"I create captivating design and brand experiences for companies striving to build a better future."
I offer wide range of Design Services
As a brand and strategic design reference:
Thinkers & Makers Collection "Carry with integrity - Without the extra weight.”
To fuel my creativity I create Art projects.
Katriina Nuutinen (b. 1983) is a Finnish designer and glass artist known for her innovative and elegant glass and lighting creations. Her work often combines traditional techniques with contemporary design aesthetics, resulting in unique and visually striking pieces.
Nuutinen studied design at the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki, Finland, where she honed her skills and developed her artistic style. Her designs have been showcased in numerous exhibitions and galleries both in Finland and internationally, gaining recognition for their craftsmanship and creativity.
She is particularly renowned for her ability to infuse emotion and storytelling into her work, creating pieces that resonate with viewers on a profound level. Nuutinen's work reflects her passion for exploring the expressive potential of different materials, pushing the boundaries of traditional making while preserving inherent beauty.
Nuutinen is celebrated for her contributions to the field of glass art and design, as well as her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries and creating captivating visual experiences.
My Design Philosophy
Vieno clear vase is blown in Finland. Katriina is passionate about safeguarding the Finnish glassblowing tradition, a method that can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
I am in a privileged position whereby I can help clients to make ethical and sustainable choices without ever compromising on beauty or functionality.
I have found that my creativity truly blossoms when I create something that makes it easy, even attractive, for customers to challenge their ideas about consumption and ownership.
Social and Environmental Accountability
If something is beyond repair and you need to replace it, then this can be done either by buying a second-hand product or something new that has been produced with people and the planet in mind.
My Values
My core values can be summed up in four words: kindness, beauty, durability and functionality.
By putting my values into action, I can provide my customers sustainable alternatives without ever compromising on beauty and quality.
My Vision
As an entrepreneur I aspire to play a part in the fight against climate change. I believe that everyone can make a difference and small actions can significantly benefit the environment, as well as the lives of other human beings.
My Mission
My mission is to create products and provide services that genuinely bring joy to people in their everyday lives and make ethical and ecological consumption easy and attractive.
Studies suggest that surrounding yourself with beautiful things is beneficial to your health and well-being.
Work Methods and Practices
Katriina's dedication, enthusiasm and perseverance bring her unique designs to life. With her great attention to detail, Katriina is able to create designs that are effortless, yet strikingly beautiful.
It has been said that Katriina has a gift for being able to design functional, timeless pieces that could have been created ten years ago, today or ten years from now – design classics that will stand the test of time.
Katriina’s work process is very disciplined and goal-oriented: what begins with detailed sketches and prototypes turns into a meticulously perfected, finished outcome relatively quickly.
She enjoys teamwork and has received praise for her gentle manner when leading a design project of any kind.
Hely jewel lamp for Klong, Sweden & Vieno clear vase for Katriina’s collection. For both products the glass is blown in Finland.
Glass
Glass, one of her favorite materials, has excellent properties for reflecting light and colour, as well as creating optical illusions. Katriina is passionate about safeguarding the Finnish glassblowing tradition, a method that can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Together with talented glassblowers, Katriina works to utilise this age-old glass forming technique into exquisite products that will bring joy to their owners well into the future. By combining glass with wood, it is possible to highlight the beautiful features and characteristics of both materials: when put side by side, glass and wood really come to life.
The wood that is used in Katriina’s designs comes from certified Finnish forests and goes through a meticulous selection process before it is carved into finished products by artisan woodworkers, mainly in the North Karelia region of Finland.
Katriina loves working together with talented artisans, as these co-operations are professionally very rewarding and act as inspirational learning opportunities for everyone involved.
Cork
An incredibly versatile natural material, cork is harvested from living cork oak trees in a way that the trees themselves are unharmed during the process. The Portuguese have worked with cork for centuries and, through the combination of old methods together with new innovations, their cork products have become a success leading to high demand across the world.
After experimenting with numerous cork bag designs and testing them in everyday use for years, Katriina decided to create a new collection utilising cork fabric, allowing her to spread the good news to her customers as well. Durable, ecological and beautiful, this fantastic material only seems to get better with age.
The cork products in the Katriina Nuutinen collection are produced in the part of Portugal where the trees are grown, which means the local artisans get the most value from the products, as the raw material is not transported across Europe to be sewn in Finland. Read more about the Thinkers&Makers collection here.
Awards and Achievements
Katriina Nuutinen has won several international awards ia. the Talents à la Carte Award at Maison&Objet in Paris in 2016. One of Katriina’s most well-known designs in Finland, the Candeo bright light lamp that is manufactured by Innolux, won the Interior Innovation Award in 2015.
In 2014, the Oma floor lamp was selected as one of the TOP25 homeware products by Monocle magazine, while in 2017, the Perho mirror was selected among the 12 best Finnish products of the year at the Habitare Design Fair. In 2011, Katriina was awarded Finnish Talent of the Year at the Muoto2011 Design Gala in Helsinki. In 2009 Hely jewel lighting was selected as the most beautiful product in Stockholm Furniture Fair.
In 2019 Katriina was awarded a three-year working grant by the Finnish Cultural Foundation for the Wonders of the World art project. Glow worm cave art piece from the WOW project is now part of the Finnish State Art Deposit Collection. The artworks acquired by Finnish State Art Commission from 1956 onward constitute the State Art Deposit Collection, which is currently one of the largest art collections in Finland.
The State Art Commission is part of the Finnish National Gallery. The collection is part of Finland’s national heritage and is owned by the State. The Finnish National Gallery is responsible for the care, maintenance and development of the collection.
“When you give something from yourself, you will get it back manyfold”
Finnish designer Katriina Nuutinen's glassware is characterized by a delicate nature that stems not only from the fragile material but also from Nuutinen's own personality. In an interview with Design Stories, she explains how she has harnessed her sensitivity as a resource for her design work. Read the hole article from here.
