Bio:
Name: Olli Karvonen
Born: 1987 in Finland.
Expertise: Furniture design, carpentry, web-design(specialized in front-end with WordPress, server management and branding), graphic design, photography and art in different forms(painting, music, free from).
Strengths: Adaptable, quick learner and a good problem solver with a passion for aesthetics.
Vision: ”Focusing on highlighting stories, simple symbolism, and communication about our environment and surroundings through aesthetics—mostly through furniture design, painting, and photography. I’m fascinated by stories regarding the essence of humanity and the symbolism reflecting from our minds—elements that resonate with us and prompt deeper reflection. Through purposeful aesthetics, I seek to guide the mind toward a meaningful understanding of the environment and our nature. Everything is united by my interest in the interaction between people and the mind within both society and the natural world.”
Art and design with ecological values:
When working with furniture I place a strong emphasis on ecological production and aesthetic design. The furniture I make for private customers is mainly made from reused wooden materials. I saw and plane down the used material to raw material and make the best out of it. I get materials from old demolished houses, broken furniture etc. The point is making something beautiful and useful from the excessive scrap that we have in our world today. This also gives the pieces a unique background and a handmade finish that you can’t get from the factory. The other point is to give the furniture more life by giving it a purpose; ”this furniture is made for you, for this place, with your values and dreams in mind”. It’s a personal piece handmade just for you. It’s something exclusive and this gives it more value, and as valued and cherished lives longer and can become a centerpiece of discussion or inspiration in your home.
When designing for mass/series production I design the furniture with ecological values in mind from start to finnish, with an efficient production line and a strong construction to give the furniture a long lifespan. The ecological impact of a mass-produced piece is so much larger that the ecological aspect become more important than the artistic factor. I still strive to make it aesthetic for the user to enjoy, this is where design takes a bigger role. It is made for our society to get a better experience of our surrounding that we create with a healthier impact on our world.
In graphic design the priority lies in communicating with the observer, what do we/you want to express? This takes on a more psychological aspect than an environmental aspect. Same goes for web design, we want the user experience to be the best possible. The user can be the client updating the website with ease or a customers wanting to quickly find the information needed. Communication is key and functionality and minimalism is my way of making it clear.
Experience:
2026
Featured in article by Helsingin Sanomat
2023
Featured on TV-show about ecological living on YLE
2017- Present
Freelance furniture design(and production), web and graphic design.
2011-2016
Furniture design at Novia University of Applied Sciences
-stipendium 2011
2010-2011
Freelance Designer
2006-2010
Damex Oy
– Graphics, programming and web-design
2003-2006
BA in Computer science at Turun Ammattikorkeakoulu
– Stipendium 2003 and 2006