Design - thisisFINLAND

Helsinki show spotlights the continual renewal of an age-old Finnish art form

It’s a word that many find difficult to pronounce, but the technique and designs of “ryijy” tapestries hold a special place in Finnish culture. We visit an extensive ryijy exhibition at Kunsthalle Helsinki to see a traditional art form that remains vibrant.

Arts & culture Literature

“The world was very large in those days”: A brief guide to Finland’s Moomin books

Here’s our concise list of the Moomin novels, by Tove Jansson, perhaps Finland’s most famous writer and artist. Relive the adventures, or, if you’ve only seen the comic strips, discover the original books. Plus: A slideshow takes you inside the National Museum’s Moomin exhibition.

Arts & culture Design

How Finland’s Moomins moved from beloved books to coveted mugs

The first Moomin book, in 1945, introduced a cast of characters that gained international fame. We talk to the designer behind one of the most unusual Moomin success stories: the mugs that you can find in almost every Finnish household. They’re so popular that someone even wrote a master’s thesis about them.

2015

Helsinki Fashion Week held for the first time

Source: Helsinki Fashion Week

Business & innovation Sustainability

Finland aims to bid farewell to rubbish dumps

Recycling waste saves natural resources, produces raw material for the circular economy and generates new business opportunities.

Arts & culture Fashion

Bold Finnish fashion designers attract global attention

Aalto University’s spring fashion show, held every May in Helsinki, is on the agendas of international journalists, scouts, bloggers and anyone else who’s into apparel. What’s behind the most recent success of Finnish designers?

2005

The year Helsinki Design Week, Scandinavia's biggest design fest, was founded

Business & innovation Sustainability

Fibre innovation from Finland may change textile industry

As the global clothing industry struggles with a sustainability crisis, several Finnish companies are offering solutions.

Arts & culture Innovation

Delivering Finnish design on demand

Autumn leaves starting to fall in the Finnish capital are a sure sign that it’s time for Helsinki Design Week. In 2018, you can order design items for immediate delivery as easily as you order food online.

Business & innovation Design

Freedom in fashion in Finnish kids’ clothes

Children’s clothing designers in Finland look to influence the whole industry by designing clothes that are not only beautiful and comfortable, but also ethically produced, long-lasting and free from gender bias.

1987

The year Design Forum Finland started promoting Finnish design