An afterword

Helsinki’s designation as Design Capital 2012 prompted us here at the Design Archives to create a project by delving into the Finnish materials we hold. Finland has a strong history in design and is especially famous for its glass design. To go alongside and to compliment the archival materials digitised for this project, I wanted to create a more ‘modern’ take on how Finnish design is used by the growing Finnish community of Brighton and Hove, including myself.

Us Finns can be an elusive lot when we want to be, but with a little bit of ‘sisu’ (see Urban Dictionary for an explanation) and a lot of help from active members of the community, a good selection of people were interested in taking part in the photography project. It turned out to be quite a challenge for me, as I travelled the length and breadth of Brighton and Hove photographing everyone in their homes with differing surroundings.

Digitising the archival materials and talking to Brighton’s ‘local Finns’ made me reflect on what Finnish design means to me personally.

I moved to Brighton in 1996 to study for a year and to cut a long story short, forgot to go back. This, however, has not dampened an enthusiasm for bringing Finland to me! During this project I have, with some amusement, realised just how much of Finnish design I have accumulated over the years. The majority of what I have in my home are presents from my family and friends given to me since I moved here. This selection has gained momentum over the years and is now a wide collection of ‘things’ – from tableware to fabrics and ornaments.

Like many of the people I have spoken to during the project, there definitely exists a well-rooted appreciation for the ‘old’ designs that I guess could, after decades of production, be considered ‘traditional’. For me, the most attractive aspect of Finnish design is the modesty in which it is made – the need for functionality, durability and simplicity without compromising on form and beauty. I also feel that this approach to design beautifully reflects the Finnish psyche – a modest nation I think could, and probably should, shout about its achievements a little louder. Saying all this, recognition of new designers is also growing and bringing with it a breath of fresh air to the designs found in the globally better known design houses of Iittala, Arabia, Artek, Finlayson, Pentik and Marimekko.

Partly because of taking on this project, I feel increasigly proud of what Finns – for such a small nation – have achieved in the area of design over the years. My personal ‘inner Finnish interior designer’ seems to mainly consist of design ideas and concepts drawn from Finnish nature and folklore, both of which I have a great love for. By using Finnish design in my home I too am bringing my roots and heritage to Brighton without ever actually consciously doing so. At times I think my home in Brighton might even look more Finnish than a home back in Finland ever would.

Sirpa Kutilainen, May 2012