Talentshop to offer a look into emerging names in design

Talentshop 2016, to be staged in Habitare’s Block area of young emerging designers, will present five designers and one designer duo. At Talentshop, young, up-and-coming designers will get their own mini-showroom where they can present their work. In addition to Talentshop, the Block will include the Protoshop exhibition of prototypes, and various stands for design schools. Habitare will be held at Messukeskus from 7 to 11 September 2016.

“Talentshop will offer a look into some of the most exciting emerging names in design. Our aim is to present designers who already have their own identifiable idiom and have perhaps also demonstrated their skills, but who remain unknown to the public at large. The selected talents have their own identity that distinguishes them from others. They follow their own path, which is why we dare to claim that these names are the makers of the future”, say Talentshop curators Elina Aalto, Krista Kosonen and Saara Renvall of Imu Design.

This is the second time that Talentshop has been held in conjunction with Habitare. Aalto, Kosonen and Renvall selected the exhibited designers from among thirty entrants.

Talentshop 2016

Antrei Hartikainen is a cabinetmaker based in the village of Fiskars, whose work is a perfect combination of technique and aesthetics. His skilfully made wooden designs are poetic, sensitive and unique. Antrei is a fine example of the designer-maker trend that is on the rise internationally.

Hanna-Kaarina Heikkilä is an architect with the OOPEAA architect’s office who is currently studying glass and ceramic design at the Aalto University. Hanna-Kaarina’s work displays a curiosity about various materials, scales, cultures and customs, all of which has produced a series of new, delicious objects.

Sanelma Hihnala is a furniture designer who has an experimental and conceptual approach to design. Her 2015 Habitare Design Competition finalist entry Pinot (‘Stacks’) is a chair that can be divided into two parts. Her thesis project for the Aalto University was a series of sketch-like pieces of furniture from fresh or minimally processed wood. Hihnala’s work displays a certain disrespect for rules, which comes across as particularly fresh.

Operating under the name Kaksikko (“Duo”), Salla Luhtasela and Wesley Walters are in the process of completing their studies at the Aalto University. The designs by the duo are characterised by skilful minimalism, combined with warm cosiness. The duo has an interesting background: Salla was previously a confectioner, while Wesley was a Japanese interpreter. They have recently fared well in international competitions, including a third place in the Muuto Talent Award competition and a first place in the Finnish Design Shop Award competition.

Anni Pitkäjärvi is a student at the Aalto University, and has participated in the last two Protoshop exhibitions. Both of her exhibited designs, the Lempi and Pinna shelves, found a manufacturer in record time. Lempi is being manufactured by the Finnish company Hakola, and Pinna by the Danish company Okdesign. Anni’s design idiom is clear and reduced, but never boring.

Marjukka Takala is a designer working with glass and ceramics, and her work has been exhibited at Protoshop in 2009 and 2014. Marjukka’s design idiom is calm and controlled, as she introduces small but essential insights into objects to give them new dimensions.

More information on Talentshop:
Imu Design, Saara Renvall, tel. +358 50 585 7399, saara@imudesign.org
Imu Design, Elina Aalto, tel. +358 50 511 8888, elina@imudesign.org

Photos: Antrei Hartikainen SPOONS, Marjukka Takala Valo2014 and Kaksikko Trays. Messukeskus’ mediabank

More information on the Habitare fair:
Messukeskus, communications manager Johanna Suni, tel. +358 40 515 4216, johanna.suni@messukeskus.com

Habitare offers experiences, ideas, and information about interior decoration, and about the functioning and look of homes and other spaces. The biggest single event of Helsinki Design week, Habitare, will be held at Messukeskus in Helsinki from 7 to 11 September 2016. To be held concurrently with Habitare are the professional events Forma and Showroom, by Helsinki Design Week, and the public events ArtHelsinki, Antiikki, HifiExpo, and ValoLight.www.habitare.fi | @HabitareFair | www.facebook.com/habitare | #habitare2016 |