Leaving sketches behind: Martin Larsson

Name: Martin Viktor Anders Larsson

Age: 22 

Hometown: Jakobstad, Finland

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

I grew up in a small, seashore town called Jakobstad, in Western Finland. I had a good and peaceful childhood, like the most of us I think; running around in forests, teasing my brother and my sister, playing on playgrounds and so on. Ever since I could hold a pen in my hand I've been drawing. The most likely reason why I got "stuck" in drawing was my grandmother; she mostly painted landscapes, but drew and wrote a couple of poems as well; you could say that she was an artist. Every time she and my grandfather came to visit us, I sat in her lap, or beside her at the kitchen table, and we drew together. So, ever since this, drawing and painting have been two of my hobbies and interests.

 



Self-portrait



What got you interested in studying furniture design?

In my last year in high school I started to think about my future, which school I should try to apply to. I got more and more interested in culture, art and architecture, so one of my relatives suggested that I should continue my studies at the upper secondary school, and so I did. At that time I wanted to become an architect and my goal was to apply to the Aalto University. However, my dreams and plans went downhill because of my bad mathematic skills.  

 

Even though my dream of studying at Aalto University didn't become reality, I still wanted to study and do something in the creative field, something where you hold a pen in your hand, so to say. So, one day one of my teachers suggested that I should try to apply to the design program at Novia University of Applied Sciences in Turku. So I did and here I am! I must admit that I was slightly sceptical at first, but as soon as I began my studies, it got more and more interesting and I got more and more positive towards this line of work.   

You as a designer / What kind of jobs interest you?

It's a bit early to say, at this stage. I have a small feeling that I'm quite traditional, even slightly conservative at some points. But, at the same time, I'm still open and like to pick up modern expressions and new ways of thinking, which you have to be these days, in my opinion.

What kind of jobs interests me then? To be honest I haven't thought that much about it, but I could imagine myself working with industrial design and / or with interior design in the future.       

From what angle will you be approaching the theme "Senses"?

My concept is that I'm going to "fool the eye", so to say. The frame on the sofa table that I'm making has a twisted look; at the same time it's symmetric it's also non-symmetric, which makes it more interesting. It's also a combination between the straight, traditional lines and the twisted, modern ones.
 





Sofa table Nr 8

What do you hope for or expect from Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015?

Firstly to get more experience in this line of work, to see how people respond and what they expect from you. Secondly to get contacts, of course. To make friendships that you can build on, which hopefully leads to working partners one day. 

Can you name a piece of furniture that has made an impression on you and why?

It's quite hard to put your finger on it, but maybe Arne Jacobsen's Swan chair. It has a smooth and elegant look, I like the way the lines flows around.

   



Leaving sketches behind: Casper Tuomaala

Name: Casper Zacharias Tuomaala

Age: 24

Hometown: I grew up in Ekenäs, Finland, but I suppose I'd call Turku my home these days.

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

A difficult question to answer, but I'll try to portrait myself through a few key interests of mine.The first that comes to mind is balance and bodily control, for which I get an outlet through skateboarding and perhaps through dancing whenever I hear a bass line I can't resist. A balanced mind is essential for me as well. I'm not saying I've found perfect harmony yet, but I'll get back to you one day as my hairs turn grey.

Another essential aspect of my life is creativity and aesthetics. Being creative, be it by telling jokes or by making concept designs for toothbrushes or park benches, gives me a sense of fulfillment. My creativity is inspired by most anything, ranging from technical solutions of other people, to various natural phenomena.

Human relationships and social interaction is also of utmost importance to me. No less so when it comes to problem solving within design. I find that when designing, there is no substitute for the combination dialogue and wine.

A self portrait from my optical experiments towards the fair

What got you interested in studying furniture design?

A realization that a school program focusing on the creative arts would be the perfect environment to mature as an artist in general. Studying design also prompts me to channel my creativity on something concrete. I come from a lineage of woodworkers, and so my choice of studying furniture design was also a kind of tribute to my ancestors.

You as a designer / What kind of jobs interest you?

Having been engaged in design for only a few years, it's hard to point out any particular style of mine. I am however intrigued by minimalism, warmth, organic shapes and lasting impressions.

I find excess to be the #1 problem facing (furniture)design. New objects are continuously being spat out into a world already overburdened. This however, I believe cannot be the end of the art form - there must be a way around it. For instance, one could design user experiences for exhibitions, perhaps with philosophical backgrounds, rather than make contributions to the world's dumping grounds.

From what angle will you be approaching the theme "Senses"?

I've chosen to focus on the visual sense, or rather on fooling the visual sense. E.g. I've drawn inspiration from the way liquids distort light.

What do you hope for or expect from Stockholm Furniture Fair 2015?

Mostly, I hope I'll make some new friends. I'm also convinced the whole experience will bring many important lessons.

Can you name a piece of furniture that has made an impression on you and why?

