Design & Everyday
With Taina, you will explore the beauty of Finnish design and its integration into everyday life. Nature will be a central source of inspiration in this lesson, as Taina emphasizes the importance of sustainability and responsible design. She will guide you through sustainable development and the use of design to address societal challenges. In your task, you will have the opportunity to engage in a hands-on craft session, creating your own Finnish design-inspired product.
– Romain, France
Taina is a design professional who has been working extensively in marketing and corporate social responsibility within the design and fashion industry for the past 20 years. Taina is best known as the founder of the Finnish company Tikau, established in 2008, and has since been a pioneer in responsible design thinking. At the core of Tikau's philosophy is “Design Helps!”, which offers a framework for addressing societal challenges through sustainable and beautiful design and products. Last year, Tikau launched the Ülle collection, made from Finnish wool to promote domestic handicrafts and manufacturing as well as utilizing high-quality Finnish wool.
Taina has also lectured extensively on the subject and curated exhibitions and content related to more responsible and helpful design, both domestically and internationally. Taina is the creative director of Billnäs Gård, a hotel and event space that focuses on the well-being of both nature and people, set to open next summer.
In her free time, Taina loves old houses, animals and country life. She prefers to spend her free time with animals, gardening and interior design projects. Taina finds inspiration in beauty, whether it's in nature, design, art, or buildings.
1. Choose Your Textile: Select an item from your home that you'd like to give a new life to. It could be an old rug or carpet, a worn-out sweater, a tablecloth with stains, or any other textile you have lying around.
2. Brainstorm and Design: Think about how you can redesign the chosen item – is it broken or needs repair? Consider the possibilities: adding decorative elements like pompoms, patches, buttons, or stitching to cover holes. Let your creativity flow and imagine a new and improved version.
3. Revive and Repair: Start the transformation process. If there are holes or damage, repair them using your sewing kit. Stitch carefully to mend the fabric. Add decorative elements if desired, experimenting with placement and design.
4. Repurpose or Reimagine: Challenge yourself to think about items you were planning to buy. Could they be recreated by redesigning or repairing something you already have? This step encourages you to be resourceful and eco-friendly by repurposing.
5. Completion and Reflection: Once your crafting project is complete, take a moment to reflect. Consider the following questions:
How did the redesign or repair process make you feel?
What did you learn from working on this project?
Did you discover new skills or creative ideas?
How do you feel about the item now, compared to before?