Helsinki Design Museum — Level Up Furniture

The Helsinki Design Museum is focused on Finnish design, rather than design in general, which I appreciated since I had visited a few broadly focused museums earlier in my trip. Its 4 exhibits explore the history of Finnish design, critique its current state, and highlight two prominent designers; one contemporary, and one from the 20th Century.

'Utopia Now' tells the story of Finnish design, highlighting individuals that contributed to Finland's reputation as a global design hub. It discusses how the Finnish design approach can be applied to industrial products such as forestry machinery, mobile apps like the Angry Birds game, and services like school lunch program.

The exhibit distinguishes several prominent Finnish furniture designers and their iconic pieces, such as Eero Aarnio and his Ball Chair.

Alvar Aalto, who designed the E60 stool and several other iconic furniture designs worked with his wife Aino. Together they are responsible for the architecture of many notable buildings constructed in Finland during the early 20th Century. Along with several others, they co-founded Artek, a Finnish furniture and interior design company which has become synonymous with Finnish design.

Another renowned couple in Finnish design are Vuokko and Antti Nurmesniemi. Vuokko was primarily involved in fashion and was one of two pioneering designers at Marimekko. Antti was both an interior architect and industrial designer, with 'Sauna Stool' being one of his most well-known designs.

Another prominent Finnish furniture designer, Ilmari Tapiovaara, designed the 'Domus Chair', which can immediately recognized from restaurants all over Helsinki.

Upstairs, the entire second floor is an exhibit on Timo Sarpeneva, who is one of Finland's most well-known designers. Concentrating mostly on glass and tableware, he is responsible for the ‘Suomi’ line of silverware, and ‘Caserole’ produced by Ilittala.

Downstairs in the basement, there is an exhibit from a Norwegian designer, Daniel Rybakken, who primarily designs lighting. Some of his latest designs were picked up by Artek, such as his 124º mirror and some of his furniture.

While the Helsinki Design Museum is small, its substance is rich. It is a worthy tribute to Finnish design, balancing history and the present. Although Finland is not an especially large nation in terms of population and economy, it has made a disproportionate impact on advancing design across a variety of domains.