Top Finnish designers you should know in 2025

Finland is well-known for its clean aesthetics, functional designs, and environmentally conscious thinking. As we approach 2025, the country continues to outperform its peers in the global design industry. Finnish designers don't just manufacture things; they also create meaningful experiences that represent Nordic culture, values, and a deep regard for nature.

This article examines five Finnish designers whose work has an impact on both national and global design trends. Their work spans product design, fashion, architecture, and transdisciplinary innovation, making them household names among design enthusiasts.

Harri Koskinen – The master of minimalism

Harri Koskinen's signature style is easily identifiable: clean lines, functional shapes, and a tranquil, understated elegance. His most well-known creation is the Block Lamp, which is now considered one of the most admired Finnish designs in history. It's a simple yet effective light bulb trapped between two clear glass panels.

Over time, Koskinen's range has expanded to include industrial tools, homeware, and furniture. He has worked with prominent companies, including

• Iittala is famous for dinnerware and glassware.

• Issey Miyake investigated wearable design.

• Artek is one of Finland's most prominent design companies.

His art stresses usability and durability, which are ideal for the present global trend of leisurely living and ecological consumption. Koskinen is still regarded as a role model for basic but emotionally rich design in 2025.

Stefan Lindfors – Bold, original, and multi-talented

Stefan Lindfors keeps pushing the boundaries of narrative, industrial design, and art. Lindfors, one of Finland's most inventive design personalities, is noted for his strong, almost defiant, approach to shape and utility. His works span from movies to sculpture, lighting to furniture, and branding to sculpture. 

His breakthrough came in the early 1990s with the Scaragoo lamp, which blended industrial practicality with alien-like beauty. Since then, he's expanded his imagination across nations and fields.

Among the highlights of his design journey:

• Working with Martela, Inno, and other top design firms.

• University of Art & Design Helsinki's teaching and mentoring 

• Designing entire branding campaigns, such as for Finnair

• Adding a dramatic and emotional touch to product design.

Lindfors doesn't believe in borders. His work demonstrates that Finnish design can be playful, provocative, and emotionally charged.

Ilkka Suppanen – Architect of modern living

Ilkka Suppanen stands at the crossroads of design, architecture, and creativity. His entire design approach takes into account human-centric principles, technological advancements, and environmental sustainability. He is passionately interested in developing functional and beautiful environments.

Suppanen's Studio Suppanen creates everything, from furniture and lighting to overall space concepts. His designs typically incorporate simple structure, natural materials, and light-reflecting shapes to accentuate Finland's seasonal environment.

Among the notable gifts:

• Showing at the Venice Architecture Biennale and Salone del Mobile

• Creating functional living spaces for contemporary city settings.

• Advice for businesses seeking to use ecologically friendly design principles

Suppanen's efforts will be more vital than ever in 2025, as society becomes more concerned with conscious shopping.

Paola Suhonen – Where fashion meets art

Paola Suhonen, the creative force behind Ivana Helsinki, is one of Finland's best-known fashion and visual storytellers. Her approach is distinctive, merging fashion design with art, photography, and independent filmmaking. Suhonen's designs usually evoke Nordic grief, wild woodlands, and childhood summer memories by the lake.

In 2025, Ivana Helsinki will be more than just a fashion brand; it will be a multidisciplinary creative hub that uses fabric, video, and design installations to tell emotional Finnish stories.

Suhonen's career pivotal points:

• First Finnish brand to participate in the official Paris Fashion Week.

• Partnerships with global firms such as Topshop, Levi's, and Google.

• Directing multimedia art exhibitions and short films.

• Focus on limited editions, ethical manufacturing, and slow fashion.

Suhonen's work highlights how fashion can be an effective medium for story and cultural expression.

Eero Koivisto – Redefining interiors

Eero Koivisto may be from Stockholm, but he weaves his Finnish ancestry into everything he designs. Koivisto, one-third of the award-winning design team Claesson Koivisto Rune, has had an impact on interior design throughout Europe, Asia, and North America.

His art stands out for its smooth geometry, delicate hues, and calming atmosphere. Whether he is designing a minimalist café in Stockholm or a boutique hotel in Tokyo, his emphasis is always on human-centered design.

• Notable works include various Scandinavian commercial spaces, the Tama Art University Library, and the Nobis Hotel.

• Combines Nordic simplicity and international refinement.

• Frequently featured in prominent design publications such as Wallpaper and Dezeen.

• Winner of numerous Good Design Awards, including the Red Dot

Koivisto's role in bringing Finnish sensibilities to the global arena cannot be overstated.

What sets Finnish designers apart

Finnish design is not influenced by trends, but rather by purpose, honesty, and a strong connection to nature. These designers demonstrate that philosophy. They don't just produce beautiful things; they also tell stories, solve issues, and influence our emotions and way of life in our surroundings.

Here are some reasons why Finnish designers are strong voices in 2025.

• Sustainability-first mindset
  Eco-conscious design is built into the Finnish design DNA; it is not optional.

• Cross-disciplinary creativity
  Finnish designers typically work across multiple genres, from Suhonen's integration of fashion and cinema to Lindfors' blurring of the line between art and commodity.

• Respect for heritage
  Local customs, materials, and cultural values inspire even the most futuristic designs.

• Global impact
  From Paris to New York, Finnish designers are creating the world's most exciting design centers.

Stefan Lindfors, for example, remains a well-known figure due to his controversial but useful contributions. His work is an excellent example of what happens when functional design intersects with creative expression.

Final thoughts

The Finnish design landscape in 2025 will be dynamic, thoughtful, and globally influential. Every designer on this list has a unique style, from Paola Suhonen's emotional depth to Harri Koskinen's minimalism. Following these Finnish talents will bring inspiration and insight whether you're remodeling your home, starting a design brand, or simply enjoying creativity.

In Finland, design is a philosophy, not a job. It continues to have a profoundly beneficial impact on how we live, work, dress, and think.