Size Doesn’t Matter

ILONA GURJANOVA, curator, Estonian Association of Designers, president

There are three countries in the European Union which have a smaller population than Estonia. Even so, the density of designers in this small Baltic nation is sur-prisingly high. Estonia has one designer for every 800 citizens – and we have great design education.

Did you know that Estonia is home to the Minox ‘James Bond’ miniature spy camera, Skype, TransferWise, and that we also have our own satellite? Estonia puts the ‘E’ in electronic: e-government, e-elections, e-parking and even e-Christmas tree delivery services from the spruce and pine forests outside the city.

The size of the country has its advantages. A small country acts like a (night)club: it is easy to test new ideas in Estonia because we have a lot of democracy and little bureaucracy.

Because a small country cannot rely on big industry, the design sector must search for alternative solutions, methods and materials to participate in and improve the many steps from design to manufacture. Designers must combine the industrial with hand- and custom-made; must blend traditional and contemporary; must hustle; must look outside itself; must find neighbours and partners with which to trade goods and ideas.

Design_estonia is a brand that unites Estonian design-ers actively involved in design life and exports. Design_estonia presents a wide array of original design prod-ucts from professionals and their manufacturers. In the work of Estonian designers and makers you will find northern coastal simplicity and chic, aesthetic beauty and functional quality – all brought to you with humour, user-friendliness and a mind for sustainability.

Estonian Association of Designers ESTONIAN DESIGN HOUSEKalasadama 8, 10145 Tallinnwww.edl.eewww.estoniandesignhouse.eewww.disainioo.ee

Estonian Design Exhibition“Size Doesn’t Matter”Publisher: Estonian Association of Designers Curator: Ilona Gurjanova Editor: Ene Läkk Designer of “Size Doesn’t Matter” logo: Martin Lazarev Graphic design and layout: Martin and Marje Eelma (Tuumik Stuudio OÜ) Colour correction: Marje Eelma (Tuumik Stuudio OÜ) Translation: Multilingua Tõlkebüroo OÜ

Print: Ecoprint AS Paper: Galerie Art Bulk 115 g/m2 / 250 g/m2 2014

Size Doesn’t Matter

ILONA GURJANOVA, curator, Estonian Association of Designers, president

There are three countries in the European Union which have a smaller population than Estonia. Even so, the density of designers in this small Baltic nation is sur-prisingly high. Estonia has one designer for every 800 citizens – and we have great design education.

Did you know that Estonia is home to the Minox ‘James Bond’ miniature spy camera, Skype, TransferWise, and that we also have our own satellite? Estonia puts the ‘E’ in electronic: e-government, e-elections, e-parking and even e-Christmas tree delivery services from the spruce and pine forests outside the city.

The size of the country has its advantages. A small country acts like a (night)club: it is easy to test new ideas in Estonia because we have a lot of democracy and little bureaucracy.

Because a small country cannot rely on big industry, the design sector must search for alternative solutions, methods and materials to participate in and improve the many steps from design to manufacture. Designers must combine the industrial with hand- and custom-made; must blend traditional and contemporary; must hustle; must look outside itself; must find neighbours and partners with which to trade goods and ideas.

Design_estonia is a brand that unites Estonian design-ers actively involved in design life and exports. Design_estonia presents a wide array of original design prod-ucts from professionals and their manufacturers. In the work of Estonian designers and makers you will find northern coastal simplicity and chic, aesthetic beauty and functional quality – all brought to you with humour, user-friendliness and a mind for sustainability.

Estonian design

How much could a national design distinguish itself in today’s globalised society; what kind of impression does Estonian design leave to bystanders – is it an exemplary Baltic phenomenon or more like the little brother of the Nordic countries or Scandinavia? Esto-nian cultural identity is largely based on the sense of being part of the Finno-Ugric peoples. One of the cru-cial factors in preserving a unified cultural identity has been the Estonian language. Estonian designers value acquiring international experience through connections with the outside world. Estonia is grateful to its Nordic neighbours Finland and Denmark, which have helped to develop an awareness of design in Estonia. Despite the fact that designers familiarise themselves with contem-porary developments and styles, a design identity will be influenced by idiosyncrasies of the cultural herit-age and economy of the country. Ascetic, oriented towards basic needs and functions, a smart aesthetic, not focusing on luxury – these are the intrinsic qualities

of Estonian design. National identity has always been a political question for Estonians and that has been the driving force behind many consciously but also unconsciously launched defence mechanisms. Estonian art, especially applied art, has managed to preserve a certain detachment from politics. Nevertheless, during the occupation, creative people used every opportu-nity available to protest against the official ideology through renewing artistic expressions.

Many nations can brag about their internationally known art and design icons. Unfortunately, Estonia rarely finds an opportunity. But still, let us name a few: Walter Zapp, the inventor of the spy camera Minox we all know from Bond films. Zapp developed the first model in Estonia in 1934, but as he did not find a manufacturer there, he took the prototype to Riga where it was put into production a couple of years later. Architects are familiar with the name Louis

Kahn, yet the fact that he was born on Saaremaa, in Estonia, is little known. Fearing that the head of the family would be mobilised into the Russo-Japanese war, the family moved to the USA. The well-known artist Kalev Mark Kostabi, based in the USA, also has roots in Estonia, his family emigrated during the Sec-ond World War. Estonians are especially proud of the Luther furniture company that began production in the 19th century and, due to its high quality technol-ogy and level of innovation, brought together design-ers from all over the world. The factory is linked to names like Alvar Aalto and Bauhaus. The pinnacle of the factory’s production included bent plywood items and humidity-proof cardboard and plywood suitcases.

A new Estonian design was born during the 1990s. As the country was exposed to the market economy, an understanding of design as the creator of a con-temporary and high quality environment started to take root. Design education was first established in 1966 when Bruno Tomberg initiated the first pro-gramme of its kind in the country at the Estonian State Art Institute. As the word “design” was deemed too “western” at the time, the use of it was forbidden and it was replaced with “industrial art”. Today, design is taught at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EAA), two private colleges and there is also a joint programme by EAA and Tallinn University of Technology. Various contemporary directions, such as service design and excellence in craftsmanship can be acquired at dif-ferent colleges like Tartu Art College and the Viljandi Culture Academy. There are more than 2,500 design-ers with a higher education. More than half of them are also actively working in their field. Not many have the opportunity to work as in-house designers and the number of designer-entrepreneurs is growing. Graphic designers have the most opportunities to find work. There are around 70 companies exporting design products and services.

Outsourcing has been a main source of income for the Estonian industry, now production has also increased, that has offered jobs for designers and they have found recognition in the area. One of the designers who has received the Red Dot award is Martin Pärn for his table “Martin” and together with the author Martela

was included in the compilation of the 200 best design products of the 20th century, published by the renowned design magazine MD.

A strong tradition of furniture design has greatly impacted the furniture and lighting fixtures’ industry. Interior design for public buildings has been a special focus for companies such as Standard, Thulema (DME Award – European Design Management Award hon-ourble mention) and 4Room. The most well-known furniture designers are Maile Grünberg, the Mang fam-ily, Katrin Soans, Toivo Raidmets, Taevo Gans and Anu Vainomäe. The most notable younger designers are Igor Volkov, Maria Rästa, Veiko Liis, Pavel Sidorenko, Sixten Heidmets, brands: Oot-Oot, Ruumilabor and Warm North. Some of the most successful lighting fixtures designers include Tarmo Luisk, Margus Tri-ibmann and Tõnis Vellama. Mait Summatavet could be considered a true classic in Estonian design. The bath industry has grown into a considerable branch of production, represented by two larger companies Bal-teco and Aquatoriga ((DME Award – European Design Management Award honourble mention). There are also successful designers in the product development area: Villi Pogga, Aivar Habakukk and Sven Sõrmus.

The heavyweights of Estonian design include Matti Õunapuu, the founder of the first design agency and the designer of the innovative electric scooter Stigo, Tiit Liiv with his lengthy Finnish experience, Heikki Zoova, the head of the design department at EAA and Üllar Karro, designer of the solar powered scooter. There are also products for niche markets like retro motor vehicles (Andres Uibomäe, Gabriel Verilaskja) and ergonomic bicycles from contemporary materials (Indrek Narusk). Companies offering industrial design services like Iseasi and TenTwelve are also enjoying increasing success. The only Estonian designer to be recognised within the car industry is the German-based Björn Koop.

With each passing year, Estonian product design is appreciated internationally more and more. It has found its way into several exhibitions, fairs and the international market. Magazines like Elle Decoration, Dwell, Avantage, AD, Newsweek, Wallpaper, Monocle,

New York Times etc and countless bloggers have pub-lished substantial articles about Estonian designers and their accomplishments.

As the local market is small and access to mass pro-duction is extremely limited, the lines of design and applied art are often blurred, which is also evident in the works of Estonian glass designers (Maie-Ann Raun, Kalli Sein, Annkris-Glass), ceramicists (Raili Keiv, Ene Raud), jewellery designers (Tanel Veenre, Anu Samarüütel, Kärt Maran, Kadri Mälk, Julia Maria Künnap, Maarja Niinemägi, Kärt Summatavet) and designers of leather goods (Stella Soomlais, Piret Loog, Kadri Kruus, Kadi Paasik). Currently, the demand for small runs of semi-handmade quality products is increasing, which is great for Estonian designers with exceptional craft skills. The waiting list for custom-made crafted wooden spectacle frames (Karl Annus) or handmade footwear (Kärt Põldmaa, Sille Sikmann, Kaspar Paas) can be several months

long. These products are in demand outside the country as well and happy customers include well-known actors as well as royalty.

The sector most involving design is the clothing and textile industry. The best known brands are Ivo Nik-kolo, Monton, Xenia Joost, Lilli Jahilo, Katrin Kuldma, Aldo Järvsoo, Jaana Varkki, Marit Ilison. Kriss Soonik and Kristian Steinberg are making waves in the UK. Reet Aus, PhD took a bold step by creating a new quality in fashion as she applied the up-cycling method to recycling and manufacturing waste and as a result, she reduced her ecological footprint to 20%, compared to regular production. Traditional textiles are being reinvented by a new generation of textile designers who are experimenting with new innovative solutions. Intelligent textiles are becoming increasingly popular. An artistically and technically high level of skill is demonstrated by textile designers who, in addi-tion to traditional solutions, create “talking” and light

conducting textiles; combine textiles with wood and concrete or old newspapers and even coffee pack-ages – Monika Järg, Mare Kelpman, Annike Laigo, Kärt Ojavee, Elna Kaasik and Krista Leesi.

Estonia is also internationally renowned for its fond-ness for innovation and the extensive use of informa-tion technologies. Internet banking and m-payments (mobile payments, m-parking) are in common use in the country; also e-parliament, e-elections, e-tax board and a digital ID-card. Companies like Skype, Playtech, Transferwise and Fits Me have become known around the world. In Estonia, the internet is like a human right.

Estonian graphic arts historically also have strong roots and a distinct school of graphic design is developing, it has begun shedding the influence of Dutch design which has been prevalent due to the fact that many of the designers have studied in the

Netherlands. Designers with a distinct style include Asko Künnap, Kristjan Mändmaa, Ivar Sakk, Jan Tom-son, Eiko Ojala, Markko Kekishev and Indrek Sirkel. After recent education reforms, a new generation of designers demonstrating a new way of thinking is emerging. Increasingly, the focus is on user centred communication design (Disainiosakond), typography (Anton Koovit, Mart Anderson, Kristjan Jagomägi) and user interface design (Markko Karu, Velvet). Graphic design is primarily dominated by ad, brand-ing and design agencies (AKU, Brandmanual, Der Tank, Identity, Tuumik).

Since the year 2000, Estonian design has been regu-larly introduced outside Estonia as well. “Estonian Design in Focus” was the first international exhibi-tion of Estonian design, taking place at the Helsinki Design Museum. This was followed by invitations to Copenhagen, Berlin and the St Etienne Biennale. A collection of Estonian design has been repeatedly

displayed at fairs in Paris (Maison&Objet), Frankfurt (Ambiente) and London (100% Design and Fashion Week); it has been presented in neighbouring coun-tries such as Lithuania, Latvia and different cities in Finland, in Germany, in France, also in St Petersburg and in China and the USA. The Estonian House in Helsinki has been a partner and mediator in Finland. In Tallinn, designers have converged on Kalamaja, a district selected to be among the 20 most famous hipster neighbourhoods in the world. In 2011, the Estonian Association of Designers opened the Esto-nian Design House, which functions as a centre of information and competence but also houses design

studios, a cafe and a gallery that offers a unique dis-play of the works of 80 Estonian designers.

Since 2006, the association of designers has organ-ised the Design Night Festival (Disainiöö). Initially, it was conceived as a 24-hour-long festival present-ing Estonian design, now it has developed into an international event where designers from over 20 countries have shown their work. At its core, the fes-tival programme features exhibitions, competitions, educational lectures and workshops; it also presents fashion shows, PechaKucha nights, light installations and other fascinating events.

