Designer
Mika Tolvanen
Mika Tolvanen (born 1975) is a Finnish product and furniture designer. His own studio's About page says he grew up in the northern village of Pankakoski and began his own practice in Helsinki after graduating from the Royal College of Art…
Biography
Background
Mika Tolvanen (born 1975) is a Finnish product and furniture designer. His own studio's About page says he grew up in the northern village of Pankakoski and began his own practice in Helsinki after graduating from the Royal College of Art in London. E&Y's profile adds a BA from the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1998, work at the design consultancy Muodos Oy, and a short period in Tom Dixon's studio.
Signature Style
In the studio's own words, design starts from function but every product should have an individual character: familiar, fresh and joyful, self-explanatory and quiet, never shouting. The studio says it has no dogma or ism and looks for inspiration in objects from different eras.
Notable Works
- Visu chair family for Muuto, including the Visu Wide lounge chair (2016)
- Big Hug Chair for Isku, which won the Finland 100 anniversary competition in 2017
- Sivu (2005), Riuku (2007) and Sivuni (2015), listed on E&Y's designer page
Legacy
He received the Bruno Mathsson Prize in 2012 and was named Finnish Furniture Designer of the Year in 2017. Since 2015 he has worked with his wife Julie Tolvanen at Studio Tolvanen on the island of Lauttasaari in Helsinki.
