What I've done & when

My working history starts at around 2005 when I landed a graphic designer's position at one of the cultural offices of the City of Helsinki. Since that I've done, in a chronological order:

• Editorial design, layout and illustration at Sanoma Magazines
• Completed a BA at packaging design at the Lahti Polytechnic's Institute of Design
• Designed logos, done plenty of graphic design and branding, layout and editorial design, designed signage and wayfinding systems and done some illustration at Hahmo Design, for some four years.
• Had my design of a rag-rug carpet being bought and eventually manufactured and sold by thousands by Ikea.
• Somehow managed to graduate with an MA's degree in graphic design at Aalto University's School of Arts, Design and Architecture, while working almost full time.
• Freelanced for about a year, designing for example for the semi-legendary mbar bar in Helsinki (RIP), as well as helping the now defunct Made in Kallio maker space come into being.
• Done a brief stint as a designer at Muotohiomo in Helsinki, working for example for Sitra, the Finnish fund for innovation.
• Worked full time as a creative in Helsinki at Bond Creative Agency, a superb global enterprise with studios also in Abu Dhabi and London. During the past four-and-half years there I've done design work for brands such as Nokia, Microsoft, Moomin Characters, Neste Oil, Honka, Restel, University of the Arts Helsinki, Caverion, Savo and most recently, Virta.
• Released a handful of typefaces on Myfonts, some of which I've originally drawn as long as 15 years ago, while some are more recent.

How do I work

As a designer my aim is to understand the client's needs and be able to respond to them by providing both the expected as well as unexpected, perhaps (positively!) surprising results.

I prefer to spend a quite a lot of time thinking and writing, trying to come up with a few different viewpoints to the brief. Once a meaningful concept is established, I've found, results should follow quite effortlessly and naturally. I prefer showing the client quite a few ideas and concepts to choose from, for a more collaborative approach.

I love simplicity – meaningful ideas implemented in a timeless fashion, with attention to detail.

Grids are something I’m obsessed with and I have a love for geometry. From early on I’ve used these traits for drawing typeforms – for both logos and fonts – as well as hundreds (if not thousands) of icons and symbols, not to mention illustrations.

I have a very systematical approach to design and I am highly organised. This has helped me to create more than a few design templates for magazines, books and presentations.
Unlike many designers, I have a bit of a knack for writing – which has been an asset when creating brand guidelines for clients such as Helsinki Music Centre, University of the Arts Helsinki and Oulu University to name but a few.

Thanks for making it here, nothing to add anymore. Except that If you feel we should collaborate or if you just want to give a shout out, feel free to drop me a line. Looking forward to that.
Cheers!