Design organisations:The Estonian Association of Designers (EAD). EAD brings together over 140 designers from fields like product, textile, fashion and graphic design. It promotes Estonian design in its home country as well as abroad; it initiated the development of a national design policy; together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and the Ministry of Culture, it par-ticipates in creating means for developing design and increasing demand and supply.

EAD regularly organises educational seminars, workshops and competitions.

EAD participates in the work of larger design organisations and is a member of the board of various organisations (ICSID, BEDA, EIDD Design For All Europe, DME Award), it collaborates in pro-jects focused on issues like inclusive design, health care design (EHDM), design management and so on. EAD also initiated the Tallinn For All project, which received the DME award; it organ-ised the European Innovation Festival IF... in Tallinn and hosted the DME gala in 2011.

EDA presents the BRUNO product design award (as a part of the Estonian Design Awards).

It organises the Design Night Festival (www.disainioo.ee)

It established the Estonian Design House housing the Estonian design showroom and designers’ studios. (www.estoniandesign-house.ee)

www.edl.ee

Estonian Design Centre (EDC) was established by: the Estonian Academy of Arts, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonian Design Institute and the Estonian Association of Designers.

It develops a suitable environment for companies to use design. It organises collaborative projects between designers and enter-prises (Buldooser, Vedur); it participates in creating means for developing design. It introduces Estonian design at foreign fairs and design events.

It gives out the SÄSI young design award and organises the Estonian Design Awards event. EDC is a member of BEDA.

www.disainikeskus.ee

www.etdm.ee – The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design

LoovEesti

The principal funders of design in Estonia:

Enterprise Estonia

Cultural Endowment

Ministry of Culture

The City of Tallinn

Eesti Disainiauhinnad / Estonian Design Awards: 

BRUNO / biannually / EAD

SÄSI / biannually / EDC

ADC Estonia / annually /

The service design award / biannually / Estonian Service Industry Association

Ilona Gurjanova

2014

AAP PIHO

After acquiring Bachelor degree in interior architecture in the Estonian Academy of Arts, Aap worked as an interior designer about ten years. But then he decided to start study-ing again, this time in the speciality of industrial design in the Netherland’s Royal Academy of Arts. But this was not enough in his opinion. After return-ing to homeland, he entered the joint speciality of the Tallinn University of Technology and the Estonian Academy of Arts: Design and product develop-ment. He acquired the Master degree.

Aap started to practice furniture design years ago. In 2010, he founded the trademark Maast Furniture together with two colleagues; since 2012, he leads and develops independently the new trademark Warm North contribut-ing to the local design and production potential. For now, there is an agree-ment with the one of the Europe’s most competent design marketer MONOQI that has the exclusive agency rights and sells the Warm North products in the whole world.

Multifunctional TableDesigner: Aap Piho / www.warmnorth.com

For the designer Aap Piho it is important to offer emotional welfare through design. He creates items that are enjoyable, but necessary supplements of the everyday life. He prefers natural materials like wood and leather which seem to offer home warmth because of their natural origin. The colour gamma is northerly crisp; there are some colour accents in between. His design has clear shape in its modern form and so it is pretty and functional only beauti-fied with the material’s beauty.

The multifunctional table is a small tray and a book rack from thick plant tanned Saaremaa’s cow leather. It can be used beside a couch for holding a tea cup or instead of a bedside table in the bedroom. It is comfortable to take the table to a balcony or into a yard.

Year production: 2012 / Materials  Powder: coated steel, naturally tanned 3 mm cow hide, MDF with paint finish / Techniques: welded tubular steel frame, painted MDF tray, sewn leather straps (book-rack) / Measure: 47 × 42 × 42 cm /  Photographer: Warm North

AGNES RATAS and MARIANA HINT

Agnes Ratas and Mariana Hint gradu-ated from the graphic design depart-ment of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2012. Agnes furthered her studies in Budapest, while Mariana went to London and Berlin. They have con-tinued to work with the art academy, currently as visiting lecturers. As designers, they have mainly focused on print media – designing books and exhibitions. Currently, they both work as freelance designers, mostly work-ing with various representatives of the cultural and arts sector. They recognize the importance of considered design decisions, the ability to dissect a prob-lem from multiple perspectives, and take into account where the solution will be applied.

HULA – Tested on HumansDesigners: Agnes Ratas, Mariana Hint

A book design as a graduation project for the 10th anniversary of HULA – a fashion brand that was created as a master’s thesis at the Estonian Acad-emy of Arts in 2002. The project provided fashion students a comprehensive experience of a real-life design process and creative cooperation and enables them to experiment and put their innovative ideas into practice.

At first glance the book consists only of grey scale images depicting the brand’s history and the process of designing fashion collections. Yet, staying true to HULA’s tradition of adding tricks to its clothes, the book also contains uncut section-folds hiding a more prominent side of the brand – glossy fash-ion photography. Readers will give the book its final form by finding a way to cut the pages open using a card, a kitchen knife or similar, or leave them closed instead.

Producer: Tallinn Book Printers / Year design: 2012 / Year production: 2012 / Materials: 5 differ-ent papers / Techniques: Offset print, softcover brinding, dust jacket / Size: 24 × 17,5 × 2,3 cm

AIVAR HABAKUKK

Aivar Habakukk works as a design man-ager in Balteco, a company producing bath tubs. There are very few design managers in the Estonian Republic, but there is no one else with so much experience as Habakukk. Aivar gradu-ated the Estonian State Art Institute as a designer in 1988. Ten years after designing a fair stand for the textile industry company Kreenholm, he was invited to the same company to man-age design projects. He soon became a design manager of the concern. But in spite of top-quality production, the company was unable to compete with Chinese and in 2010, Kreenholm went bankrupt.

At the same time, the Estonian bath tub producer AS Balteco planned to switch to the design management sys-tem. Balteco is one of the largest bath tub producers in Northern Europe; it has resellers in whole Europe and the most production is exported. Aivar Habakukk was invited to Balteco to work as a design manager; his work involves everything starting with the products and the stylish sales environ-ment and ending with creation of the full corporative image. In Balteco, he has himself designed several tens of bath products during the years.

MARIS KORROL

Maris Korrol acquired Master grade of product design in the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2010. Korrol made her Master project in Balteco and the theme was “Innovative mas-sive stone product solution for home spa”. After graduating the Academy of Arts, Korrol co-operated with Balteco and in 2012, shower panel MIO from massive stone was completed.

Showerpanel MIOHead designer: Aivar Habakukk / Designer: Maris Korrol / Engineer: Andres Uuetoa / www.balteco.ee

Mio is a novel form with balanced proportions expressing refined grace. It is distinguished from other similar products by its original design well-engi-neered valuable functionality and use of the latest material technology. The Mio shower column is cast from the Xonyx massive stone mixture, a material that is very hard and durable, yet the satin surface finish provides softness and warmth to touch. The multifunctional shower panel consists of a qual-ity shower mixer (either single lever or thermostat), rain shower, minimalist hand shower, hydro-massage jets (3) with three spray options and concealed shelves. The shower mixer and the massage panel require an input water pres-sure of 2–4 bar. The thermostat mixer operates only if the difference between the hot and cold input water pressure is below 2 bar.

Producer: AS Balteco / Year of design: 2011 / Year of production: 2012 / Materials: stone mass Xonyx / Techniques: casting / Dimensions: 26 cm × 149 cm × 33 cm / Photographer: Temuri Hvingija

ALARI ORAV, KAAREL KALA, UKU-KRISTJAN KÜTTIS – creative agency AKU

AKU is a multidisciplinary design and branding company established in 2012 by Alari Orav, Kaarel Kala and Uku-Kristjan Küttis. With over 30 years of combined experience, they believe in meaningful design solutions executed with utmost attention to detail. AKU has worked on projects that differ in terms of scale and nature, rang-ing from the identity of the Estonian Parliament to various exhibition and book designs.

Estonian Design Yearbook 2012 Designers: Alari Orav, Kaarel Kala, Uku-Kristjan Küttis / www.aku.co

The book, published in conjunction with the Estonian Design Awards 2012, carries the same identity that is built from simple elements: the spectacled logo, U8 typeface by Estonian type designer Anton Koovit and the colours red and blue.

Producer: Estonian Design Centre / Year of design: 2012 / Year of production: 2012 / Materials: paper / Techniques: 4-colour offset printing, sewn binding / Dimensions: 24 cm × 17 cm × 2 cm / Photographer: Rasmus Jurkatam

ANNE-LIIS LEHT and KRISTI RINGKJOB

Anne-Liis Leht and Kristi Ringkjob (Annkris-Glass) believe that a unique item is more valuable than mass pro-duction, and therefore, their products are completed as high-quality handi-craft. The principle of their work is to join functionality and aesthetics in the best possible way. Glass is a very tech-nical and complicated material and so the realisation of every idea is a chal-lenge. But thanks to this complicated-ness, nothing is ever boring and the desire to outsmart the material and to realize all their ideas remains. And they have plenty of ideas.

Anne-Liis and Kristi studied together at the Estonian Academy of Arts and after graduation, they founded a studio together. Annkris-Glass produces sev-eral necessities and interior elements from glass; when possible, they work together with creative people from other fields in order to broaden the potential of glass even further. They have the ability to see things from a different angle and to pose questions in a new way.

Dish EGGDesigners: Anne-Liis Leht and Kristi Ringkjob / www.ak-glass.ee

For the designers, the normal process is when an idea is sketched on paper and then experimented with in material form, but the idea for “Egg” was born from within the work process. Anne-Liis Leht and Kristi Ringkjob were actu-ally making their first experiment for a dish inspired by a colour palette and with six different coloured rings. As it was already late in the evening and they were hungry they did not have enough strength to cut out and polish six different rings from glass. And the idea occurred to them to do less: just one yellow and one larger white ring. This simple logic said that they will be ready sooner and can go home to eat. So the dish “Egg” was born. Opaque glass in different shades was used. The black glass is de-polished to highlight the dish idea in a better way; the white and the yellow glass are shiny. “Egg” is suitable for serving salads and snacks and is dishwasher-safe.

Producer: Annkris-Glass OY / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: glass / Techniques: fusing, sandblasting / Diameter: 27 cm / Photographer: Anne-Liis Leht, Stina Kase

ANNIKE LAIGO

Annike Laigo is a pioneer of textile design; her works have been acknowl-edged in both Estonia and abroad. The studio created during the studies focuses on innovative textiles. Fame came in 2004 with the fair Maison & Object where Kivid (Stones) were first exhibited; Kivid are innovative seats because of their organic shape, they enjoyed a huge audience success and were chosen to the trend show of the next year’s fair to introduce the future trends. The French TV channel France3 used Stones in its TV series and the famous New York’s ABC Carpet & Home department store put them on sale. The wavy carpet 3D Stripe created by Annike Laigo was born in an Estonian company as a gradu-ation work and it was so excellent that a Swede presented it a couple of years later under his own name for the famous Svensk Form design award and… was acknowledged. There is a lot of furore about the project of a lumi-nous carpet; Laigo reached the audi-ence in the entire world with it. She got the most important Estonian design award Bruno 2006 for the luminous carpet and her entire creation. On the exhibition, Laigo presents her carpet series Float created in 2013 by using the hand-tafting technology; it is spe-cial because of very aquarellic colour transmissions created in author technic which are not typical for this technol-ogy. Laigo’s style is clear and simple; there is always this certain “something” coded into her works, always fresh and surprising.

Rug FLOATDesigner: Annike Laigo / www.annikelaigo.ee

By default, the rug is a comfortable, functional, easy-to-use item. Narrowing down the broad system of rug design, Annike arrives at three basic ele-ments: the material, the construction and the colour. All the elements drive the design decisions in their own directions. Using colour as a main theme means it is almost inevitable that patterns will be involved somehow. Patterns tend to be highly trend driven. Trends are temporary. Rugs should live longer than that. Annike works with colour in such a way that it lasts.

Float is the result of her choices – a personal act to find and define the core through the choices and all the aspects involved. Just like a painter works with a canvas, she worked with the rug Float. Delicate, watercolour-like ef-fects combined with a sharp black line creates a charming combination of op-posites in a surprising wool format. Dyed by hand with a touch of magic, each rug becomes a unique piece of art.

Producer: Annike Laigo / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: wool / Techniques: dyeing by hand / Dimensions: various / Photographer: Annike Laigo

ANU SAMARÜÜTEL

Anu Samarüütel is an artist and designer living and working between Tallinn, the capital of Estonia and East London. She is a graduate of the Women’s Wear Fashion MA at London’s Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design and the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Having studied fashion design as well as industrial and graphic design, her practice varies from painting to fashion, accessories to fabric prints and illustration. 

Coming from the Nordic country of Estonia, she finds Nordic minimal aes-thetics very close to her heart.  Colour and clear simple lines are very impor-tant elements in her work.

Whether fashion or accessories, Anu prefers to produce one-off unique hand-made pieces or small limited art-ist editions. She believes that this kind of approach is more in line with her identity as a free multidisciplinary crea-tor, rather than trying to join in the race of the fashion industry.

