- Objective of the brief:
Design a product from a specific culture + location in this 5 week study. Through this cultural inspiration you will develop and define its DESIGN LANGUAGE : form, materials, finishes, color, surface and details. Redesign it from 4 other distinct perspectives to see how these changes affect your original design language through the targeted function, market place, user’s experience and message. As always, the functional aspect of each product is critical and you will communicate the purpose/inspiration/intention of each of your 5 design outcomes. Ultimately, you will have designed “a collection” of 5 versions of the same product from a deeper and knowable place of research, thinking, exploration, definition and communication.
- Videos of the final product ^^
Puu+Mökki is a salt shaker that reminds us of childhood optimism and long snowing winter days in Scandinavia. Expressing the utopian vision of its design, Puu+Mökki marries the beauty of Scandinavian landscape and the breath of life in the most poetic way possible. The design aims to connect us back to the moment of snowing and the captivating feeling of watching the snow fall.
For city dwellers, reading probably is one of the best ways to block out the city noise. Reading while enjoying a cup of warm coffee constructs one’s own inner sanctum. Just like every time you open your book and dive into your personal wonderland, the concept behind the design conveys a message that no matter how noisy and chaotic the outside is, there is always a place where you could rest your soul with a pinch of flavor.
- Concept
The philosophy and essence of scandinavian design lies in its cherish of the ordinary rather than the exclusive luxury.
Thus, I want the concept behind Puu + Mökki to convey a message that no matter how cold and dark the outside is, there is always a place where you could rest your soul with a pinch of flavor.
- Why I Choose Finland?
With different layers for people to explore, Finland is always a wonderland to me.
We are all dreamers, searching for a certain kind of treasure. But on the way of being dreamers, we become goal-getters, inhabits in the city listening to its fast heartbeats, and more deeply, people’s fear and anxiety. However, I believe Finland is different. It is like a man who holds a lot of treasures underneath its clothes yet is never too eagerly to show them off. It absorbs noises and restlessness while creates tranquility and purity, which is the first layer of Finland.
With the midnight sun and the aurora light, I always feel the place has been enchanted. As a place where the lakes are many and people are few, you can always sing, touch, dream and most important of all, breathe freely, through the wildness and wonder of nature. It embraces nature with love, passion and harmony, which is the second layer of Finland.
Located near the Arctic, Finland is a very cold country yet without coldness in its personality. In fact, what I love about Finland is the contrast between the coldness of the weather and the energy of people. There is always the warmth and hope in people’s hearts that are expressed through the simplest and most ordinary objects in their daily lives. The perspective and philosophy behind all the designs and lifestyle come from a caring society where rich and poor alike were well looked after. It cherishes the ordinary rather than the exclusive luxury, which is the third layer of Finland.
- Research about Finland
http://www.visitfinland.com/about-finland/
- Presentation and book cover
Puu in finnish means trees and Mökki means cottage (little wood house), both are the forms of my final design.
- Inspiration — Geographic location, form and material
- Timeline — of finnish design and history of salt shaker
- Inspiration and forms
1. Snow (original form)
2 and 3. Reflection of the lakes and the color of the leaves
4 and 5. Ice lamp and cottage in the twilight
- Process and ideation drawing
What I learned from this project?
I really love this project mostly because it gives me a lot of freedom from concept to the process of making. I would say this project best expresses who I am and what I believe as a designer. I have always been drawn to Scandinavian design so it was very satisfying for me to further explore the charm of scandinavian design at first place. The other reason that I love this project is because I experimented something that I have never tried before, which is ceramics. I love the certain patience that it required in the whole process, and I was very grateful for all the people who I met and helped me in this process that was new to me. I also enjoyed the shooting and editing of the video, and I was so happy that people liked it, because ultimately I wanted to present my idea through a more visual and interesting way. If I could only say one sentence about this project. I would say, this project is 100% me, without hesitation!
Your excitement about the salt shaker that snows is contagious, and I found myself smiling as I imagined the joy it could bring to a dining table. The way you described the details and shared your own reactions added a personal touch that made the whole piece feel like a friendly chat about a fascinating discovery.
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