Five from Finland
Design in the home
Finnish designs are keeping living spaces fresh and stylish.
Julia BushuevaIf home is where the heart is, then a pinch of Finnish design ensures this space is also pleasant on the eye, comfortable, functional and safe.
Discover these five exciting examples from Finland.
Wondering how to start a digital wallpaper revolution? How about inviting graffiti artists, surf-wear designers, illustrators, fine artists, tattooists, typographers and fashion designers to contribute designs that are digitally manifested via printing on demand.
“We’re three ex-advertising people who had had enough of selling ideas to make children eat chocolate cereal,” told co-founder Anne Puukko. “So, we jumped from our day jobs to focus on the things we actually care about: art, big ideas, design, craft, having our socks knocked off and originality.”
FEATHR’s novel approach to home decor has been praised internationally, with some of their daring wallpaper designs recognised by the industry’s top experts.
Encompassing the entire flat and not limiting its interior design, Elsi Smart Floor is targeted at elderly residents and uses sensor technology to identify their location and movements.
“The strong points of the system are automatic alarms and customisation, such as the possibility to adjust the sensitivity of the man-down alarm,” the company told us earlier. “The system also provides precise information concerning changes in the daily routines of the resident and assists in diagnosing illnesses.”
MariCare has also come up with a sensory system called eLsa Activity Sensing to help elderly people to stay at home in their familiar environments as long as possible without having to be relocated to care homes or hospitals. The wireless system can be installed in private homes to provide alerts for a fall, activity, burglary, smoke and more.
CAPTURE DESIGN
Spatial design concepts and interior and exterior visualisations are the order of the day for this Helsinki-based company via its photorealistic 3D renderings, 360-degree panoramas, as well as videos and animation.
“We combine interior design and digital technology in a way that the end result looks like a real photo,” said co-founder Marina (Smirnova) Gretsova. “People can’t usually differentiate between a photo and our 3D rendering.”
Since 2014, when the company was founded benefiting from Helsinki’s healthy startup ecosystem, Capture Design has been steadily growing its clientele in Finland, prioritising “dedication, precision and taste” in all projects.
These creative minds and passionate technicians started in 2006 with the launch of their 3D visualisation and sales management tool for the furniture industry. The platform allows users to experiment with different pieces of furniture in different locations around the home via a 3D visualisation of furniture in an interior environment.
“Our main customers are in the furniture industry,” CCO Jorma Palo said a few years ago. “These are both manufacturers and retailers.”
The company’s customer base still includes multiple major furniture manufacturers and retail chains in different countries, but the focus has been significantly broadened in recent years. Vivid Works’ innovative visual sales solutions are now at the service of manufactures and wholesalers across a wide range of industries.
Founded on the belief that everyone deserves a beautiful, unique and, at the same time, affordable home, A.S.Helsingö provides customisable made-to-order doors and handles to fit IKEA cabinet frames, thus combining traditional craftsman quality with modern affordability.
Ensuring a seamless customer experience is another key factor for the innovative business. Although A.S.Helsingö has a showroom in the heart of Helsinki, a great number of orders are made online. To help customers to make the right choice, the company has developed a proprietary software.
“We want to make design more democratic,” stated co-founder Sebastian Schauman. “A beautiful home should not depend on the thickness of your wallet.”