Anu Samarüütel’s designs are sold in boutiques in London and Copenhagen, her main outlet for the last 12 years has been the Nu Nordik boutique in Tallinn, Estonia.

Anu continues to mix her design work with art and participates in the world touring exhibition project, New Nordic Fashion Illustration. Over the last few years, her paintings have been exhibited in galleries in the UK, Finland and Estonia.

Cubist Jewellery Series  Designer: Anu Samarüütel / www.anuworld.co.uk

Anu Samarüütel started designing jewellery after graduating with an MA from Saint Martins College of Fashion in central London. Creating jewellery gave her a sense of independence and empowerment as the whole process can be taken from start to finish by one person. ‘’Creating this way you can make decisions and changes instantly and see the results much quicker than in a fashion collection.’’

Her jewellery designs have been inspired by artists like Picasso, Ben Nichol-son, Malevitch, Rodchenko and her own large scale fashion graphics and paintings. The pieces she creates are often unique using the same paints and colour palette as she has uses in her paintings. Some of her favourite materi-als are cork and wood, as they can be manipulated easily without specialist equipment. She sees her design practice as an extension of her art – both are interconnected and support one another. Just like Samarüütel’s paintings, her jewellery often explores the power of colour and shape in a playful and elegant way.

Producer: Anu Samarüütel / Year of design: 2011–2014 / Year of production: 2011–2014 / Materials: wood, cork, metal, acrylic paint and varnish / Techniques: some hand made details, some ready made and customised details / Dimensions: approx. 4 cm × 15 cm × 30 cm /  Photographer: Anu Samarüütel

ASKO KÜNNAP

Asko Künnap is a designer, a poet and a creative manager of an advertising agency. In addition, he is also engaged in publishing and creating graphics, in designing books and CD covers, in translating poems, in inventing and illustrating board games. Künnap grad-uated the speciality of product design in the Estonian Academy of Arts and studied interior design in Oslo National Academy of Arts. He is a shareholder and a creative manager of the adver-tising agency Rakett, a shareholder and a creative manager of the board game publishing house Revaler. He is a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union and of the PEN Club. Asko Künnap is loaded with all prizes and awards from all his spheres of action and he is an acknowledged opinion leader in the field of design.

BLACK CEILINGDesigner: Asko Künnap / www.rakett.org

A compilation of animated poetry – a bilingual book and DVD featuring 7 poems by 7 modern and classic Estonian poets animated by Estonian anima-tors and film directors. The title Black Ceiling is a line taken from an old poem, which provides the visual key for the publication. Asko Künnap, designer and illustrator of the cover, is represented in the project, as is one of the poets, and the directors and voice actors on the DVD.

Publisher: Eesti Joonisfilm /  Producer: Printon / Year of design: 2007 / Year of produc-tion: 2007 / Materials: paper, cardboard / Techniques: printing, cutting, folding etc. / Dimensions: 20 cm × 14 cm × 1.8 cm / Text: Jan Kaus + 7 poets / Photographer: Asko Künnap

REFRESHA collection of poetry in the form of LP album.

ELMET TREIER

Helmet Treier is experimenting all the time. And timber is the material that has won his heart. His friendship with timber started when he was study-ing manual training in the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute. He got work experience in the Netherlands and in Sweden where he was engaged in creating solutions for timber con-structions. In Estonia, he has worked as a furniture designer in the company Natureld for a long time. During the last year, he was engaged in activities of the company Z-Module producing timber building modules; there he developed a new solution for build-ing a solid wood wall easily and quickly without special tools and steel joints. Last year, he created three innova-tive parquets for the parquet producer Snakefloor. He has defended four use-ful models and two are waiting for defending. No recent design contest passes without a new item from him.

Block RackDesigner: Elmet Treier / www.snakefloors.com

The product consists of stick-shaped coat hangers that lock and pop out with engineered precision. In the closed position the functional contents remain hidden inside the smooth wooden surface. Hanger sticks that pop out when pushed gently bring a playfulness to everyday life. Just like closing a door or turning off the light when leaving the room, the coat hanger too can be closed. The product is made from timber remnants from furniture industry, with no metal parts.

Producer: snakefloors.com / Year of design: 2008 / Year of production 2014 / Materials: solid wood / Techniques: cnc mill / Dimensions: 16 cm × 13 cm × 3.6 cm / Photographer: Elmet Treier

Parquet SNAKESKIN

EMMANUEL MESLET

Emmanuel Meslet is an experienced interior furniture and object designer who has developed his experience through multiple different design bureaus. He has an excellent sense for aesthetics and space and an ability to foresee and successfully prevent prob-lems that can arise in interior architec-ture and construction solutions. He is very creative in object and furniture design, often experimenting with new ideas while finding functional solutions. Working hand in hand with engineers, he takes responsibility for the func-tioning of his concepts in practice. Emmanuel lived in Estonia for 10 years. He moved to a small village in France in the summer of 2013 and now works at a small design bureau.Creative Furniture COW

Designer: Emmanuel Meslet / www.tentwelve.ee / www.cultofwood.eu

Even inspiration needs a solid platform to soar. This is where COW comes in. All COW products are designed to let creativity come to the forefront, to organ-ise your working life so that everything you need to come up with the great idea is always at hand. Merging quality with functionality and sustainability is a very Nordic concept. The COW furniture series has added another layer to this mind-set – it is geared towards the creative worker, making desks, box-systems, tables and other storage units to complement and enhance the work environ-ment of those whose main asset is their brain – knowledge-workers.

COW combines modern minimalism with subtle retro hints – a good exam-ple of contemporary, fresh Nordic design. It is minimalist yet soulful. Natural oak wood and clean white surfaces complement each other in simple yet eye-catching forms and delicately balanced proportions. COW furniture fits equally well into the office, home office or the student workspace. COW fur-niture helps you be yourself – manage your stuff exactly the way you want to, organise your work life for maximum creative performance.

Producer: HiQ Furniture Ltd / Year design: 2011 / Year design 2012 / Materials: oak, MDF, Corian, fabric / Size: desks 35 cm × 85 cm × 85 cm, storage units 120,5 cm × 47,6 cm × 31 cm; 65,6 cm × 47,6 cm × 31 cm / Photographs: Kalle Veesaar, Juta Kübarsepp

ENE RAUD

The grandfather of Ene Raud often surprised his grandchild with bird whistles shaped from local clay. With his authenticity and inventiveness, the grandfather encouraged his grandchild to search for her own solutions. Maybe that is the reason why the grandchild became a designer now engaged in design of china dishes. Ene likes to cre-ate an original shape movement in the items which would be new and inter-esting from every angle of vision. She mainly uses china and clay as material. It is material with an aboriginal power, character and memory – extremely inspiring material. The best succeeded work of Raud is “Linnupete” (Early breakfast) spoons from china which even have the aesthetics of the jewel-lery art world. The spoons are meant for serving snacks and spices. She modelled the first “Linnupete” spoon in 2010 during her studies in the Estonian Academy of Arts and she was more deeply involved in the project in Aalto University in Helsinki. „Linnupete“ was highly acknowledged on the contest “Väike asi 2012” (Small item 2012) of the Estonian Association of Designers where it got the second prize.

Spoons TRICK THE BIRDSDesigner: Ene Raud / www.pinterest.com/raudene

The idea of the “Trick the birds” spoons was born in Saaremaa, at the edge of farm fields. The artist’s sketches of the fragile oat is the source for the form of the spoons. In Estonian folk beliefs, “trick the bird” means some food or a piece of bread eaten before leaving the house during the early spring time. Because otherwise, the very first bird you hear will trick you. It is a kind of magic to take the piece of bread, it will neutralize the bad power of the bird.

Producer: Ene Raud / Year of design: 2010 / Year of production: 2012 / Materials: porcelain / Techniques: slip-casting / Photographer: Michaela Čejková, Ene Raud

Bottles For Soy Sauce And Oil Designer: Evelin Kummel

In 2011, the project “Toit ja Nõu” (Food and Container) was started; the participators were the ceramics and glass art departments of the Estonian Academy of Arts and chosen catering establishments. The goal was to create containers which would be beautiful, practical and convenient at the same time but not yet present on the Estonian market. Evelin Kummel produced sushi set from china: a soy sauce bottle and a base for the restaurant Black Taverna. The bottle got a shape with a spin because of an occasion when a spin appeared on clay when the model was prepared. Thanks to the spin it is good to hold the bottle both for right-handed and left-handed persons. The soy sauce bottles of Evelin are dishes which draw people’s attention to design; it is indeed very important, on what the food is served.

Producer: Evelin Kummel / Year design: 2011 / Year production: 2011 / Materials: porcelain, glazes, bottle cap / Techniques: slip casting, electric firing / Size: 18,5 cm × 9,5  cm × 5,5 cm / Photographer: Maria Sidorenko

EVELIN KUMMEL

Ceramics is a speciality with many opportunities; the designer Evelin Kummel likes tableware and especially drinking vessels at best. Evelin Kummel has studied the history of drinking vessels for hot drinks – of cups and handles and analysed different cups by making them herself. Now, Evelin is a post-graduate of ceramics in the Estonian Academy of Arts. She believes that a simple and clear shape and func-tionality are important in ceramics. At the same time, the ceramics materials offer different possibilities. At the pre-sent time, she uses mainly china as the material in her works. Her most impor-tant work is the sushi set with a soy sauce jug and a base made for Black Taverna which was also nominated for the Estonian Design Awards 2012.

HELMET RAJA

Helmet Raja has worked in market-ing communications for almost 20 years. Educated as a graphic designer, throughout his career he has had opportunities to work in advertising, corporate communications and public relations as a consultant and product designer. In the beginning of his career he won the first Estonian international awards for advertising. In recent years, he has worked as a freelance graphic designer and entrepreneur.

HÄÄ EESTI TOIT Private Label Designer: Helmet Raja / www.helmet.ee

The gourmet boutique store “Hää Eesti Toit” (Good Estonian Food) is located in Tallinn’s Medieval Old Town alongside a main walking street. The purpose of “Hää Eesti Toit” is to introduce excellent food producers and splendid ideas. These producers have used the best traditions alongside innovative ideas and food products in order to make Estonian cuisine richer and more varied. The “Hää Eesti Toit” private label concept was introduced in 2012 to ensure the value of the high quality products sold there.

Year of design: 2012 / Year of production: 2012 / Materials: carton, glass / Techniques: Digiprint/serigraphic / Photographer: Jaan Heinmaa

IGOR VOLKOV

Igor Volkov knows how to find smart solutions and he synthesises work and flashes of thought. Everything he creates is based on such simple ideas that every designer wonders why they did not think of it themselves. Technologically easy to realise – 2/3 design and 1/3 technology. Products with witty construction and a fresh and eager thought are always inno-vative and fascinating, shapes and colours are consistently aesthetically pleasing, his favourite material is ply-wood. Igor’s work is like a refreshing drop of water in the middle of a design desert. Igor Volkov graduated from the product design department at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2001. As an exchange student, he comple-mented his studies at the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Igor has co-operated with several Estonian and European companies. Igor Volkov cur-rently creates his designs under the LUM trademark.

Waste Bins: ROLL Cup And ROLL BinDesigner: Igor Volkov / www.lum.ee

The ROLL paper bin is made of a single piece of birch plywood. It provides a stylish way to dispose of waste paper. ROLL is perfect for homes and offices.

Producer: Lum Partner OÜ / Year of design: 2010 / Year of production: 2011 / Materials: natural birch aeroplane plywood, no finishing / Dimensions: height 10 cm and 30 cm / Photographer: Igor Volkov

ILONA GURJANOVA

Graphic designer Ilona Gurjanova is a designer at the forefront of Estonian designers; she introduces Estonian design at home and around the world. Usually, Gurjanova releases several birds at the same time. Besides lead-ing the Association of Designers, she also generates ideas about graphic design and product development. Her series of pictograms for ceramic plates, which has caused considerable reac-tion both in Estonia and abroad was completed within a couple of hours during a bus ride from one town to another. The motif of counting sheep for sleeplessness used in designing her set of bed linen was born almost in the same way. The keywords are wittiness and ecological. In recent times, she has concentrated on universal design, where she is engaged in counselling and strategies. She will start to design products again when she finds an item humankind needs, which has not yet been invented.

Bed lining set SHEEP COUNTERDesigner: Ilona Gurjanova / www.leart.ee

SHEEP COUNTER is meant for the sleepless. This bed lining set has little ani-mals to count until the morning. A natural, bacteria rejecting tencel-fabric acts like another skin – it helps regulate the body temperature and control mois-ture levels. The combination of these qualities is suitable for sensitive skin.

Producer: Wendre AS / Material: 55% tencel, 45% cotton / 150 × 200 cm, 50 × 60 cm / Photographer: Pelle Kalmo

INDREK NARUSK

Born in 1982 in Tallinn, Estonia. He has been drawing and engineering since he learnt to use pen and play with Lego. While studying at Tallinn Technical University started working as a mechanical engineer for a die and tool manufacturing company. After graduating (bachelor thesis on full-suspension mountain bike frame) in 2007, started an engineering ser-vices company and GrabCAD, which quickly grew into the world s largest online engineering community and marketplace. After leaving GrabCAD in 2012, he dedicated himself to designing and building bicycles at his company Velonia Bicycles. Has been racing bicy-cles for over ten years – combing his passion with work was a long-awaited dream. Velonia’s road frame RD01 was a finalist in Estonia’s Bruno design awards in 2010. The Viks bicycle was selected by Designboom as one of world’s top 10 bicycle designs in 2013.

