thisisFINLAND

Made in Finland: Meet the designer of the iconic Snowflake reflector, which popularised a life-saving innovation

Kalervo Elias Suomela merged form, function and fashion in the classic Snowflake pedestrian reflector. That’s how his story became intertwined with one of Finland’s most successful and beneficial inventions.

Life & society Finnishness

A Finnish word, sivistys, adds to wellbeing and helps solve future challenges

Finland’s Year of Sivistys 2024 spotlights a long-established concept of societal enlightenment and learning, and harnesses its strengths to face challenges now and in the future.

Arts & culture Visual arts

Urbane renewal: Returning a beloved Helsinki landmark to its original form

We visit a workshop at an undisclosed location where the venerable sculpture Havis Amanda is undergoing a yearlong conservation project. [Update: It returned to its harbourside perch in June 2024 – with a new plan to protect it during major celebrations.]

1987

The year Design Forum Finland started promoting Finnish design

Business & innovation Sustainability

Concrete change for the better: “Green cement” is bubbling in Finland

Concrete is a major source of emissions, but Finnish firms and researchers are creating carbon-negative alternatives to flip it from a climate hazard to a positive solution.

Arts & culture Visual arts

Inspiration and influences: 12 artists in Finland talk about life and creativity

On a fascinating journey of discovery, we visit an array of Finland-based artists to find out what ideas animate and inform their work.

Life & society Finnishness

For seventh year running, Finland is first in World Happiness Report – other Nordics in top 7

Since 2018, the UN World Happiness Report has found that Finland is the happiest country in the world. How does happiness happen?

Business & innovation Webpick

University of Helsinki presents health and sustainability innovations at startup mega-event Slush

The University of Helsinki is at Slush, the world’s leading startup event (held annually in the Finnish capital – November 20–21 in 2024), to show off high-quality research that gives rise to future innovations and technologies.

Arts & culture Circus

Finland’s first circus professor unites many art forms under a big tent

Live video, virtual reality, archery: Finnish circus is going in directions you probably never imagined as a kid. And now circus art has a professor, too.

84.7%

of Finns live in urban areas

Source: Statistics Finland

things you should and shouldn’t know