Mika Tolvanen is a renowned Finnish designer who started his own practice after graduating from Royal College of Art in 2001. Tolvanen designs products for residential and contract use from his studio and workshop on the island of Lauttasaari outside of Helsinki, Finland.

“The objective is not only to design products, but rather to look at occasions we need to design for. What really defines objects is how we use them, not what they appear to be. Design should never be the aspect that makes too much noise.”

“The way of approaching design is always very personal to each individual designer. The way we dwell here in Finland has permeated our lives and the way we design. Scandinavian design has always been here and there have been no gaps between periods. Only the means of manufacturing have evolved, making new design more exciting.”