Urban Bike Riding VIKSDesigner: Indrek Narusk / www.viks.cc

In some ways, this re-creator in the Estonian bicycle industry is defining bicy-cle design once again – this is a highly exclusive product for VIKS as there is no support tube for the seat. Two identically shaped tube frames run along-side the entire frame, joining at the head tube, seat tube and bottom bracket. The fork and handlebars are all in one piece as well, making VIKS look ex-tremely sleek and flowing from every point of view. It turns heads everywhere you go or even when it's locked outside a cafe – this makes it even better to ride. It’s been said that VIKS is the pedal powered version of the caferacer motorcycle. In Estonian “viks” means classy, gentlemanlike, polite. At the same time it sounds "fixed", like fixed gear...That is what VIKS was all about in the beginning – a fixed gear urban commuter. Today it is lot more than that – internal electronic shifting and a belt drive are available among other features.

Producer: VELONIA BICYCLES / Year of design: 2012–2013 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: stainless steel / Techniques: tube bending, tube cutting, TIG welding, sanding, brushing / Dimensions: 100 cm × 54 cm × 172 cm / Photographers: Jana Laigo, Indrek Narusk

JAANUS ORGUSAAR

Designer Jaanus Orgusaar is an award-winning Estonian designer, who became famous in the early 90s as a shoe- and fashion designer. He won both international competitions and the hearts of the Estonian nation with his peculiar and unpredictable ideas that found their form in boots looking like creatures from out of space.

He turned to product design four years ago, founding his own studio Borealis. His work stands out against trends; they are autonomous and unquestioningly original. His main feature is his three-dimensional think-ing. His stock-in trade is modelling 3D objects out of two-dimensional sheet materials. He models his lamps the same way he models his shoes. His mind travels on a trajectory following the path of bionic structures and pat-terns of the universe.

Bookshelf COMB Designer: Jaanus Orgusaar / www.jaanusorgusaar.com

The bookshelf is a flat-pack product, easy to put together, yet attractive.

It bulges from the wall like a sector of a sphere, creating a sci-fi effect in the room. Besides being an eye-catcher, it is also practical and the film-coated plywood is easy to clean.

Despite of its capacious dimensions it was possible to reduce the material thickness down to just 6mm as the structure remains still very strong.

Producer: Borealis OÜ / Year design: 2010 / Year production: 2010 / Materials: waterproof ply-wood 0, 65 cm / Techniques: CNC / Size: 132 cm × 132 cm × 24 cm / Photographer: Margit Lillak

JAANUS VEERBERK, HANNA SÕRMUS – packaging design agency KOOR

The first and only Estonian packag-ing design agency called KOOR was established in late 2011 by three art directors/creatives, who are still the leading team in every project. Although the company has grown rapidly their approach remains very personal. It creates outstanding packaging and brands. The main focus is the fast-moving consumer goods sector with large mainstream clients. KOOR cov-ers everything from creative concepts to print production. They have won numerous packaging design awards in Estonia, Latvia and Russia. Their work has been published on various design blogs, and the ultimate award of them all – they have helped to raise the prof-its of their clients by launching new or redesigning their products.

LA MUUDesigners: Jaanus Veerberk, Hanna Sõrmus / www.koor.eu

La Muu is Estonia’s first eco-friendly ice cream. The creative idea was to dif-ferentiate themselves from everything else on the shelves through design and colour. It was important to sell the product strictly through a packaging aes-thetic since advertising was not an option for the brand at the initial rollout.

The packaging features a chalkboard-like finish with witty hand-written copy. The “chalkboard look” is growing in popularity for packaging design because it has a farm stand feel that gives products a handcrafted, small-batch aesthetic.

Some translations of the packaging copy: “Don’t fall on my head”, coconut ice cream; “Tell me a story”, coffee ice cream, “Spice up my evenings”, carda-mom ice cream; “Squeeze me gently”, lemon sorbet. The advantage of using the chalkboard look on a frozen dessert – the container will naturally frost over when removed from the freezer, enhancing the black chalkboard surface with a dull, chalky/dusty finish.

Producer: KOOR Packaging design agency / Year of design: 2013 / Year of produc-tion: 2013 / Materials: plastic, sticker / Techniques: illustration, hand-crafted texts / Photographer: Toomas Tikenberg

Saku KODUÕLU

JAN TOMSON

Jan Tomson was born in 1983 in Tallinn, Estonia. He is a graphic designer work-ing mostly in the field of visual identity in the cultural, commercial and public sector.

His work includes identities, printed matter, books, packaging, signage, illustrations and environmental graph-ics for numerous museums and exhi-bitions, music festivals and theatres, shops, restaurants and cafeterias, and other corporate clients and institu-tions. Tomson also collaborates with architects, artists and musicians from Estonia and abroad  – creating set designs for operas or album covers for bands. His work also includes long-term collaboration with the Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau and the Parliament of Estonia.

Questioning the essence, and formal and material qualities of commercial graphics, Tomson works as an artist and has exhibited his work in Estonia and abroad and has released art books through Estonian art publish-ers Lugemik. He teaches at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie (Amsterdam) and the Estonian Art Academy (Tallinn).Moe 1886 Vodka

Designer: Jan Tomson / www.jantomson.ee

Moe 1886 Vodka is produced in the Moe Fine Spirit Distillery at Moe village. Moe 1886 is mostly handmade and the only single-source vodka distillery in Estonia that produces its own spirit. The Moe 1886 name and design reflect the place and the year when Estonian pharmacist Jakob Kurberg founded the Moe Fine Spirit Distillery. The packaging is clean and informative – excluding ornament and other graphic elements. All bottles are hand-stamped with half presented in gift/wrapping paper.

Producer: Jan Tomson / Year of design: 2012–2013 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: glass, paper / Techniques: offset print, hand-stamping / Photographer: Margus Johanson

JOANNA INNOS

Joanna was born in 1990 and grew up in Rakvere, Estonia. Currently she resides in Tallinn, Estonia.

In 2010, she commenced studies in the design faculty under professor Kadri Mälk in the jewellery and black-smithing department at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

She successfully divides her time between designing for the innovative brand HELK and working in a cosy Old Town studio creating unique jewellery pieces mostly from precious materi-als such as silver, gold, semi-precious stones and ebony.

She has also been an intern at the studio of Tanel Veenre, currently one of the most influential jewellery artists in Europe. She is the designer and one of the owners of the Estonian reflective jewellery brand HELK. She has par-ticipated in several group exhibitions in Estonia with her unique work (HOP Gallery 2013, Tallinna Linnateater 2012, Haapsalu Evald Okase Museum 2013 etc.). She has also studied psychology at the University of Tartu, and when she finds spare time from these things, Joanna also loves travelling, photogra-phy and cooking.

HELK Reflective Jewellery Designer: Joanna Innos / www.facebook.com/helkehe

The HELK Brand was established on 2012 in Tallinn, Estonia. There are actually two people behind HELK – Joanna Innos, as the designer and idea genera-tor, and her partner, Kristo, who is in charge of everything else. They are in the middle of their second season of creating bold and innovative reflective brooches, currently available in Estonia, Finland and Latvia.

The different models are initially drawn by hand, then modified using a computer, laser-cut from satinized plexiglass and finally covered with 3M reflector film, which is usually used for marine buoys. So they reflect light absolutely perfectly.

Currently, they have 8 different models in production and new ones are also be-ing added from time to time. Designed and produced from scratch in Estonia.

Joanna Innos: “HELK is a brooch and a reflector in one. The idea started in summer 2012, when the autumn was approaching and we became aware of the need for reflectors once again. I have never loved the hanging-type of re-flectors because they usually do not look so great nor add anything flattering to your outfit. That is when the idea came to us – why not design something I would personally love to wear that could also satisfy the requirement of wear-ing a reflector? And so HELK was born.”

Producer: VIU OÜ / Year design: 2012 / Year production: 2012–2014 / Materials: satinized plexiglass, 3M reflector film / Techniques: laser cutting / Dimensions: various / Photographer: Joanna Innos

JOHANNA TAMMSALU

Johanna Tammsalu is a young designer from Tallinn, Estonia where she recently started her design company – TAMMA DESIGN.

Johanna was educated at the Thames Valley University in London and the Istituto Europeo di Design in Madrid. Her work has been shown at several international design fairs and been featured in many publications.

“As a 12 year old I built myself my very first playhouse with simple furni-ture and everything in my back yard. I loved building things with my hands. I’m constantly searching for the hidden potential in everyday objects and mate-rials, from high-tech climbing ropes to shoes, dishes and light bulbs. When it comes to materials, there’s always more to them than meets the eye.”

She holds a strong conviction about the importance of bringing fresh ideas and challenging new projects to small and medium-sized producers in order to foster growth and creative sustainability.

Her most important design award prize was when she won The Clamp project, Creative Diary, Milan 2012. Important exhibitions she has taken part in include MADtastic! Fresh Design From Madrid, Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano, both 2013, and Forty Two Ways, Madrid, 2012.

Solid Spin Ceramic Lamp CollectionDesigner: Johanna Tammsalu / www.tammadesign.com

The Solid Spin Lamp collection grew out of a series of experiments with everyday objects: shoes, reading glasses, books, mugs, jugs, forks, etc. Pic-tures and videos using slow shutter speeds were taken to capture these new shapes. The fuzzy results, resembling a butterfly, were frozen in time.

Johanna Tammsalu: „I was fascinated by the strength of solid shapes and with the help of a 3D programme I rotated objects around their own axis. I tested objects by themselves and also in groups where they were stacked on top of each other. This resulted in endless possibilities for solid, captivating, revolu-tionary shapes with soothing outer details and unique individual character.“

Producer: Tallinn Art Ceramic Factory / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: glazed ceramic / Techniques: ceramic molding / Dimensions: 40 cm × 38 cm × 38 cm / Photographer: Antonio Guzmán

JULIA MARIA KÜNNAP

Julia Maria Künnap graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with an MA in jewellery and blacksmith art in 2011. She then furthered her studies in Sweden and Italy. As a multi-faceted artist, she works with different mate-rials and in different spheres – from jewellery accessories to furniture. The silver altar in Jaani church in Tartu is among her most important works. Julia Maria Künnap has been acknowledged through winning the Roman Tavast grant, the Ruth Reisert-Hafner grant and with the annual prize from the art journal Kunst.ee. The child’s high chair MARI created by Künnap won her the Red Dot design award. Künnap’s jewellery is almost exclusively unique jewellery but she also creates designs for mass production – ranging from different items of furniture and ending with hand-bags and shoes.

Baby High Chair MARI Designer: Julia Maria Künnap / www.kynnap.ee

The idea for the MARI high chair grew out of the everyday mealtime business of seating the baby at the table safely, comfortably and at the right height. With the added proviso that the harmony of the interior design of the home would not be disturbed. A minimalist high chair consists of a soft sitting surface, a padded support ring and four straight legs. The chair is extremely light, stable and in one-piece. MARI is meant for a child old enough to sit on its own until the moment when he can climb onto an adult’s chair and his nose can reach over the edge of the table.

Producer: Martens Martens / Year of design: 2009 / Year of production: 2009 / Material: steel piping coated with chrome, plywood, naturel leather / Dimensions:  42 cm × 42 cm × 73 cm; 2.5 kg

NIGHT SWIMMINGEarrings Night Swimming is a recall of moonlit reed and its shadows on the sandy beach in warm summer nights and japanese ink painting called sumi-e.

KAIRI KUUSKOR, JANNO NÕU and HARUHARU

Haruharu is a young design office based in Tallinn. The founders Kairi Kuuskor and Janno Nõu studied together on an exchange year at HfG Karlsruhe in Germany, where they decided to start their own office after returning to Estonia. Today, Haruharu has three designers on board and the studio’s everyday life is divided between work-ing on industrial design projects for start-ups, experimenting with and developing their own product line and maintaining a small fab-lab together with a group of architects.

Grown CoathangerDesigners: Kairi Kuuskor, Janno Nõu / www.haruharu.ee

The grown coathangers project started out as an experiment with living de-sign but grew into an unconventional production method. Since the branches are modelled without any steaming and only the trees’ own moisture is used, it has set seasonal limits to the process and taught the designers to work in coherence with the forest’s growth cycles. And in case you’re wondering – yes, the hangers are quite sturdy and can carry even winter coats.

Year of design: 2011 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: common hazel (Corylus avel-lana), alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus), bird cherry (Prunus padus) / Technique: bending / Dimensions: 26× 42× 4 cm / Photographer: Janno Nõu

KALLE TOOMPERE

He was born in 1958 in Pärnu in Estonia where he also acquired his secondary education. In 1981, he graduated the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute in the spe-ciality of drawing, drafting and manual training teacher. Over thirty years, he worked as a graphical designer and an art director in different companies and advertising agencies. Since 2010, he is an owner and a designer of the com-pany MAPPEMONDE mainly engaged in graphic design.

