.     

In the section "Design as a means of expression" you can find Minna Parikka scarves (A/W 2010) designed by Inka.

Easter 2010 in Berlin – Charlottenburg Palace inspiration 

Femininity – beauty – power: This combination has fascinated mankind for millennia. It is a mixture that was and is the basis of countless myths. On the threshold of the modern age, the myth of the Prussian Queen Luise (1776–1810) first originated through media-related means and it lives on to this day.

Three exhibitions set at her personal, historical locations illuminate the most diverse aspects of Luise's life and the legends surrounding her.  

A “media star” – long before Sisi, Evita Perón or Princess Diana ever arrived.

Exhibition's visual identity, graphic design of the Luise campaign with its playfully challenging and mind thrilling copy texts together with Luise portraits reminded me, once again, of the power and magic of graphic design. Communicate right, and wake forgotten stories and legends alive. Suddenly uninteresting things turns interesting. Fresh angles, contrasts. Somebody surely touched my heart with graphic design. 

The 200th anniversary of the death of the most popular woman in Prussia in 2010 is providing the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg with an opportunity to trace one of the most obstinate legends of German history.

Could this ever be the same without its graphic identity? Translated and communicated so straight forward, in so right level, to our media literate and conscious Generation Y?  

Her dedication to political reforms and her opposition against Napoleon
made her into a symbol of hope in Prussia.

Queen Luise, famous for her beauty, was quite conscious of her charms. She knew how to underscore her physical advantages in a natural, sensuous and occasionally liberal way with graceful, Empire-style dresses inspired by the forms of antiquity.

One of the three exhibitions shows outfits and accessories that belonged to the queen, as well as a selection of her portraits and further artifacts in the form of sculptures, graphic folios and letters.

"Saana ja Olli is a textiles company, established in 2009. Under the label textile designers Saana Sipilä and Olli Sallinen create print designs and produce high quality interior and everyday textiles as well as accessories. The company combines ecological materials and productionwith a simple and minimalistic Scandinavian appearance. Saana ja Olli design aspires to create environmentally friendly products which appeal to a wide audience."

Saana ja Olli was nominated as the best ‘Junior Achievement’ company 2009. They are so eager to learn, hardworking and humble. We see potential here.

Next big challenge, the highlight of the year, for Saana & Olli is going to be their participation and investment to Hirameki x Design Finland in Tokyo Designers Week in autumn 2010. It is a unique Finnish export platform comprisingof series of activities that deliver key actors - the most talented designers, design-oriented companies and current phenomena of Finnish life - to the Japanese audience.

We started a journey towards Hirameki Design X Finland together with Saana and Olli. A challenge.

Creative minds at work. Picture courtesy of Saana ja Olli.

Garments from "Toinen" series. The pattern is based on the written messages from found Finnish postcards from circa 1906-1944. Picture courtesy of Saana ja Olli.

 
How to find the best materials and right kind of expression without big money? Small things with great love.

Communicating with surfaces and materials in textile design – We wanted to take further and continue the idea of strong sense of materials in Saana & Olli printworks by choosing paper for every application very carefully. Haptic is the word.

Other point of view in Saana & Olli case is to point the feeling of handicraftmanship. These two elements – high quality hand picked papers with more raw expression of honest ‘hands on’ doing supposed to create a thrilling contrast to all Saana and Olli print materials.

To play with these two themes is the heart of the brand. High quality hand picked luxurious papers – strong sense of material is present. Then to almost violently logo stamp the shiny and pure stationary with black ink. Anarchy, make one’s mark, create contrast, mix together, confuse.

Work done and in progress:

Saana ja Olli identity
· Logo
· Visit cards
· Stationary
· Web design
· Look Book

For the products
· Hangtags
· Labels

+ Package design concept

Vanilla flower for 'Vanilla' & shamrock for 'Irish Coffee'

Freeze dried Colombian coffees

My friend is an entrepreneur and my hobby is to give him a little help with his label & package design.   

Our latest collabo – DeCasa family; Amaretto, Caramel, Irish Coffee and Vanilla is in stores now (at Stockmann's etc.).

I really like the small 50 g size of jars. It enables consumers to pick selection of different flavours home. Just like we are used to do with flavoured loose teas or tea bag selections. The price will be very competitive 2,40 € / jar. 