I have a secret spot in Turku. It's in the river bank facing the afternoon sun, and in this spot there are many large stones. I found that if you lie down on 7 particular stones, you get perfect support for all key parts of your body. This group of stones is the most impressive sun chair I've come across. I'm thinking of painting them (don't tell the police!).
 

Getting started

Our time planning is finally giving results and everybody seems to have an idea of what they will design and make for the fair. Our theme "senses" have been interpreted in many different ways and all students seem to have their completely own way of bringing the theme into their designs. While some of us struggled to find inspiration for even one product, some have told that they've had trouble choosing which one they'll pick of all their ideas! How enviable is that?

Some students are already as long as contacting companies for help to create the products. But for the most of the time we hang out at our classroom, which we've tried to make a bit more comfy and welcoming..

Exciting, funny, a bit stressful, interesting, fascinating... This is what we feel about the process right now. The stakes are high and everybody wants to come up with something great. At least we're getting started!

 

Habitare 2014

The day after our visit to Martela and Helsinki Design Week, we returned to Helsinki to visit Habitare. At Habitare we looked around the exhibitors' stands and their products, finding inspiration and getting a look at what kind of products are on the market and what kind of newcomers there are. At Habitare you also always look forward to see that years trash- and ecodesign -products. While we had our focus on the actual Habitare Furniture/Interior decoration/Design fair, there was also a possibility to visit the ArtHelsinki, Antiikki and ValoLight exhibitons.

Most of us spent most time looking at the smaller companies' and designers' stands, which tend to be the most interesting parts to look at as young design students. All of us had our own favorites, but some products had that special wow-effect that touched many of us. One of these was a lamp made of a drum from a washing machine, found at one of the Trash design section. It was absolutely beautiful and you couldn't have told that it's trash design, unless you knew it. We also got a look at a new Finnish innovation, which will be revolutionary in building settlement in areas that suffer from flooding or comparable natural phenomena.

We also noticed that many of the products exhibited were designed with the idea that they could be transported in a package as small as possible. Some of the most impressing products made with this idea were be&liv's candle holder, fruit bowl etc. A candle holder could fit in an envelope! This kind of ideology is in a key position in cutting transport emissions and costs.

As told before, this wasn't our first time at Habitare. But unlike the previous years, this time we also looked at the exhibitions keeping in mind that we are going to be in their position in a few months. We tried to absorb every little thing that could possibly help us, like how the exhibitions and their stands where put together. It was quite exciting - this could be us. And actually will be at the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair 2015.

Helsinki Design Week & Martela

The 10th of September we went on a trip to Finland's capital city Helsinki. There we visited, not only Helsinki Design Week, but also Martela's head office as well. At the Helsinki Design Week we met a former student from our school, who told us about the company he works for, Puustelli, and their new Miinus kitchen. Puustelli is known as the most popular kitchen brand in Finland, but also provides different services and fittings for other rooms. He also told us about his own experiences and gave us a small glimpse of what a designer could do for a living. It was interesting as well as inspiring and it gave us yet another example of what kind of area we could specialize in as designers.

 

At Martela's office we got a guided tour. Our lovely guide told us about her job and about Martela's history as a public space decorator. It got very interesting when she opened a designers view to the industry, as a non-designer herself. It was fascinating to hear how technology is about to swim deep into the design industry. She gave an example like how sitting is today's tobacco and how personalized furnitures could help you out. For example Martela has produced a table which has personalized settings for every worker in that office. The data is set to a computer which is connected to all parts of the office, for example the room where you have chosen to work at that day. After you log in to the system and book your work space, the table will be ready set at the right hight for your lenght. Every now and then the table comes up forcing you to stand up – because it's good for your health.

Thank you to both of our guides for the experiences!

 

The project begins!

 

Thinking in progress at Rumpan Bar, Högsåra

We are young furniture designers from Novia University of Applied Sciences. The school is located in the seashore city Turku, next to the beautiful Finnish archipelago. We are a group of eleven students, all of us designing our own pieces of furniture for the Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair in February 2015. We are excited to participate the fair!

Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair

Well, what exactly is Stockholm Furniture and Light Fair? It is said to be the most popular design fair in the Nordic countries. It usually takes place the first week of February. The fair gives young design students a chance to show their skill as well as it gives design schools an opportunity to “put themselves on the map”, so to say.

Villa Victoria, Högsåra

The first week of September started with a trip to Högsåra. Högsåra is an island in the Turku archipelago, about an hour and a half south of Turku by car. We stayed at a place called Villa Victoria, which is a lovely old house that was built in the beginning of the 20th century. During our stay we started to plan how we should get on with the Stockholm Fair-project. We made a list of different kinds of responsibilities (economy, graphic, housing etc.) and divided ourselves into different groups.

The next thing to do was to come up with a concept to the exhibition. What kind of message do we want to mediate to the crowd? Well, easier said than done; it took quite a while before we came up with an idea. But, when we actually did come up with a concept - Senses - could we finally take the next step: at first hand to put out dead lines, search for accommodation, think about the graphic part and contact the press. 

The journey starts here!