Laura Väre is Young Designer of the Year 2019
Design Forum Finland’s Young Designer of the Year prize sum is €5,000 and in it also includes participation in IF Studios, the artist-in-residence program of the Finnish Institute in France in Paris.
Design Forum Finland’s Young Designer of the Year prize sum is €5,000 and in it also includes participation in IF Studios, the artist-in-residence program of the Finnish Institute in France in Paris.
Designer Laura Väre aims at creating functional and timeless products to meet today’s needs. She has recently finished her Master’s studies in furniture design at the Aalto University. On September 3rd she will receive the Young Designer of the Year prize of Design Forum Finland.
Laura Väre (b. 1989) is a Helsinki-based designer who, prior to her studies at Aalto, has graduated as a metal artisan and studied furniture design at Lahti Design Institute. Along with her studies, she has been working as a freelance designer with various design projects for several years now.
“I strive to design beautiful, practical and timeless products for today´s challenges in my own minimalist style. For me, the relationship evolving between the product and its user is significant. It is important that you like the product which means that you will use it longer.”
According to the prize jury, Laura is a fine example of a determined and creative young designer who has succeeded in bringing new ideas to traditional furniture design. Her work has been purposeful and forward-looking both in Finland and abroad. She has a distinct and interesting design idiom which also includes communications, creating a harmonious and unique brand.
Laura’s oeuvre is versatile and comprises several interior product segments, such as ordinary pieces of furniture, coat racks and lighting fixtures. Products designed by her often carry fine functional inventions and new techniques, and materials have been used innovatively and in a versatile way.
In 2018–2020 the prize includes participation in IF Studios, the artist-in-residence program of the Finnish Institute in France in Paris. The IF Studios residence program supports the internationalization of Finnish artists, curators and other creative professionals in France. The year 2020 of Institut finlandais will start with the visit of the Young Designer of the Year 2019 Laura Väre at IF Studios and her prize exhibition in Paris.
The prize jury of 2019 consisted of CEO Petteri Kolinen, Design Forum Finland, MA Mikko Paakkanen, designer Saara Renvall, Creative Studio Renvall and Director Johanna Råman from the Institut finlandais.
The Young Designer of the Year 2019 exhibition is open during Helsinki Design Week. Laura will be present in her exhibition at Meet the designer event on Saturday 14 September at 1pm–4pm. Laura’s works will also be on show at The Block area of Habitare interior, design and furniture fair.
Photos: Aleksi Tikkala