"AIR" Dish 1.0L with Green Lid

HARRI KOSKINEN｜1970–｜FINLAND

Harri Koskinen is one of the leading figures in contemporary Finnish design. He studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (now Aalto University), began collaborating with Iittala while still a student, and established his practice in the 1990s.

In 2000, he founded his own studio, Friends of Industry Ltd., developing a body of work that ranges from product design to spatial design and art. His work is characterized by clear, pared-back forms and a sensitive use of materials, and he has been active across a wide range of fields, including furniture, lighting, glass, and tableware.

His Block Lamp, introduced by Design House Stockholm in 1996, gained international recognition for its striking structure, which appears to suspend a light bulb within a block of ice, and became an emblematic work of a new generation in Finnish design.

His relationship with Iittala has continued since the early stages of his career. In addition to designing glassware and tableware such as Halo, Muotka, Valkea, and Lantern, he was selected in 2009 as the inaugural designer for the Art Works series, presenting works developed through collaboration with the craftsmen of Nuutajärvi using newly developed techniques.

He has also created numerous products for leading Finnish brands, including Oma and Air for Arabia, the Tools series for Hackman, and Kuulas, Finnair’s in-flight tableware, as well as projects for Marimekko, Artek, and Nikari.

Internationally, he is also known for collaborations with Alessi and Venini in Italy, and with Issey Miyake, Maruni, and iwatemo in Japan.

His many awards include the Kaj Franck Prize (2009), the Pro Finlandia Medal (2009), and the Compasso d’Oro (2004).

ARABIA｜1873–｜FINLAND

Arabia was founded in 1873 in the Arabia district on the outskirts of Helsinki as a subsidiary of the Swedish ceramics manufacturer Rörstrand. Production began the following year in 1874. In 1916 Arabia separated from Rörstrand’s ownership and became an independent Finnish company.

In 1929 a tunnel kiln measuring 112 meters in length—one of the largest in the world at the time—was introduced, establishing an efficient mass-production system. This development enabled Arabia to grow into one of the leading ceramic factories in Europe.

In 1932 Kurt Ekholm was appointed Art Director and organized artistic activity at Arabia into a dedicated art department. He created an environment that allowed artists to work freely and established a structure in which product design and artistic works could develop side by side.

One of Arabia’s defining characteristics was its production system, which was divided into three closely connected fields: the Art Department, the Applied Arts Department, and the Product Design Department.

Artists such as Toini Muona, Friedl Kjellberg, Michael Schilkin, Birger Kaipiainen, Rut Bryk, and Kyllikki Salmenhaara worked within the art department. Their works gained international recognition from the 1930s onward, playing an important role in both the cultural identity of Arabia and the development of Finnish ceramic art.

In the 1940s Friedl Kjellberg developed Rice Porcelain using a delicate pierced porcelain technique. Mass production began in 1950 and continued until 1974, becoming one of Arabia’s most iconic artistic porcelain series and gaining international acclaim.

Influenced by the rise of Functionalism in Northern Europe during the 1930s, Ekholm introduced the AR tableware series (Sinivalko) in 1935, presenting a new direction that would later shape the development of Nordic modern design.

In 1945 Kaj Franck joined Arabia as a designer. Together with designers such as Kaarina Aho and Ulla Procopé, he led a major renewal of product design. The Kilta series, introduced in 1953, became a major success as a modern tableware design characterized by simple geometric forms and versatility.

Arabia has received numerous international awards since the 1930s. In particular, at the Milan Triennale of the 1950s (1951, 1954, and 1957), many works from both the art department and the product designers were awarded prizes, establishing Arabia’s international reputation.