YOUNG DESIGNER OF THE YEAR 2008:
Nathalie Lahdenmäki and Naoto Niidome
The Young Designer of the Year Award for 2008 goes to Nathalie Lahdenmäki (born 1974) and Naoto Niidome (born 1974). The designers sharing the € 5,000 prize sum are graduates of the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Nathalie Lahdenmäki in glass and ceramics and Naoto Niidome in furniture design.
Naoto Niidome has studied clothing design alongside spatial and furniture design. This versatile designer has so far been involved with furniture, clothing and graphic design and one-off objects. In his works he has produced fresh combinations of ideas and materials, for example by "dressing" furniture instead of upholstering them.
Nathalie Lahdenmäki works with ceramics and glass. With her refined and sensitive approach, she has created unique, one-off pieces of new appearance from familiar materials. Lahdenmäki also teaches product design at the School of Design at the University of Art and Design Helsinki.
In its decision, the award jury noted that the young designers chosen for the distinction have in their work so far given cause to expect an interesting professional future. They have applied a subtle approach without going to extremes, resulting in original and surprising design. The products do not "shout". Instead, there is a profound soulfulness to them. Both designers have worked for well-known companies, such as iittala and Marimekko. Half-Finnish by birth – Lahdenmäki is Finnish-French and Niidome is Finnish-Japanese – they also express in a fresh manner the traditions of Finnish design: clarity and pure lines.
The members of the award jury were designers Harri Koskinen and Ilkka Suppanen, curator Jukka Savolainen / Design Museum, Professor Raimo Nikkanen / University of Art and Design Helsinki and CEO Mikko Kalhama / Design Forum Finland.
Previous recipients of the prize are designers Harri Koskinen and Ilkka Suppanen (2000), interior architect Karola Sahi and architect Eeva Lithovius (2001), designer and cabinetmaker Tuuli Autio and designer and silversmith Pyry Tamminen (2002), graphic designers Antti Hinkula and Teemu Suviala (2005), industrial designer Jukka Korpihete and furniture designer Mikko Paakkanen (2006) and shoe designer Julia Lundsten and designer Janne Kyttänen (2007).
Press release and images
Interview with the designers
Young Designer of the Year 2008, 9 May–1 June 2008
Space2, Design Forum Finland, Erottajankatu 7, Helsinki
Mon – Fri 10-19, Sat 10-18, Sun 12-18
For further information please contact:
Prizes and competitions: Tuula Laulajainen, tel. +358 (0)9 6220 8110,
tuula.laulajainen@designforum.fi
PR and press: Aila Kolehmainen, tel. +358 (0)9 6220 8121,
aila.kolehmainen@designforum.fi