Through my friend, I have learned interesting details and quality facts about the Colombian coffee production. 100% Colombian coffee is always a matter of honour (authorised Cafe de Colombia logo).

Freeze-drying is the ideal process to preserve the attributes of flavour, aroma and perfect balance of the coffee.

Only minus is that freshly opened Decasa's scent is missleadingly very artificial and disturbing strong. That's weird, because the taste is just perfectly soft.

Last minute housewarming gift, 'leave behind' product when visiting a friend or think about to mix different kinds of coffee-based drinks using DeCasas.  

My next given hobby assignment is to design labels for very trendy freeze dried 100% natural fruits. This one goes to hipster babies. Colourful and fresh paper cut illustrations & fruit characters! Fun.  

The friends of Finnish Handicrafts was created 130 years ago in response to a manifesto exhorting Finnish artists and crafts enthusiasts to cherish and develop our national heritage of crafts.

Friends & Friends opening TONIGHT! Culmination. Bringing the message of the manifesto. I heard that at least Saara Renvall has developed nice product ideas for this. I bet they all have, actually – Samples and prototypes. 

Rainy day + opening = perfect act. 

Invitation

I spent a perfect weekend in Marais with Anna Ahonen from Ahonen&Lamberg. Mini holiday. Sun was shining in Paris, we were biking and just walking around. Visiting places we love, discussing about topics we find attractive and feel passionate about. Just perfect. 

Art

We visited galleries chosen by architecture (interior) and by (known) name, not by art itself or artist as we are maybe used to. That turned out to be an inspiring concept. Surprise art. 

Weekend's palette offered among other things a very nice solo show 'Considering Henry' by Hernan Bas in Gallery Emmanuel Perrotin (Miami&Paris).  

New romanticism, inspiration from the myths and the history of art. Lone figure in exotic landscapes, either reading alone or whispering to tree.

Gallery Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris

   
Hernan Bas, Considering Henry
I liked this isolated cabin painting

Fashion 

The release of the new Tim Burton version of Alice in Wonderland (starring Johnny Depp) had caused Alice mania in Paris. 

Printemps had collaborated with a gang of top fashion designers like Ann Demeulemeester, Maison Martin Margiela, Alexander Mcqueen etc. allowing them to decorate windows, create their versions of Alice in wonderland scenes – Alice outfits and playful display designs.

Actually Alice theme was going on in-store as well. I think that Ladurée's Alice in Wonderland tea party in the basement was amazing. Sweet delicacies & tea sipping. Books, macarons in every colour (black!), and other carefully picked theme-related objects from floor to ceiling.

The tea room itself featured a mix of chess board and grass floors. The sets were so impressive (out of this world!) that after some serious discovering and admire me and Anna couldn't find our way out from the store anymore. Art spectacular.

Photo via Heute World

Photo via Heute World 

Living 

Merci concept store is a fresh alternative for Colette. Lifestyle looking. Charity business. Merci donates all of its proceeds (after breaking even) for young women in Madagascar.  

I totally crushed on these Mydraps at Merci. First cloth serviettes 100% cotton or linen, in roll and pre-cut, for single use or to be washed and used again. High quality houseware design, with various colours and formats.  

A good idea on a roll!



THE kitchen at Merci = a system to tile three dimensionally. Originally as part of the Droog Design Collection. 
     
tiled washbasin, yes please. 

Internal fruitful Werklig discussions, yesterday's Grafia's and Aalto University's 'Future of graphic design'- seminar (We went to see how brilliant minds see it!) and for example Aiga's 'defining the designer of 2015' research shows that there is a one huge hot topic over the others. And that's the most relevant and inspirational issue that lead us, too, forward:

The ways of thinking & doing, processes, defining design, defining graphic designer and the content of art and design degrees in Finland, present and in future, keep our eyes and brains busy. We want to think that our influence is important. We need to speak out. 

In addition, there is a bunch of potential customers and the public who insistently asks questions of concrete profits they can reach by means of design, questions of added value. Lots of good argumentation work is done daily by us. I'm proud of us. 

In the past few weeks, I have found Werklig and our team to be a great success, because i think that already since Werklig's first baby steps over two years ago we have been searching solutions to right kind of questions, or more correct, we have asked the right questions and the very same ultimate ideal and goal that is in every institute's and great minds' lips now leads us forward.  

"Better vision leads to better solutions" as Marco Steinberg from Sitra puts it.

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