During the years, he has created over hundred logos and several signature graphics sets (Eesti Energia, Eesti Post, Tartu Ülikool, Eesti Rahvusringhääling, international company of environment audits INTOSAI etc.). In recent years, he has also been engaged in designing books and packages.

An album 30 YEARS TARTU MUSIC DAYSDesigner: Kalle Toompere

It is an album published in 2009 which covers the rock festivals taken place in the university town Tartu in years 1979–1991. These events which were extremely important for the Estonian music life were very different from the stagnated USSR atmosphere and they often even contrasted with it. The “singing revolution” that finally resulted in Estonian reclaimed independence grew out form the Tartu music days.

It was difficult to create an entirety because of the uneven amount and quality of preserved materials.

Producer: Aasta Raamat OÜ / Year design: 2009 / Year production: 2009 / Materials: paper, cardboard / Techniques: offset printing, stamping / Size: 21,5 × 21 × 2 cm / Photographer: Kalle Toompere

KARL ANNUS

Karl Annus has graduated from Tartu Art College and is currently studying design and engineering at Estonian Academy of Arts and Tallinn University of Technology’s Common Master’s program.

Karl started making wooden glasses in 2010. He started out with only pro-ducing custom-made glasses. Every pair was created individually, taking into consideration customer’s personal style, peculiarities of face and their everyday life. He still continues mak-ing special orders, but along with that, a ready-to-wear collection “Karl” has been developed, which was recognized with honorable mention of Estonian Design Award Bruno in 2012.

All “Karl’s” spectacles are hand-crafted from natural wood and with-out coloring. These light, natural and timelessly beautiful “Karl” spectacles carry on an idea of unique and eco-nomical design.

KARLID (Karls) Spectacle Frames Designer: Karl Annus / www.karl.ee

Karlid (Karls) are spectacle frames made from precious timber handcrafted for individual clients or produced in series as part of a prepared collection.

There are seven models in the 2012 collection available in ebony, wenge, walnut, maple, zebrano and oak. The Karlid collection is unique because the glasses have no hinges and are made from a single piece of timber and can-not be folded away.

The frames can also be made to order for individual clients considering the shape and dimensions of the client’s face, as well as style preferences and life-style. The designer and the costumer meet several times during the process in order to make the necessary measurements, to find a suitable design and to try on the glasses as they near completion and the whole process lasts about four weeks.

Only environmentally friendly and sustainable design principles are used in the production of the frames; in other words, the timber is not coloured or tinted, only oil is used to finish and preserve the natural shine and other quali-ties of the timber.

Producer: Karl Disain OÜ / Year of design: 2012 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: wood / Techniques: hand made / Dimensions: 15 cm × 15 cm × 5 cm / Photographer: Liina Soosaar

KÄRT MARAN

Kärt Maran graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts from the departments of Jewellery and Blacksmithing and Product Design. She works as a free-lance jewellery designer, curator and exhibition designer. Maran curated the 5th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial in 2009 and has designed over 20 popular sci-ence exhibitions. Since 1998, Maran has participated in various art and design exhibitions both in Estonia and abroad.

EarringsDesigner: Kärt Maran

Living in the North makes you notice light, its nuances, changes and when it is absent. Light plays an important role in this jewellery collection – the form, the whole perception of the earrings seems to change with it. In these fractured minimalist forms, the matt surface of the silver serves as a perfect reflector of light with dark black shadows.

Though large, up to 9 cm in length, these earrings are light and easy to wear. The seemingly static earrings follow the movement of the body with ease, swaying along as you move reflecting the light around and thus constantly changing their appearance.

Producer: Kärt Maran / Year of design: 2013–2014 / Year of production: 2013–2014 / Materials: Silver 925° / Techniques: saw-cut and soldered, handmade / Dimensions: 9 × 4,5 × 1,5 cm / Photographer: Kärt Maran

KÄRT OJAVEE

Kärt is a textile designer working on several projects at the same time. At the moment, she is leading the KO! brand and at the same time is also engaged in a project called SymbiosisO. Both undertakings focus on developing innovative solutions in textile design.

While SymbiosisO concentrates on experiments and future visions offer-ing technically more complicated and interactive solutions, KO! is a brand that aims to develop and market prod-ucts. The KO! product range includes for example textiles that change in the sunlight. 

Kärt graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a doctoral degree and has been acknowledged with several awards.

Cushions FIRST VIEWS ON MARS Designer: Kärt Ojavee / www.k-o-i.ee

The landscapes are derived from natural surfaces, close-ups and panoramas that could also be seen on another planet – Mars. Laser cutting techniques have been used to make the woollen felted surface foldable. This makes it possible to give new forms and characteristics to any object in the interior when covered with the fabric.

Producer: KO! / Year of design: 2011–2013 / Year of production: 2012–... / Materials: 100% wool / Techniques: laser cut / Dimensions: 50 × 40 × 6 cm /  Photographer: Anu Vahtra, Kärt Ojavee

KÄRT PÕLDMANN

Kärt Põldmann is one of four emerging designers whose display “KAAMOS. Fashion Now: Estonia” won the main prize at the International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week in February 2014. Educated at Estonia’s Tartu Art College and the Estonian Academy of Arts, she approached local cobblers in 2012 to refine artisan production methods to complement her MA footwear collec-tion. Collaborating with handicrafts has encouraged her to producing bespoke and limited edition collections. She believes that the process of crafting footwear close to her heritage is a sig-nificant aspect of her work. Every pair is individually crafted as in the old days. She wants to bring the golden ideals to the present, combining dreamy magic and everyday reality.

Handmade Shoes MADE IN Designer: Kärt Põldmann / www.kärtpõldmann.com

Incorporating golden age paragons with reflections on the present, Kärt Põldmann’s footwear collection is driven by modern interpretations of another generation’s ideal. Each pair of Põldmann’s shoes are individually crafted by local shoemakers, using only the finest quality leathers from premium Italian tanneries. Working with local cobblers, she has refined a uniquely artisan pro-duction method for the creation of her collection, while her Nordic heritage continues to significantly influence her designs.

Kärt describes: “Timeless shoes are simple and quiet, yet with an expres-sive mood to attract. Like a twinkle in the eyes. Secretly gliding from modesty to the opposite extreme. Where a humble impression is turned into a seduc-tive glance that moves and empowers. These shoes are made in love.”

Producer: KP Artisan OÜ / Year of design: 2014 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: different types of leather / Techniques: handmade shoes / Dimensions: various / Photographer: Kaupo Kikkas

KÄRT SUMMATAVET PhD

Kärt Summatavet has nine jobs: she is an art professor, a metal artist, a research fellow, a project manager, a curriculum manager, an entrepreneur, an expert-counsellor, a designer and an inventor. In order to work in all profes-sions at the same time, one must live and act smartly. Maybe this was the reason why her doctoral thesis was awarded the European Union prize for innovators and female inventors for her innovative method of jewellery production. Kärt set out to produce jewellery that looked like one-off art jewellery but was produced industri-ally using series production. Now, Kärt uses her inventions in her company EHEsummatavet to produce jewellery and prepare experimental fashion col-lections. Kärt Summatavet’s work has been exhibited in galleries and muse-ums in the USA, England, Germany, Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Slovenia, China and Korea.

TANTSIVAD PROSSID / DANCERS Designer: Kärt Summatavet / www.ehelaul.ee

The series of brooches “Tantsivad Prossid / Dancers” was inspired by archaic Estonian cultural heritage – the magical picture world of northern natural peo-ple, local rituals and folksy humour. In the modern world, we often forget our sense of humour as a source of innovation and creativeness; it gives life power and creates harmonious life experiences. Fun and dance have ancient healing powers, and with the jewellery I try to help people recall and remember this influence.

Producer: EHEsummatavet OÜ / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: sterling silver, black bone, white bone, acrylic / Photographer: Märt Summatavet

KASPAR PAAS

In 2002, Kaspar could not find any shoes for himself in the shops, so with the advice and help of some local shoemakers, he made a pair for him-self. Shoemaking became his hobby. Kaspar practiced making the glued on rubber sole and the wooden pegged leather sole. Since he could not find the “know-how” in Estonia for how to make shoes using the traditional hand sewn welt and stitched sole, he started to look abroad. In 2007, he ended up in London and had the opportunity to do an apprenticeship with John Lobb Bootmaker at St. James’s, which lasted three and a half years. Now he is a vir-tuoso shoe master.

Handmade Men’s Shoes Designer: Kaspar Paas

Handmade shoes give the opportunity to reuse the upper and other compo-nents for a very long time. If the soles wear out, new ones can be stitched on. Other parts of the shoe are easily mended, reused or replaced, thus making bespoke footwear sustainable. With age and wear the shoes will also build up their own patina and character that will clearly distinguish them from factory produced shoes.

Producer: Kaspar Paas / Year of design: 2006 / Year of production: 2009 / Materials: Leather welt, sole and heel. Textile. / Techniques: hand sewn welt, sole stitched at 11 stiches per inch, embroidery. Bevelled waist. / Photographer: Kaspar Paas

KATRIN KOIT and ELINA KORKALA

Katrin Koit (EST) and Elina Korkala (FI) have primarily worked in heavy indus-try for the last few years. They like to work with companies who are looking for strong aesthetics and ethical values rather than fast moving fashion trends. They immerse themselves in the physi-cal and aesthetic properties of materi-als and run many experiments, which often combine old and new technolo-gies and weird tools.

As Helsinki Toy Factory is a relatively new company and both designers are primarily working in the global design field, it has been rather challenging to show local cultural values in their designs. In future, the designers hope to create a mixture of strong artistic content and simplicity with a louder local voice.

Bag Series WIND BLOCK Designer: Katrin Koit, Elina Korkala / www.helsinkitoyfactory.com

Wind Block is part of the Basic Block series of bags. It is the first product of up coming designers Katrin Koit (EST) and Elina Korkala (FIN). They use leftovers from the new sailcloth development process at Dimension-Polyant (DE) or sail maker WB Sails (FIN). The design is based on long-term material research, ethical values, simplicity and lightness. Product weight is 200–600 grams and depends on the thickness of the materials.

Producer: Helsinki Toy Factory / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: Sailcloth / Techniques: Lasercutting, folding, sewing / Dimensions:  67 cm × 35 cm × 27 cm

KRISTEL SAAN

Kristel Saan acquired a bachelor degree in ceramics from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2012. During her studies, she complemented herself in the fine arts at the Saint Martins College of Art and Design at the University of the Arts, London. As a postgraduate of ceramics at the Estonian Academy of Arts, she studied at the Emily Carr University in Vancouver in the department of visual arts. Now, she is completing her last postgraduate semester at the Rhode Island School of Design in the USA. At the same time as her studies, she has taken part in exhibitions in Estonia, Finland, Hungary, England, Germany, America and Canada. Her first solo exhibition took place in Helsinki and now she is preparing her fourth exhibi-tion in Estonia.

Finger Brooches I WANT TO HAVE A PIECE OF YOUDesigner: Kristel Saan / www.kristelsaan.com

Brooches bases are spinning. When you move they move and clatter together. They live separate life and give you out of body experience.

Producer: Kristel Saan / Year design: 2010 / Year production: 2010 / Materials: bone china (porcelain) / Techniques: slip cast hand finished / Size: h 6 × 1 × 1 cm / Photographer: Evelin Saul

KRISTJAN URKE

As Kristjan is quite a common name in Estonia Kristjans are often referred to by their surnames or nicknames – and I am no exception. I have been called Urke for as long as I can remember. I am a freelance designer in my mid-twenties and currently a full-time backpacker somewhere in the world. I have worked as an assistant designer for Estonian Television, run my own small design company and studied interior architecture and furniture design at the Estonian Academy Of Arts. I was born and raised in Tallinn in a rather poor family. I am passionate about design and travelling and my goal is to keep my life adventurous. I truly believe that simplicity is beauty and knowledge is power.

Light LEAFDesigner: Kristjan Urke

This product got started in a light workshop at school led by designer Tõnis Vellama. The task was to create any kind of light using materials like dibond or aeroplane veneer and laser cutting techniques which were all new for the students. Trying to figure out a simple and pleasing shape Kristjan spent a lot of time becoming familiar with origami art and playing with paper and scis-sors. One thing led to another and after experimenting with several forms, materials and different manufacturing techniques, it finally turned into a prod-uct. Many proto types later it ended up being made from aluminium, using water jet cutting and painted with car paint. Its freely bendable leaves give the lamp-shade a unique and dynamic form. Light Leaf was one of the “Noted Works” in the 2012 Bruno Design Awards.

