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When we made the annual pilgrimage to Finland for Helsinki Design Week this year, we discovered a veritable hotbed of young talent. Stepping through the doors of Habitare Ahead - the event's flagship fair - we were met by stand after stand of interesting work by fledgling names. Designers from Finnish schools Aalto University and Lahti Institute of Design, and Sweden's Konstfack in particular launched strong collections, with standout designers including Kasper Nymen and Laura Vare. Some of the schools also teamed up with office furniture company Martela over in the WDC Helsinki Building, producing new tables, desks and chairs.
Other highlights of the week included the annual Eco Design exhibition, for which this year's curator Konstantin Grcic had gathered together a stellar collection of work by both young and established names. Meanwhile, elsewhere around town, studios, private houses and factories, including Iittalla, opened their doors, giving the design crowd a rare chance to snoop.
'POMOdoro' chair by Anneli Suihkinen, a student at Lahti Institute of Design, on show at an exhibition curated by Martela
'Lamb Lamp' by Ploypan Theerachai, a student from Konstfack, on show at an exhibition curated by Martela
'Laptop' by Steffan Jores, a student at Konstfack, on show at an exhibition curated by Martela
'Kiikka - Tuoli' desk light by Laura Vare, from Lahti Institute of Design, on show at Habitare Ahead
'Table, Cup and Glass' exhibition poster from Aalto University School of Art & Design at Habitare Ahead
'Table, Cup and Glass' exhibition stand for Aalto University School of Art & Design
'Maja' series of cups, by Pekka Kuivamaki from Aalto University School of Art & Design
Exhibition structure for the Eco Design installation, curated by Konstantin Grcic, at Habitare Ahead
Collection of pieces at the Eco Design exhibition, including wooden stools by Pekka Harni
'2 in 1 Platform Chair' by Bjorn Dahlstrom at Eco Design
Series of decorative glassware on display, as part of the Kaj Franck Design Prize at Habitare Ahead
'Kaasa' fire lanterns by Ilkka Suppanen for Iittala at Habitare Ahead
New print collection from Finlayson
New print collection from Finlayson
Newly updated kettles by Jacob Jensen
Carving boards in bamboo by Jacob Jensen
'Quartz' sound-absorber by Joel Karlsson for Karl Andersson & Soner
Protoshop stand at Habitare Ahead
'Cord' pendant light by Aalto University's Kasper Nyman, shown as part of the Protoshop collection
'Tomc' floor standing mirror and hook system by Minna Korhonen and Kristina Sandell, shown as part of the Protoshop collection
Illustration showing textile design by Marimekko
'Polku' hanger by Mikko Laakkonen, for Marimekko
Light installation at the Old Customs Warehouse
Elsewhere around Helsinki, studios, private houses and factories opened their doors to the design crowd, including Iittalla, where we found these ceramic casts stacked in piles, awaiting firing
Archive ceramic vessels lined up on shelves at the Iittalla factory
Newly made ceramic plates lined up on trolleys in the sunshine at the Iittala factory
Poster for the Kaj Franck - Universal Forms exhibition at the Design Museum
Modernist interior set up at the Design Museum
Series of ceramics from the 'Teema' collection by Kaj Franck at the Design Museum
Glassware and sketches by Kaj Franck at the Design Museum
'Tikas' shelving and new wood lounger, by Pekka Harni and Yuka Takahahi, on show at the Design Museum
'Lago' stackable ceramic vessels, by Pekka Harni and Yuka Takahahi, on show at the Design Museum
New ceramics and glassware by Pekka Harni and Yuka Takahahi, on show at the Design Museum
Series of tools by Pekka Harni and Yuka Takahahi, on show at the Design Museum
Touring the town, we took in the bandstand at Esplanadi, by Valter Jung. Completed in 1939, it was built for the Olympics and to enhance the northern edge of the park
Next, we took in the Finlandia Hall by Alvar Aalto
Interior of the great hall, by Alver Aalto, at Finlandi Hall
Interior of a side room at Finlandia Hall by Alvar Aalto
Also on the Helsinki Design Week agenda was a visit to Kiasma museum of contemporary art
Coloured glass windows on the Kiasma stairwell
Strong graphics on the Klasma museum guide