Oiva Toikka, a Finnish glass designer and professor born in Viipuri, Finland, is thought to be one of the greatest names in Finnish glass. Best known for his iittala designs, Tiokka was originally trained in ceramics, and is also deeply involved in the world of performing arts. His bold designs speak for themselves, and are a great departure from more traditional... [Read more...]

Kaj Franck (1911-1989) was a Helsinki-born Finnish designer. Described as the conscience of Finnish design, he had a very clean, clear vision for his work, and a commitment to innovation and functionalism. After struggling through school as a youth, Frank became a renowned teacher of professional design in Finland for many years, where he was seen as an influential... [Read more...]

Aino Aalto – originally Aino Marsio – was born in Helsinki, Finland in 1894. Like her husband Alvar Aalto, Aino was an architect and a designer. She attended Helsinki Polytechnic, where she received a degree in architecture, and became a certified architect in 1920. As a young woman, Aino began working for Alvar Aalto’s architecture office. Shortly after... [Read more...]

Alvar Aalto, one of the premier designers for iittala (and the main subject of our iittala event this week!) was born in Kurotane, Finland in 1898. As a young man, he attended Helsinki Institute of Technology, where he got an architecture degree in 1921. Shortly after becoming an architect, Alvar started his first architectural practice in Jyväskylä. Early... [Read more...]

If your happy family includes children as well as pets, it may be difficult to tell sometimes who’s messier. But where would life be without them? The little ones—the two-legged charmers – may enjoy the benefit of a placemat or tablecloth and a rug underneath the table to keep their spills somewhat contained. But what about your four-legged, furry friends?... [Read more...]

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