Producer: Kristjan Urke / Year of design: 2010 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: Aluminium, fabric cord / Techniques: Bendable form / Dimensions: 42 cm × 60 cm × 60 cm / Photographer: Rasmus Jurkatam

MAARJA NIINEMÄGI

Maarja Niinemägi received her MA in Jewellery at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2008. She has also attended the Fachhochschule Trier (Trier University of Applied Sciences) in Germany as an exchange student, where she contin-ued later to develop her skills in engrav-ing and designing precious stones.

Her works are highly valued and have been acquired for the collections of the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, the art Marzee Gallery of contemporary jewellery as well as pri-vate collections in Estonia and abroad. Maarja Niinemägi is a freelance jewel-lery artist; she has taken part in exhibi-tions since 1997 and has been a mem-ber of the Estonian Artists’ Association since 2011.

She creates small editions and also time-consuming collections of one-off items of jewellery, which have been exhibited in Estonia and abroad. Her jewellery uses abstract form and col-our in space. The poetry of the work is light, the lines are considered yet ethereal, the colours self-possessed. Very often abstract but mainly inspired from nature and people.

LANDSCAPES AND WATERS Jewellery Collection Designer: Maarja Niinemägi / www.gram.ee

This anodized titanium jewellery collection includes mostly earrings with some brooches and jewellery for the neck. The jewellery is inspired by the contour lines found on maps showing height above sea level and depth of water.

The workmanship is carried out by means of laser cutting and the details are riveted together using silver. The backs of the earrings can only be attached using spot welding because titanium melts at very high temperatures. The cut details are at times repetitive, but since titanium anodizing is done by hand, each piece of jewellery will be slightly different and this adds to the unique-ness of the series.

Different combinations of details add to the range of variations. Titanium is a very clean and lightweight metal. Similar to gold, natural titanium does not react with chemicals, so resistance to corrosion (including the influence of sea water, aqua regia and chlorine) is one of its most useful features. Titanium also has the highest strength to weight ratio of all metals. In its pure form it has the same strength as some steel alloys, but is 45% lighter. Therefore, large-scale titanium jewellery is also light and very wearable. Through anodizing, it is possible to modify the surface layer of titanium to add more colour than with other metals. Anodizing involves the chemical oxidation of the surface of the metal using electrolysis. In the case of titanium, this occurs in an alkaline medium and its colour arises as a result of interference in the light. As the titanium oxide layer is almost transparent, the light rays falling on the surface of titanium coated with an oxide layer are reflected back from the surface of the oxide layer as well as from the metal. In this way, colour such as purple radiate at a certain angle and the metallic colour spectrum on the surface of the titanium resembles an oil patch in a puddle of rainwater.

Producer: Maarja Niinemägi / Year design: 2011 / Year production: 2013 / Material: titanium, silver / Techniques: anodizing, lazer cut / Dimensions: various / Photographer: Tiina Niinemägi

MAILE GRÜNBERG

In Estonian interior architecture and design, Maile Grünberg is a creative person with vital and modern think-ing. She is able to understand modern design directions and different styles almost instantly regardless of whether it is Pop Art, Art Deco or high-tech. Her considerable experience in product design came from working for many years in two large furniture production companies. She primarily creates fur-niture for her interior design projects; most of which have become classics in Estonian interior design.

Shelf JACKDesigner: Maile Grünberg / www.grünberg.ee

The shelf JACK hints at one of the author’s favourite styles, neo-pop inspired by the sixties; this is in vogue right now as retro fever is strong. The shelf from bent birch plywood is effective and acts like a sculpture in the space.

Producer: OÜ Aja Nägu / Year of design: 2011 / Year of production: 2011 / Materials: bent birch plywood / Techniques: coloured, whitened or stained, semi-mat lacquer / Size: Ø 170 cm / Photographer: Kaido Hagen

MARE KELPMAN

The mare kelpman tekstiilistuudio brand kelpman textile offers high qual-ity interior and garment accessories. The key words are quality and long-lasting materials, limited quantities, unisex and vintage. The studio uses local European producers: all items are produced in the local regions. Textiles are woven using old-school industrial weaving machines. Scarves and blan-kets are mostly made of 100% wool. Thick silk, thin linen and glowing high-tech materials are also woven. Most of the items are unisex, many have a vintage touch and many are inspired by childhood. Design and colour com-binations are available in limited quan-tities. All fabric and product designs are developed by Mare Kelpman. The owner and designer of the studio, Mare Kelpman, has been teaching as a pro-fessor for many years, she has taken part in many international exhibitions and won prestigious awards.

Plaids HERBAL, HARLEQUINDesigner: Mare Kelpman / www.marekelpman.eu

Woollen plaids are woven from quality yarns in small quantities using old-school weaving machines. A minimalist use of colour and pattern character-izes the Nordic temperament. Black, white and shades of grey suit modern interiors. Green expresses a longing for spring. Plaids are exceptionally soft and lightweight.

Producer: mare kelpman tekstiilistuudio / Year design: 2012 / Year production until 2012 / Materials: wool 100% / Techniques: weaving / Size 145cm × 190cm and 80cm × 200 cm / Photographer: Terje Talpsepp

AURORA Glowing Cushion

MARGUS TAMM

Margus Tamm is a man like an orches-tra: he is a designer, a performance and installation artist, an art critic with a graceful pen, a writer of prose awarded with the debut Betti Alver prize. The name Tamm was recently also announced among the nomi-nees of the Köler Contemporary Art Prize. He is a PhD candidate at the Estonian Academy of Arts research-ing the theme “Tactical media”. The book “Sotsiaalsed mängud kunstiru-umis. Artikleid ja arvustusi 2001–2010” (Social games in the art space. Articles and reviews 2001–2010) by Raivo Kelomees and designed by Tamm is a laureate of the most beautiful book competition for 2013.

Collection of Articles SOTSIAALSED MÄNGUD KUNSTIRUUMISDesigner: Margus Tamm / www.tammtamm.net

The collection of articles by Raivo Kelomees is a lengthy and intense collec-tion of articles. The writings handle a broad range of topics from explora-tions of pop culture to educational politics – the art of new media and digital culture being repeatedly in focus.

The book design by Margus Tamm aims to convey the content through the shape of the book. The competition jury for Estonia’s Most Beautiful Book 2013 commented on their decision to choose the book design as a winner in the following way: “It is a book that reminds us of both a document depot and a memory card. Wonderful realisation of engraving coloured by hand. The shape leans on the content and the entire whole comes together. Beauti-ful like the first computers and the science fiction of the 1970s.”

Producer: Raivo Kelomees, Estonian Academy of Arts / Year of design: 2013 / Year of pro-duction: 2013 / Materials: paper Soporset 90 g/m2 and cover paper Carta Elega 250 g/m2 / Techniques: b/w print, CMYK print / Dimensions: 210 × 150 × 39 mm / Photographer: product photos by Ats Parve

MARGUS TRIIBMANN

Margus Triibmann got a lot of expe-rience from a company dealing with solutions for public spaces and small forms and design of LED-lamps. Now, he is working in the design bureau Keha3, where he is one of the founders, a bearer of the engineering idea and a designer. The design bureau Keha3 has two directions: to offer design ser-vices and to produce its own products for selling. There are furniture, lamps, city furniture, street inventory and inte-rior design elements in their product portfolio. Every concrete developable technical solution can be used by all products of a product family and the products can be easily adjusted to meet the customer’s wishes. The Products of Triibmann are character-ised by smart simplicity. He has picked all design awards issued in Estonia.

Chair-Lighting CRANBERRY

Bicycle rack TULIP FAN FANDesigner: Margus Triibmann / www.keha3.ee

Tulip Fan Fan is elastic and safe bicycle rack resembling a meadow. Outer layer is weather proof rubber (SBR/EPDM) enclosing a steel rope. The latter giver the rack rigidness necessary for fastening and upright parking of the bi-cycle. Impervious to a thief as well as clumsy driver, but friendly for a bicycle frame and the bicycle owner using the rack.

Tulip Fan Fan provides freedom to choose the way and direction of parking the bicycle. The fixing point of the bicycle is not singly determined hence it is specially suitable for fastening the bicycles with different heights and differ-ent frame types.

Producer: IO Stuudio / Year design: 2011 / Year production: 2011 / Materials: Rubber, powder coated  galvanized steel / Techniques: completed / Size: 70 × 130 × 125 / Photographer: Pavel Sidorenko

MARIA RÄSTA

Maria Rästa graduated from the Tartu Art College in the field of furniture design and furthered her studies at the Kuopio Design Academy in the field of product and interior design. Drawing and constructing was already her thing in childhood. The decision to study design emerged from her desire to cre-ate new things. One reason why she chose the area of furniture design was that Maria’s father built stools, benches and closets in their country home dur-ing the summer and that was where Maria also received her first experience in this field. At Tartu Art College, practi-cal work was also emphasized in addi-tion to developing creativity, both in designing and restoring. Consequently, Maria had a special interest in carpentry and her interest in making things with her own hands increased. Now, she likes to go to the workshop to construct, to finish something or to give a new face to something old. Maria uses her company Maria Rästa Design OÜ pri-marily to design furniture and interior elements. She likes most to create play-ful and enjoyable things.

The Stool CHICK Designer: Maria Rästa / mariarasta.planet.ee

The stool Chick was created in 2008. During a practical assignment, first-year students in the furniture department at Tartu Art College were asked to design and make a stool. At that time, Maria was enthusiastic about minimal-ism and her first sketches were very geometric and easy. But the instructor advised her to look for interesting forms and to produce something “weird”. She was looking for an original form and sketched different forms and for fun she added a beak and paws to a shape. A little Chick hatched from this ges-ture. At first, Maria planned to make the legs from wood as well, but ultimately she decided to use metal legs. She chose precious timber – mahogany – for the beak; this added value to the product and a beautiful colour. At first, the seat was from birch. When it reached production, she chose glue-laminated birch instead of a single piece because of the risk of the timber splitting. A small edition of Chicks were also produced using a seat of birch plywood with the nice stripes from the plywood along the edge. In time, Maria has improved the production technology, while looking for better solutions. The Chick is now produced in small editions and has found owners in different European countries, the USA and also Russia. The Chick is not just a stool anymore, but rather a small decorative element used like a small dish beside a sofa, as a bedside stand, as a footrest in front of an armchair, to display flowers or just as a delightful sight. Chick also manages to make people smile and maybe remind them of something fun from their childhood.

Producer: Maria Rästa Design OÜ / Year of design: 2008 / Year of production: 2010 / Materials: glue-laminated birch, mahogany, metal / Techniques: Laser cutting, welding, saw-ing, turning, powder coating, gluing, varnishing / Dimensions: H 36 cm × W 41 cm × D 24 cm / Text: The stool named “Chick“ is inspired by warm childhood memories. It can be used as a stool, side table or bedside stand, but in addition it has an extra function – to make you smile. / Photographer: Ahto Sooaru

MARIS KASKMANN

Maris Kaskmann graduated the University of Tartu in the speciality of psychology but felt that it was not the right choice. She decided to make a turn in her life and to study a different speciality. She chose the speciality of media and advertisement art in the Tartu Higher Art School; she wanted to become a book designer.

Maris likes books as physical objects where the colour, the format and the material play with human senses. It is exciting for her to use handicraft methods for book design and to do it in some innovative way every single time. As a graphic designer, she wants to create something with sense and where the content and the form are one unit.

Poem Collection KES KARDAB SVETA GRIGORJEVAT? (Who Is Afraid of Sveta Grigorjeva?)Designer: Maris Kaskmann / www.behance.net / mariskaskmann

Sveta Grigorjeva is a young poet of Estonian-Russian origin who writes among other things also about being a woman and the identity problems of the Russians. Her texts are multi-layered, full of punkish attitude, tenderness and irony.  It was clear that the book needs a design not based on graphic decoration but hooking with the book’s content in its essence. The goal was to create a design where the shape expresses the content. In the book design, old book covers from the Soviet time were used; the book covers were torn up and glued on the book block so that the back of the book remains open. As result, every cover of the book is unique. Beside the powerful covers, the layout of the content was intentionally kept very simple.

Producer: MTÜ Värske Rõhk / Year design: 2013 / Year production 2013 / Materials:  reused old book covers, Munken Print Cream 150 g / Techniques: deconstructed cov-ers were bound by hand, text on cover printed with letterpress / Size: (H × W × D cm) 210 × 130 × 13 mm / Photographer: Ingel Martin

MARJE EELMA, MARTIN EELMA – creative agency TUUMIK

Both Marje and Martin have more than 10-years of graphic design’s experi-ence; in 2007, they founded their own company Tuumik Stuudio. The spheres of activity are company graphics, designing books and catalogues and designing information and monumen-tal graphics used in buildings in co-operation with architects and interior architects.

The both are talented designers of the Estonian new generation and they have been awarded with several prizes.Martin’s work was noted on the contest the Estonian Design Awards 2013 and on the Estonian Cultural Poster 2013, where he was one of the top 10. The critic Kristjan Mändmaa comments that Martin Eelma took part in the contest with a series of very strong works. His poster for music festival “Sääsepirina Alguse Kontsert” was among the top ten. But when one talks about maxi-mal minimalism and posters which can also be looked at closely the Eelma’s designs for the natural museum should be praised. With the sustained aesthet-ics and subtle humour, they are real masterpieces.“ But the book “Elades mitmuses” designed by Marje Eelma was chosen among the 25 most beauti-ful books of 2013. The jury stated that the design is minimalistic and the emp-tiness and the silence were sensitively used. The text and the photographs are well in balance, the picture material was treated with the knowledge of an experienced photographer.

