The demand for contemporary Finnish design is huge, both at home and abroad, but, so far, few opportunities have existed for making products available to consumers. Determined to address the issue, business partners Heidi M. Huovinen and Elisa Luoto set up Young Finnish Design, a new online platform selling furniture, lighting and home accessories such as textiles, glass and ceramics. 

“Our platform is a showcase for promoting young designers and an online retail service selling their products. What we are setting out to do is to raise the profile of Finnish design internationally. We want to create a new way for young Finnish designers to manufacture and sell their products. Our idea is based on our previous collaboration under the HE Design Helsinki brand, and we have ourselves trained in furniture design and interior architecture at Aalto University,” Luoto explains.  

“We have our sights set on establishing ourselves as the number one full service platform for young Finnish design internationally.” 

Kiuas – full steam ahead 

The team behind YFD applied to join the Kiuas Incubator programme based at Startup Sauna in Otanaiemi, Espoo and came on board in July 2017.  

“We applied to join the Kiuas Incubator programme to secure the support we needed to develop our fledgling startup business. So far, we have achieved our initial objectives within a very short space of time. The Kiuas Incubator programme offers a startup community along with mentoring, and it is great for creating a network of contacts within the business and design industries,” Luoto says of their experience. 

You can meet the Young Finnish Design team at Aaltoes FallUp event at Helsinki’s Finlandia Hall on 10 October 2017. It is expected to attract around 2,000 students with a keen interest in business. YFD will also be taking part in the Slush startup event later this autumn.