The intricate designs of Klaus Haapaniemi

If you have an image of Scandinavian design as minimalistic, pure, and simple, you might not be aware that designer Klaus Haapaniemi is from Finland. Born in 1970, Klaus Haapaniemi has been qualified as one of the most interesting new designers and illustrators.

Klaus Haapaniemi graduated from the Finnish design school called Lahti Institute of Design. After his graduation he moved to Italy, where he worked for Italian fashion house Bantam. Nowadays Klaus Haapaniemi lives in London and has designed print for fashion brands such as Diesel, Levis, Dolce & Gabbana and Cacharel. Apart from global trademarks, he has designed patterns for traditional Finnish companies also, like Marimekko and Iittala.

Klaus Haapaniemi’s style is strong and recognizable. He uses colours and patterns boldly, combining them with breathtaking, yet well-balanced forms. His works are full of detail to catch the viewer’s eye, and they never let you down: you may find new interesting aspects every time you look at them. Klaus Haapaniemi’s work is expressive, but it also leaves space for imagination.

Next to traditional design works, Klaus Haapaniemi has published a book together with the Finnish writer Rosa Liksom and produced illustrations for the Observer newspaper. In November 2010, he also launched a new home and fashion textiles brand called Klaus Haapaniemi.

Klaus Haapaniemi was awarded the title of Graphic Designer of the Year 2008. He definitely represents the era of new Scandinavian design and designers, who can use their history for creating something new.

Your Favourite Things in Design

Who says Scandinavian design is boring? Favourite Things is a pendant lamp that gives you the possibility to exhibit your treasures. It works as an ordinary lamp too, but it can be used as a miniature vitrine with a light inside as well.

The Favourite Things lamp is made of transparent glass and shaped like a bowl. The bowl has an aperture in the side for placing your objects in it. After turning the lights on these objects are under the spotlight, giving them a look familiar from exhibition displays.

Favorite Things is designed by the Stockholm-based designer Chen Karlsson. The designer claims that the inspiration for the design came while visiting the Natural Sciences Museum in Stockholm. There he saw a polar bear spotlighted inside a glass cabinet and emphasized the accentuated light source that exposed the white creature dramatically. Chen Karlsson liked the effect and wanted to bring it to his household designing.

Favourite Things is a great example of new Scandinavian design. Still traditionally pure and minimalistic, it is also creative, leaving the space for the owner to choose the ways to present his design object. The designer didn’t want to place the replica of the polar bear he saw inside the cabin, but instead the lamp owners can choose what to put inside the lamp. What would you place under the spotlight of Favorite Things?