Journal ÕUGraphic designers: Marje and Martin Eelma / www.tuumik.ee

The journal ÕU (Yard) is the only Estonian publication entirely focusing on outdoor space and landscape architecture. The journal is published two times in a year since 2009. In every number, a theme is chosen and it is handled with discussing essays, with introducing topical stories and projects. Because of the theme, the appearance of every journal number is different. The design was fixed with the last but one issue when the decision was made to add a poster folded around the journal. The classical cover was abandoned and it was decided to show the open sewed adhesive binding. It was also supported by the number’s theme – “Technical”. All the future numbers will have an ad-dition. In order to save printing costs, every number is one-coloured with the exception of a photo story on one four-colour sheet. The journal’s editor-in-chief is Anna-Liisa Unt.

Producer: MTÜ Kino / Year of design: 2010–... / Year of production: 2010–... / Materials: paper Lux Cream 90g/m2, MA Gloss 130g/m2, cover material variable / Techniques: 1-colour and 4-colour offset printing, sewn binding / Dimensions:  14,8 × 21,0 × 0,95 cm / Printer: Tallinn Book Printers / Photographer: Marje Eelma

MARTIN LAZAREV

Martin Lazarev studied furniture design and restoring in the Tartu Art School but then switched smoothly to graphic design. In Estonia, Lazarev worked in several reputable advertising agencies as a designer and he has created a logo or company graphics for about 300 Estonian companies. But nevertheless, he is more known as a photographer. Seven years ago, after a tourist trip to Brazil he decided to move there. Now, he works there as a graphic designer but likes to take photos in his free time.The idea to create a nice ID card reader came into his mind during a Brazilian photo trip when it was necessary to get rid of wires. Lazarev needed help in order to realise his idea. He made some sketches and showed them to his acquaintances. Half a year passed before his friend Argo Männiste agreed to help. He became a development manager. Now, the ID card reader has become so famous that orders come from the entire world.

+iD USB Smart Card ReaderDesigner: Martin Lazarev / www.pluss-id.com

+iD is an ID1 format smart card reader with integrated microSD slot for easy data transfer. Users can choose the capacity of the microSD cards according to their personal needs and affordable cards are easily replaceable. +iD com-bines a modern ergonomic design with the latest technology and provides a suitable solution for demanding environments. At the size of a standard USB memory stick, it is smallest device of its kind on the market.

Producer: Wabrikworks / Year design: 2009 / Year production: 2012 / Materials: Aluminium, ABS/PC / Size: 5,7 × 0,7 × 1,4 cm / Photographer: Martin Lazarev

MARKO ALA and JOONAS TORIM

Marko and Joonas are designers who were both trained at Tartu Art College. They have been actively involved in organising Disainiöö (Design Night) and many other design festivals, events and exhibitions. At the moment, Marko is the CEO of Oot-Oot Disain Studio, and Joonas  is engaged in designing new products and devel-oping technical solutions. They are currently cooperating on several furni-ture development projects. The same Oot-Oot also manages the furniture shop “Enjoy Vintage”, which deals with Scandinavian furniture from the 50s and 60s. It is a love for old things that has shaped their signature style. They both value durable quality, design functionality and good materi-als. They think that the durability of materials is important. A good mate-rial ages with dignity. This means that products made from good materials live with their user, only getting better with time.

Couch COSMODesigners: Marko Ala, Joonas Torim / www.oot-oot.com

In addition to tuning retro furniture, Oot-Oot also has another sphere of activity  – Marko Ala and Joonas Torim produce furniture designed by them-selves: a couch and a TV cabinet which seem to originate from the 1960s but with ergonomics suitable for the measures of today’s humans. The ergonom-ics of the couch was elaborated with care in order to support upper and lower back. Thanks to a greater sitting depth and in combination with a bank, the couch also suits well for enjoying oneself while watching TV. And it is also important, that the couch can be looked at from every side.

Producer: Tume Hall OÜ / Year design: 2009 / Year production: 2010 / Materials: plywood and solid wood frame; legs from solid wood (oak or walnut); HR porolone; cover textile Maya CS textile. / Measures: 154 × 90 × 60 cm / Photographer: Marko Ala

MATTI ÕUNAPUU

Matti Õunapuu is a designer like an orchestra. He is a man who designs everything  – from a tablespoon to an aeroplane. Õunapuu started as a designer at the end of the 1970s and his most important project was as direc-tor of the city design group for pre-Olympic Tallinn and to create the base and urn for the Olympic fire.

In 2002, Õunapuu was involved in developing the doc@Home device designed for observing patients. This is a tool that enables a person to regis-ter his or her health indicators at home and to send them to the doctor elec-tronically. The device has had great success on the international market: in the competition at the International Conference on the Information Society in 2003, experts acknowledged the device as the best e-health project in Europe. Consequently, an investor con-tacted Õunapuu with a new idea. This time with a proposal to create a unique portable folding electric scooter. The wonder design was completed in 2013 and instantly became a hit with high demand in several countries.

Folding Electric Scooter STIGODesigner: Matti Õunapuu / www.madisstuudio.ee

The Stigo electric scooter can be folded like an umbrella. It is lightweight, foldable and easy to pull along behind you. Stigo has a compact design; it is extremely functional and easy to use. When folded, it is like baggage on wheels and therefore easy to take with you inside and on public transporta-tion. This L1e class street vehicle weighs approx. 15 kg, it drives up to 25km/h and can drive up to 40 km on one battery charge from a regular wall outlet.

The goal of the design was to create a personal city vehicle, which is sim-ple and easy to use in every situation, and which can also be taken on pub-lic transportation, escalators and elevators in order to extend the potential distances travelled. Functional clarity and simple technological effectiveness were the main aims of the construction. In spite of its small dimensions, we targeted an ergonomic driving position.

Producer: Stigobike Ltd / Year of design: 2008 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: aluminium / Photographer: Matti Õunapuu

MONIKA JÄRG

The work of Monika Järg is charac-terized by a northern coolness and minimalist signature style inspired by the Estonian landscape. The designer combines unexpected materials (silk and concrete, wool and concrete, tim-ber and wool) and working methods. Monika graduated with an MA in tex-tile design from the Estonian Academy of Arts and founded her own studio Tekstiil Ruumis (Textile in Space). Monika invents and produces interior textiles using natural materials and valuable technologies. She connects the masterful handicraft skills with the present day. Järg is a design mana-ger at one of Estonia’s largest carpet companies. She has also lectured stu-dents and given guest lectures abroad. Monika is active in professional associa-tions – she likes to be there when new ideas emerge and begin to work. She is a founder member of the Estonian Design House.

Collection COWBERRY

Designer: Monika Järg / www.tekstiilruumis.ee

Cowberry is floor carpet from pure wool, inspired by forests and moors in the autumn, the closely observed various details, specially fresh cowberries, found there. As the tufted soft surface provides a backround for felted balls the carpet combines possibilities of different technologies. The result is a structure which should be felt and touched in order to understand the nature of the carpet. Felt balls form a pattern and massage your toes. The carpet can be ordered in different designs, shapes, color variations and dimensions. Cus-tom solutions are also available. As the wool is naturally fireproof, the carpet is also qualified to be used in public spaces. Due the combination of materials and structure the product, placed on the wall, offers a sound damping effect.

Producer: OÜ Tekstiil Ruumis / Year design: 2012 / Year production: 2014 / Materials: 100% wool and woolen felt / Techniques: handtufted / Size: 160 × 220 × 3 cm / Photographer: Juta Kübarsepp

Sound Absorbing Wallpaper MOON

PIRET LOOG

Piret Loog studied leather design at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has taken several professional training courses, including courses in footwear design and technology.

Piret Loog has worked as a teacher of bag and footwear design in the Department of Leather Art and also in the Department of Fashion Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Also, she has worked as a footwear designer in footwear industry.

Leather HandbagDesigner: Piret Loog / piretloog.wix.com/bags

Piret Loog is developing her own leather accessories brand. She de-signs leather bags for everyday use. The bags are timeless in style and have a highly simplistic form. She tries to achieve a balance between function, clear style and the beauty of leather as a material. The models are universal and not designed for specific seasons. Her products are made of high-quality leather and are mostly available in black. These limited edition bags are handcrafted in Estonia. Piret’s collections are on sale in Estonia and Finland.

Producer: E. Tolmats OÜ / Year of design: 2013, 2014 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: Black calfskin, zip closure, waterproof nylon lining / Techniques: Handmade items / Dimensions: 30 × 40 × 14 cm; 30 × 40 × 15 cm / Photographer: Piret Loog, Maiken Staak

RAILI KEIV

Raili Keiv is exceptionally steady when moving towards a goal. Let’s take the story of the birth of “China meets con-crete” for example. In the shaping stu-dio in the design department at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, the prototype for Raili’s coffee service was born. Raili sent photographs of it to Italy to enter the “Trieste Contemporana” competition. Soon, an answer arrived that the concrete plates had been cho-sen for the exhibition with a Special Mention. After creating a prototype, the phase of product development fol-lowed; mostly, this took place in Berlin, at the Kahla china factory, where the student attended practical training a couple of years ago, and Keiv was also invited to work there for a while to help prepare for the Ambiente fair. In order to obtain feedback, the designer intro-duced the service “Concrete meets china” in Frankfurt at the exhibition of the Ambiente fair; she had been invited to exhibit in “Talents”, which is a special section of the fair for young designers. The service attracted attention and curiosity, and the German journal Deco Home honoured the new product with the Deco Home Award. News soon also spread to design blogs and journals around the world.

Service PORTSELAN KOHTUB BETOONIGA (China Meets Concrete)Designer: Raili Keiv / railikeiv.genresis.com

“Portselan kohtub betooniga” (China meets concrete) is the story of the birth of a coffee service. Keiv came to create the service through her bachelor studies in the ceramics department at the Estonian Academy of Arts and through her master studies in product design. The creative inspiration for combining concrete and china originated from Tallinn’s café interiors from 1955–1970, the aesthetics of which were based on using a lot of concrete. From the idea to unite concrete and china, two different series emerged: a coffeepot with a concrete handle and a cup and experimental concrete trays where Keiv used old china dishes.

Producer: Raili Keiv / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2013 / Materials: concrete and old china dishes / Techniques: china casting / Photographer: Raili Keiv

REET AUS PhD

Designer Reet Aus is the first Estonian fashion doctor. In her research, she cre-ated the basis for valuing recycling in design and a production model that makes it possible to create fashion with minimal environmental impact. In Bangladesh, Reet used this method in the largest textile and clothing fac-tory, Beximo, where she used produc-tion leftovers from big industry to cre-ate new designs – as a result, 88% of the water and 92% of the energy was saved. From the production leftovers at Beximo, a collection was created which is being successfully sold in Europe and from next season also in America. Reet Aus has created a school and was the founder of the movement Trash to Trend. Aus has worked as costume artist for dozens of theatre productions and several films. She is the instiga-tor of many local fashion shows and has also participated in international fashion events.

The T-shirt with the smallest environmental footprint.

Designer: Reet Aus / www.reetaus.com

We call it the UP-SHIRT, because it is UP-CYCLED.

Up-cycling is the process of converting waste materials into something new and beautiful. Up-cycling is important because we produce more waste than the earth can handle.

For example, every year we produce millions of t-shirts but, from crop to shop, they carry a heavy environmental burden. Factory made t-shirts yield up to 40% wastage. That means 40% of cotton is grown in vain and huge amounts of water and earth resources are wasted.

Reet Aus: “Now, after years of work and research, we’ve created a design model to mass-produce an up-cycled t-shirt – saving all those earth resources and giving it an 80% smaller environmental footprint.”

SILLE SIKMANN

Sille Sikmann is a footwear and acces-sory designer who graduated from Tartu Art College in leather design and she furthered her studies as an exchange student at the Hämeenlinna vocational school in Finland and with the designer Anna Zaboeva in Budapest, Hungary.

Sille has created the trademark Scheckmann, which is already a known in Estonia in spite of its novelty. It is a brand making men’s footwear and accessories as handicraft. Sikmann’s footwear was nominated for the Estonian Design Awards 2012 in two categories: SÄSI young designer and Bruno design project and was singled out as a Bruno design project.

Bespoke Shoes

Designer: Sille Sikmann / www.scheckmann.com

Bespoke shoes and handmade accessories from the Scheckmann brand for men. Since she became aware of the moderate choice of models for men in shoe stores, she conducted a market survey to research footwear preferences among Nordic men. It became evident that men would like an exclusive and original niche brand that offers a wide choice of colours, are more comfort-able and make them feel special.

