Tapio Wirkkala
Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985)
An important figure in Finnish industrial design, he left behind a genius in many different areas of design. His extensive body of work ranges from glass, furniture and product design to sculpture, urban planning and Finnish banknotes. While his reputation was international and he held exhibitions in various places, he was a nature lover and a loner who lived in a mountain hut in a deep forest area. His unique perspective has brought him numerous awards, most notably the three-time Gold Medal of the Milan Triennale.
In 1946, Wirkkala, who won his first design award at the Iittala competition, became the company's art director, increasing its reputation worldwide. As for his achievements, there are more than 400 glass works produced for Iittala, especially the Ultima Thule series and the Tapio series, which are still loved by many people today.