April 2012
31 posts
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At the Pelago opening party
Pelago is a nice Helsinki based bicycle brand that recently moved it’s showroom downtown from sunny Vallilla. Because we here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog basically get invited to all non-lame design related events we went along to have a chat with Pelago founding fathers, the Hyppönen brothers.
– Timo Hyppönen, I hear Pelago has a couple of new bicycle models out this year...
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Is there design in outer space?
Dear Readers of the Kasper Stromman Design Blog,
We’ve been blogging about Finnish design for a while now. During this time we have covered a lot of ground, and obviously there is still lots more to write about.
But at the same time we have often asked ourself this question: are we not setting unnecessary, artificial boundaries by concentrating on Finnish design only? After all, there is...
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Puhos shopping centre
When Puhos shopping centre opened in 1965 it was the largest in Finland. Designed by architect Erkki Karvinen it catered for the quickly growing population of the newly built suburb of Puotinharju.
The shopping centre was very popular from day one, and customers appreciated such upscale modern features as a fountain, children’s playground and one of the country’s first outdoor...
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Postcards from Finland #20
Terveksi Raumald ja luanikast suvilysti!
RAUMA 2000 NO:11 NORTAMONKATU Kuva Kai Jalonen Teksti Hannu Heino
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Art review: Three optimistically priced pieces of...
Horse painting, 100 e
Look at this mighty stallion, look at it go! The only thing we’d do differently is the presentation: the damp basement environment isn’t really doing this piece justice.
Framed duck puzzle, 25 e
Well done, you managed the puzzle all by yourself! Now there’s only one thing ‘puzzling’ us: why should we pay you now that the fun of assembling is gone?
...
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Danny Show “Magic...” booklet, 1997
The year 1997 was an affluent and wonderful time. Back then if you went to a Danny concert you not only got a magical concert eperience – you also got a glossy 60 page brochure celebrating the maestro and his upcoming Chinese tour.
By the way Danny, is there something wrong with your guitar?
And what a celebration this publication is! All the best graphic designers of the era was hired to...
The power of before and after
Advertisers do a clever thing where they place two pictures next to each other which they name “before” and “after”. This way potential customers can easily tell what an amazing power the product/service posesses which the advertiser is trying to sell. Here are some examples:
Eyeglasses
With eyeglasses it’s so much easier to read the registration plate of the car racing towards you...
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Funniest book of the decade: Kiitos Esteban...
It’s not often we review something genuinely, side-splittingly funny here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog, but the book Kiitos Esteban 2002–2011 has to be considered just that.
This compilation of comics, short stories, book reviews and whatnot has had our laughing constantly for the last year or so. It really is that funny.
You probably know the legend about Bishop Henrik and...
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Record of the Month: Yön romantiikkaa eli...
Yön romantiikkaa eli kutu-musiikkia REEB productions Oy, 1973
Listen. We’re not going to lie to you: this record is no good. I know we usually upload an interesting track from a fun record each month, but with this one it just isn’t worth the effort. Let’s put it this way: normally records have a mention of who’s playing on them: not this one. Because even the musicians...
A letter from a reader
Dear Kasper of The Kasper Stromman (Stroemman?) Design Blog,
I have really enjoyed your posts probing the design world. Yet I have to admit that every now and then I do wonder that maybe some of the subjects you choose are not challenging enough for an oracle of your magnitude. I mean all those 80’s record covers and stuff are easy but what about the cutting edge design of today?
After all,...
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Highlights of Kevätpörriäinen 2012
Kevätpörriäinen is a publication of drawings and writings by school children which has been published annually in Helsinki for the last 60 years.
If you see some children in the street selling it you kind of have to but it, because if you don’t you’re a heartless monster. But of course there’s also another reason: it’s great. Here’s this year’s top 3...
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Top 3 Silja Line stuff from the 1970s
Silja Line is a company that has been running passenger traffic between Finland and Sweden since, like, forever. Here’s a top 3 of some of their stuff from the 1970s.
1. Puzzle, 100 pieces
Seems like illustration was the way to go in them olden days, and we here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog totally see why – how could you not love this harbour scene? We can spot a scary sea...
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Insignificant Helsinki landmarks #6: Seppo...
One of the least known parks of Helsinki is Seppo Renvallin puisto. Have you ever heard about it? Neither have we. Hidden away at the Vallila industrial district you’d anyhow be forgiven if you missed it.
But that’s why we here at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog payed a visit; here are some facts.
1) There’s still piles of snow around in April, so we guess it’s a very...
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Postcards from Finland #19
Tampere PRINTED IN FINLAND BY UUSI KIVIPAINO OY SUOMALAINEN VALMISTE
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Top 3 Kekkonen memorials
Urho Kekkonen was president of Finland from 1956 to 1982, which is a long time. Naturally this is reflected in the number of monuments erected over time. Here’s a top 3.
Raahe
This figurative bronze statue by sculptor Matti Peltokangas is the most recent statue of Kekkonen, as it was erected in 2008. Why Raahe? Apparently Kekkonen was the main reason Raahe got a huge steel mill going...
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Spoon of the month
Vintage Finnair spoon “Borrowed” from aircraft ca. 1999
Pre-9/11 dining in an aircraft used to be a pretty sweet deal. Not only did the food taste better (?), but you’d be eating it with cutlery made out of high-grade, solid steel.
Of course there were risks involved in providing passengers with these potentially lethal weapons – sometimes a traveller would take down an entire airplane...
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At the Yellow City release party
Yellow City is an anthology of illustrated stories about Helsinki, published by Napa Illustrations. As avid followers of the literary scene we at the Kasper Stromman Design Blog were naturally at the release party.
The party was fun and the book looked okay and everything, but what’s most important – the beer was sponsored! As someone who is actively looking for a beer sponsor, this...
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Sculpture of the month
Stormtrooper Christer Nuutinen 1983 Painted wood
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Lahti souvenirs top 3
Lahti is a city situated 100 km north-east of Helsinki, and is in no way short of things to see. Here are the top three Lahti based souvenirs.
3. Picture of town hall in horseshoe shaped frame
Just like a lot of other cities Lahti can pride itself with having buildings and statues of nude people. Once you visited the city this souvenir will remind you of this fact forever.
2. Sticker,...