Producer: Scheckmann / Year of design: 2014 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: Leather Upper, Leather Lining, Leather Sole, Textile (Cotton), Rubber Sole, Zipper. / Techniques: Handmade / Size: 45 / Photographer: Sigrid Kuusk

STELLA SOOMLAIS

Stella Soomlais is a young leather and accesories designer from the wave of fresh new craftsmen and fashion designers who have emerged over the last few years in Estonia. Since start-ing her own studio in 2011, Stella has quickly built a distinct brand – she tai-lors unique bags for customers with specific requests. In addition, a col-lection of weekend bags, handbags, wallets, credit card holders and armlets are meant for those who prefer ready-made accessories.

NICK RAWCLIFFE

Nick Rawcliffe is the founder of Rawstudio whose rich training has included time at the Royal College of Art and the Bauhaus and work in Japan on top of his first engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol Uni.

Rawstudio is about creating some-thing different, products which have a reason and have been approached from a fresh angle. Elegance is evident throughout the range but Rawstudio products all have something hidden that, when discovered, offer that extra slice of satisfaction. It may be the way they are designed or engineered, a hid-den functionality or a narrative behind the design.

Sustainable production is key to Rawstudio’s designs.

Chess Set

Designers: Stella Soomlais (EST), Nick Rawcliffe (UK) / www.rawstudio.co.uk

Even those who find the remotest idea of the game of Chess incredibly boring could not fail to be intrigued by the design of this set. Combining the circular interpretations of the knights and rooks into a neat tube is a puzzle in itself.

The luxurious touch of the natural leather and the harsh feel of precisely cut steel are a joy to the tactile senses.

Even though this set is designed for travelling, its timeless aesthetic deserves to be constantly on show in any home, on Earth or Tattoine.

Producer: Artisana OÜ, Rawstudio Ltd / Year of design: 2013 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: steel, leather / Techniques: laser cutting, sewing / Dimensions: 40 × 40 cm / Photographer: Nick Rawcliffe

STELLA SOOMLAIS

The leather designer Soomlais started her way as a designer at Tartu Art College where she obtained most of her technical skills. But her design-based thinking came from the design depart-ment at the Estonian Academy of Arts. The impulse to create her own com-pany came from her MA thesis in which market research showed what people need. Soomlais started with unique design but in addition she wanted to have her own products that could be produced in series.

TOOMAS THETLOFF

Toomas Thetloff’s overnight success started in the second half of the last decade when he rose into view in the Estonian art world with his creations where both text and intentional errors played an important role. As an art-ist who studied photography at Tartu Art College and psychology at the University of Tartu, he creates works that make people to talk. Now Thetloff has stepped into the hot design room and is dedicating himself to being a producer of laptop bags.

At Fashion Access Hong Kong, the laptop bag was marked out as the best city fashion bag.

Laptop Case RÜPERÜÜDesigners: Stella Soomlais, Toomas Thetloff / www.ruuworks.com

The full grain leather case has been designed with Apple laptops in mind, to provide maximum protection with minimal dimensions. The bag enables volume adjustments by utilizing the elasticity of neoprene used on one of its sides. This way the mouse and the charger can be easily brought along with-out compromising the esthetic essence of the case.

Inside the bag there is a laptop safety pouch, lined with a shock absorbing material called Poron XRD. The latter protects the laptop in case of a bump or a fall – the open micro-pores of the material absorb and dissipate impact energy, the long lasting memory of the material means the case will return to its form after a fall.

The laptop case is intended for those who wish to protect their Apple laptop for transportation while keeping things nice and compact. 

Producer: RÜÜ OÜ / Year design: 2013 / Year production: 2014 / Materials: leather, Poron XRD, spring steel, neoprene / Techniques: leather molding, sewing, composite materials / Size: 38,5× 27,5 × 4 cm / Photographer: Renee Altrov

Weekend BagDesigner: Stella Soomlais

TANEL VEENRE

Tanel Veenre lives and works in Tallinn, Estonia. He has educated as jewellery artist (MA) in Estonian Academy of Arts (1995–2005) and Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam (1997–98). He has shown his work since 1996, which includes jewellery, photogra-phy and fashion. Since 2012 works as a professor of Design Faculty in Estonian Academy of Arts. Veenre has exhibited his works in more than 100 solo and group exhibitions around the world. He has been giving lectures in Estonia, Scotland, Finland, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Israel and Germany. TV is represented by galleries in Sweden, USA, Turkey, Canada, Belgium, Latvia and Germany.

Jewellery FRUITS OF PARADISEDesigner: Tanel Veenre / www.tanelveenre.com / www.tvjewellery.ee

The earrings collection “Paradiisiviljad“ (Fruits of Paradise) grew out of the wish to find as light-weighted materials as possible and after several tries, Ta-nel Veenre found the suitable material: bobbers from balsawood. His idea was to offer heavily lush and organic shapes which would be very light-weighted thanks to the material. In the jewellery collection „Paradiidiviljad“, the spe-cial attention was given to the colour: uncompromising, powerful and dusty. There is a sweet, sour and sour-sweet taste.

Producer: Tanel Veenre / Year design: 2013 / Year production: 2014 / Materials: gemstones, balsawood, silver, cosmic dust / Size: ca 10 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm / Photographer: Tanel Veenre

Lamp KRAANA (Crane)

TARMO LUISK

Tarmo Luisk experiments between product design and art. His is a compro-mise between designer and artist to do a bit of everything. To make products that sell and pay off economically but also in order to stay healthy he some-times makes one-off designs as well. Tarmo Luisk is one of the most well-known and most productive individuals among modern Estonian designers; he has created furniture, lamps and clocks and has also dealt with public space. Luisk’s work is a considered compro-mise between detail and smartness. He is a perfectionist in design and very critical of himself. He may even redo a sketch of an item a hundred times; it is only important that he himself is pleased with the final result. But most importantly – he believes that design has to be witty. There is always a small trick in his work. He enjoys giving witty titles to his works and so his public looks at his design work through the prism of humour. Luisk has had many solo exhibitions, participated in group exhibitions and entered competitions; he has won all the design prizes and awards on offer in Estonia.

Lamp BUBBLE Designer: Tarmo Luisk / www.4room.ee

The humorous lamp Bubble emerged from the designer’s successful experi-ments with vacuum technology for an exhibition installation, and from there the idea to create a bubble lamp was born. The idea was realized when Luisk received an order to design and produce accessories for a bathroom: a lamp from vacuum drawn plastic fitted perfectly on a 30 cm × 30 cm ceramic plate. The creative inspiration was found from the work “Laps suupilliga” (Child with a harmonica) by the famous Estonian graphic artist Eduard Wiiralt. Luisk’s lamp turned out so well that it could also be used elsewhere. Bubble is an authentic romantic design where Luisk has erased the borders between art and design.

Producer: 2Pea OÜ / Year design: 2006 / Year production: 2006 / Materials: plastic, metal / Techniques: vacum moulding / Dimensions 30 cm x 30 cm x 10 cm / photographer Tarmo Luisk

TIIT JÜRNA

The designer’s preparation of Tiit Jürna started in 1971 with design studies in the Estonian State Art Institute and he graduated it in the speciality of indus-trial art. For a long time, he worked as a designer and he has made interior and exhibition designs, signature graphic and posters, furniture and applied art and a lot of books. In 2008, he founded his own bureau DB Reactor. As a book designer, Tiit Jürna is espe-cially acknowledged among the artists for whom he has designed a lot of art albums, who value creating a gorgeous, important impression with all possible form tricks in books. In the Estonian annual contest “The 25 most beautiful Estonian books”, Tiit Jürna has picked a lot of acknowledgement.

ARMASTADESGraphical designer: Tiit Jürna

The poem book „Armastades“ (Loving), compiled by Leonhard Lapin (Albert Trapeež) was awarded with the special prize the Golden Book of the National Library of Estonia and it was chosen among the 25 most beautiful books in 2012. The jury mentioned that it is a pretty little thing; an excellent proof that a beautiful book does not have to be big and bulky, hard covered or expen-sively printed. Hidden texts take the reader to a true discovery quest; design adds value to the reading process. Folded together, the whole book acts as its own table of contents. Details are spot on.

Publisher: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus / Printer: Pakett / Year design: 2012 / Printing year: 2012 / Material: Paper Soporset 100 g/m2 / Format: 10.3 cm × 13.8 cm; 48 p / Photographer: Koit Raudsepp

TOIVO RAIDMETS

In the 1970s, Raidmets was a furniture designer working in industry, but about ten years later he changed to the field of one-off design. At that time, art-design emerged in Estonia and Toivo was a key figure in this development. He was the one who started to radi-cally change the rational and modern design world that had remained since the end of the war. Raidmets intrigued people with his birch-leg tables and three-legged chairs using grotesque forms and unusual materials. Raidmets was an active exhibition designer, using effective large-scale design elements. He has also created spatial objects and engaged in city design.

In the 1990s, Raidmets changed his orientation again and went back to industrial design by founding hi own company, Toivo. The living space and metal furniture produced by Raidmets became more minimalist in accordance with the orientation of the decade. Toivo Raidmets primarily designed interiors for restaurants and night-clubs. Since 1995, he has led the department of interior architecture at the Estonian Academy of Arts, where he has developed a school based on his beliefs.

Stool TRIPODDesigner: Toivo Raidmets / www.toivoraidmets.com

A stool with a twist, where one steel leg goes through the other two, thus forming a chair in a simplest way. It is the most ingenious way of building a seat. It couldn t get more simple. The seat pad is made from polyurethane foam and covered with naturel leather.

Producer: OÜ Toivo / Year design: 2011 / Year production: 2012 / Materials: steel pipe, natural leather / Measure: 38cm × 38cm × 44 cm / Photographer: Toivo Raidmets

Stool JOHN

TÕNIS VELLAMA

Graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts as a product designer. Practiced for five years in the Danish studio Jacob Jensen Design, and another five years in Estonia for Norwegian lamp manufacturer Glamox as an in-house designer.

In 1992 made his first solo exhibi-tion of original lamps “LIGHT.THINGS.” Under this “label” he has organized a number of curatorial exhibitions in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Germany, inviting other Estonian designers and design students to participate. Focuses constantly on new/experimental light fixtures but also other innovations.

Today, works in his own studio SEOS Valgustus, which has realized sophis-ticated custom-designed light fixtures for Estonian Embassies, hotels, con-cert halls, including church/concert hall St. John’s in St. Petersburg. Bespoke chandeliers combined with advanced light techniques have been his con-stant passion. In 2013, constructed and installed unique LED chandelier for Skype office atrium in Tallinn. The production of small series of design lamps is used to balance creativity, which cannot always be fully utilised in public interiors. Lamps “Angel”, “Greta” and “Aero” have been nominated for Estonian design awards.

AERO Hanging Light Designer: Tõnis Vellama / www.seos.ee

A hanging light aimed at creating an intensely luminous model using two circular tubes – 22W + 40W. The form of the light is designed so that the majority of the light is aimed straight down and the rest is diffused through reflection off the ceiling. The result is an effective yet soft light. The external form of the light is soft and streamlined, inspired by automotive design. There is a Plexiglas disc between two aluminium components, which can be ordered with a wire in the same or different colour. There is also a simpler version of the light where a round energy-efficient bulb fitting an ordinary E27 socket can be used as the light source. This is well-suited to public spaces – cafes and offices – as well as for the home, such as above the dining room table.

Producer: SEOS Valgustus / Year of Design: 2011 / Year of production: 2014 / Materials: painted aluminium, plexiglas detail / Dimensions: h 25 cm, d 400 cm, standard cord 1,5 m / Photographer: Marko Ala

VALTER JAKOVSKI

Graphic designer Valter Jakovski: I believe that in graphic design it is most important to reach the root of the mes-sage. When a designer is involved in the working process from the begin-ning one can be sure that the designer understands the customer’s message in the same way as the customer. It is often forgotten that a message without a context is just an empty sentence. Time + curiosity = good solutions. This is a proven fact.

Jakovski studied graphic design at Tartu Art College as well as in the graphic design department at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In 2011 and 2013, his book designs were chosen to be among the 25 most beautiful books.

He is characterized by a continuing search for new challenges and interest-ing projects.

Helena Läks HELENA LÄKS (Helena went)Graphical designer: Valter Jakovski / www.ilmselgelt.com

The cover design of the book “Helena läks” (Helena went) from Helena Läks uses the metaphor language to speak about the book’s nature. It reflects a naïve, pink world hiding behind smileys, but the black, hard and chaotic reality wades sometimes through it.

The content of the book is 100% made up with a printing press from the Ger-man era and a scanner. Before scanning, the dotted letters were added manu-ally. The poet does not use any punctuation marks and therefore the whole content is made up by trying to use a visual rhythmus. The rhythmus is based on the poet’s own verbal presentation of her poems.

Publisher: Kirjastus Verb OÜ / Year design: 2010 / Year production: 2010 / Materials: Sanding Paper, 140 g/m2 Kaskad Light Gray, Holmen Book Gray 70 g/m2 / Techniques: Hardcover stitched binding / Measures: 19,5 cm x14,5 cm × 0,7 cm / Photographer: Valter Jakovski