Harri koskinen biography

Born in 1970 in Karstula, Harri Koskinen is a Finnish designer. He studied at the Lahti Institute of Design and Helsinki University of Art and Design, his education and experience have led him to international fame and a collection of awards in the field. In 2009 Koskinen founded his studio, Friends of Industry, where he masters in product design, concept design and architecture. Over his career, he has already worked with numerous brands such as Muuto, Oluce and &Tradition.

Koskinen's work is described as bold and uncompromising, with a focus on creating pieces that are innovative additions to the market. His works have been on display in exhibitions around the world. He has been awarded several major design prizes, such as the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize, the Pro Finlandia Medal and the Compasso d'Oro prize.

"I never actually made a decision that someday I was going to be a designer. It just happened. I didn't have any idea about this profession when I was in high school. But I worked with my uncle over many summers, building things with him as a summer job. I f

Born in Karstula, Finland in 1970  | Lives and works in Helsinki


Harri Koskinen ranks among Finland’s leading names in contemporary design. His one-off sculptures combine the objecthood of industrial design with the classical themes of fine art: The series of sculptures examine how the object’s volume interacts with the broader composition, setting, and light. The glass sculptures cast in Iittala, Venin, and at the legendary studio of Pino Signoretto in Murano invoke shifting moods; each piece seems to hold vast landscapes within its highly condensed interior.

 

Koskinen’s technical skill is evident in his great dexterity with different materials and his effortless ability to shift between one-offs and serial production. He has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Compasso d’Oro, the Pro Finlandia Medal, and the Torsten and Wanja Söderberg Prize. 

Harri Koskinen – CV PDF

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Harri Koskinen

Finnish designer

Harri Koskinen is a Finnish designer, born 1970 in Karstula, Finland. He has studied at the Institute of Art and Design in Helsinki.

Career

Koskinen is probably best known for his Block Lamp, a lightbulb held inside two shaped pieces of clear glass, which is exhibited in MoMA in New York City. Also very well known for the two variants of his Fatty container (models 7150 and 7100) designed in 1998 for Schmidinger; basically very expensive vinyl record carrying box and storage units respectively, made from Birch plywood with rounded corners as well as a well designed and finished construction.

Koskinen has designed for many different labels and companies, across many types of article; from furniture to cookware, as well as commercial packaging. His designs are manufactured by companies including Iittala, Artek, Fiskars, Design House Stockholm and Muuto.[1]

Harri Koskinen signed a cooperation agreement with Iittala and was appointed Iittala's design director in 2011.[2]

Products

  • Block Lamp (1996),

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