Heikki Ruoho

Heikki Ruoho is an industrial and furniture designer who aims to create modest, usable, soulful objects. He's little concerned with passing trends, but does take time to ponder how his designs may also be enjoyed – and used – by future generations. Ruoho was born in Helsinki, Finland, 1969. He received his formal education at the Lahti Institute of Design and the University of Art and Design Helsinki. Both inside the academy and out his approach is hands-on, driven much more by active experimentation and trial and error than by abstract theory. His calm, personable manner lends itself well to sharing fresh ideas and thoughts with colleagues, and also to close collaboration with experts in a range of complementary fields. In particular, he revels in the challenge of the industrial process. He is the recipient of awards from several international competitions, including: "A House for the Third Millennium" (Italy 1999); "European Packaging Design Prize" (Sweden 2000); "Workspaces" (USA 2001); "Caiazza Memorial Challenge" at the Promosedia International Chair Exhibition (Italy 2004) and “Oribe Craft Design Award” (Japan 2006). Ruoho has received major grants from the Finnish Furniture Foundation (2005) and the Finnish Cultural Foundation (2006 and 2009). His latest accolade is the 2007 Fennia Prize.