Iittala celebrates Finnish design at London Design Festival

Iittala will showcase its Finnish roots and the celebrate the dynamism of the Nordic country’s design scene with two events at this year’s London Design Festival (16-24 September).

With Finland marking its centenary as an independent state in 2017, Iittala presents a talk that explores how design has been at the forefront of Finland’s identity in the last 100 years, and looks to the future of design from the Nordic nation. Chaired by Suzanne Trocmé, design expert and editor-at-large for Wallpaper* magazine, the panel discussion will explore the enduring appeal of a design tradition that has brought us the Aalto vase, the Moomins and Nokia. Creative Director of Iittala, Jeremiah Tesolin will join a panel that includes design historian and writer Charlotte Fiell, co-author of Modern Scandinavian Design, to be published in October 2017, Marianne Goebl, a Manging Director at leading Finnish furniture company, Artek, and Sanna Annukka, a printmaker and textile designer who divides her time between designing collections for the Finnish textile brand Marimekko, and working on her own range of silk screen prints and other products.

ittala will also be represented across town at the Old Truman Brewery at the London Design Fair. One of the country pavilions, Finland: Finnish Form will present the brave design and unique creativity to come out of Finland, rebel of the Nordic countries, in its centenary year. Finnish Form is a curated selection of brands from Finland selected by Alvar magazine, and an array of modern Iittala designs will be showcased including items from the Iittala x Issey Miyake range, Ruutu vases by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, the new Owl bird by Oiva Toikka, and the classic Aalto vase as well as new Aalto-inspired bowls in Rose Gold. Eight modern Finnish brands will be displayed alongside Iittala, including Artek, Ivalo, and Katriina Nuutinen. The showcase is sponsored by global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, Kone.