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, just a year before Jimi Hendrix left us. 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); and the "Caiazza Memorial Challenge" at the Promosedia International Chair Exhibition (Italy 2004). Ruoho has received major grants from the Finnish Furniture Foundation (2005) and the Finnish Cultural Foundation (2006).

In parallel with his solo work, Ruoho shares his thoughts – and a studio – with fellow designer Teemu Järvi. Together they form the team JÄRVI & RUOHO (Finnish for 'Lake & Grass') and focus primarily on product, interior, exhibition and furniture design. They are committed to working hard, pushing boundaries, and kicking each others' asses to achieve the best possible design. The aim: making the client, the end-user, and themselves, happy.



Education
Furniture designer -MA,Furniture design program
School of Design-University of Art & Design Helsinki-UIAH
Industrial Designer -BA ,Department of Industrial design
Institute of Design Lahti Polytechnic

Professional experience
-Since 2003 Design Studio JÄRVI & RUOHO
-Professional experience as freelance designer since 1997 in product design and development of projects including furniture, interiors, fair-booths, packaging, among others.
-1996-2001 project-assistant for credited Finnish designers in the development of their own works.

Competitions and awards
* 2004 Caiazza Memorial Challenge-competition, Italy, Honourable mention
* 2002 Onnimanni, Furniture design competition, Finland, 2nd Prize
* 2001 2001 Workspaces, Totem Design and Herman Miller, USA, 1st prize
* 2001 Finnforest-furniture design competition, Finland, 3rd prize
* 2000 Interreg Design-CLAC, (endorsed by ICSID) International home design competition, Italy, (with A. Olin) 1st Prize
* 2000 Åkerlund & Rausing, European Packaging design prize, Sweden, (with M. Korolainen) 1st Prize
* 2000 Finnair Ticket Offices 2000 Interior/concept-design competition, Finland, (with A. & J. Olin) 2nd Prize
* 1999 TALLIN-bench competition, Estonia, Honourable mention
* 1997 Selka-Line Furniture design competition (Finland), 1st Prize
* 1994 KOIZUMI International lightning design competition, Japan, Honourable mention