Tapio Wirkkala (1915-1985)
An important figure in Finnish industrial design, he left behind genius achievements in a variety of design fields. His extensive body of work ranges from glass, furniture and product design to sculpture, urban planning and Finnish banknotes. While his work was internationally acclaimed and he held exhibitions all over the country, he was a man who loved nature and preferred solitude, and lived in a mountain hut in a deep forest area. His unique perspective has brought him numerous awards, most notably the Gold Medal at the Milan Triennale three times.
In 1946, Virkala won the first design award at Iittala's competition and became the company's art director, gaining worldwide recognition. His achievements include over 400 glass works created for Iittala, especially the Ultima Thule series and Tapio series, which are still loved by many people today.