Cool & Fresh 2008

This year the Salone Satellite was once more on show in its own pavilion. Set a little apart from the general hustle of the fair, it welcomed visitors with a very pleasant, airy atmosphere – which of course can't be compared with the grandeur of the hall on the old fair site. At least this year's slogan of 'Go green!' was in line with the simple temporary architecture. The official press release spoke of a greenhouse in which 'budding designers can blossom' and 'an explosion of green' is unfolded. Has the influence of Stockholm's 'Greenhouse' perhaps spread this far south?
Regardless of the slogan, the eleventh Satellite left an inspiring and positive impression. Many international designers came up with daringly staged presentations which were a joy to behold. This year it was the Finnish designers who made the greatest impression, and the products they presented demonstrated a corresponding level of quality and potential.

Kokoomo
Kokoomo is a design collective from finland, formed in the summer of 2006. They consist of six designers specializing in the field of spatial, furniture and product design. Minimalism mixed with extravagance are their core principles.

'Kiekko' by Mikael Mantila
The composition of shades of this lamp portrays the contrasts between light and dark.

'Shadowplay' by Jitan Patel
This chair uses the origami techniques from the kids game 'Fortune Teller'.

Fokus Fabrik
Fokus Fabrik started as a designer group in 2005 as a four designers' passion for design and an everlasting interest towards phenomena that takes place around us every day in an urban setting. The four designers wanted to create a collection of interior fabrics inspired by the blend of pulsing urban landscape and pure nature, or as they call it, urban nature. The entire city is full of inspiration with the fascinating colors of different signs, the buildings with some leafy trees of striking shape and the horizon looked from afar. This continuously changing visual environment is a true treasure for the designers. Interior design projects - hotels, offices, as well as residences - are of interest to the designers. Co-operation with other designers is pleasant for Fokus Fabrik which is one of the reasons the group is keen on designing textiles also for contracting.

Right from the beginning it was obvious that Fokus Fabrik wanted to use sustainable materials in their collection and to produce it in Finland to ensure ethical production. The patterns are printed on a fabulous mix of organic cotton and hemp. Organic cotton is environmentally friendly cotton that has been grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Using hemp makes the products even more environmentally friendly. The hemp is naturally resistant to pests and weeds, thus growing it doesn't require pesticides or herbicides. This means a healthier working environment for the farm workers. It is also better for nature and makes a naturally soft feel to the fabric.

Aava
The wooden collection of furniture made by Aava - a group of 3/4 Finnish and 1/4 German designers - reflects Elisa and Hanna's Nordic origins and their experience gained working in Italy and France. They met collaborating with Piero Lissoni's studio in Milan; Elisa is currently working together with the Patrick Norguet's studio in Paris.

'Aito' by Elisa Honkanen
The idea was to play with an asymmetric wooden structure to create light, easy and useful furniture with geometric forms. Basic materials give a natural aspect to the pieces.
'Aamu' by Hanna Ehlers
The configuration of the three legs and their changing section give a dynamic aspect to the table while the rubber coating adds a soft touch to it.
'Apu 1-3' by Hanna Ehlers
These sidetables are a hybrid of table, plate and vase.

How About Viktor
How About Viktor is a Helsinki based design collective founded in 2005 by five interior designers working in the field of spaial, furniture and product desgin. The aim was to create an envirenment where designers would be inspired to exchange an collaboratively develop ideas without boundaries while working on their own daily projects as independent desingers. Members of the collective are Marko Nenonen, Helga Lahtinen, Anna Salonen, Taina Lehtinen and Yuki Abe. At this years Salone Satellite How About Victor showed their new collection 'VOW' - Viktor On Wheels.

POSTFOSSIL
A year ago, a collective of ten young Swiss designers founded this group. POSTFOSSIL provides a platform on which designers can regularly get together and discuss the current issues surrounding design and the ways in which they can respond to these issues. The members of the platform are: Anna Blattert, Christine Birkhoven, Annina Gähwiler, Daniel Gafner, Isabelle Hauser, Florian Hauswirth, Claudia Heiniger, Michael Niederberger, Thomas Walde, Corina Zuberbühler.
Deviating from the frequently asked question of alternative materials or new production methods, the designers of Postfossil are pursuing. The objects designed for Milan are intended to encourage everyone to reconsider their own behavior and to be more responsible for their actions. The young designers achieve this by examining and reassessing the use of day-to-day objects. Their objects are involved in daily life, attract attention and demand reconsideration of their usual treatment. It is subtle criticism in detail, drawing out the issue of a sustainable treatment of resources. Postfossil aims to influence our living environment by strengthening the relationship between user and object. Based on this central idea, ten objects have been created which engage with different aspects of the topic ‘postfossil’. Here comes two examples of them:

'Sports Furniture' by Florian Hauswirth and Thomas Walde
The five-piece collection encourages the user to think about energy production and use. Each piece of furniture has been adapted so that it serves not only its original purpose but also doubles as a fitness tool. For instance, the coat rack can also be used to do pull-ups. Besides the symbolically understood production of self-energy, resource savings can be made in the production due to the dual use of the furniture.

'The Spill' by Corina Zuberbühler
Another approach pursues this furniture module consisting of two square volumes as well as pillow and carpet elements. The black cushions and carpet elements represent the topic of time and resources running out. With this furniture module the designer tries to envision how time runs by and to draw the user’s attention to this.

Steverlynck and Hoegner
The designers Diane Steverlynck from Belgian and the German Christiane Hoegner joined forces to present their new projects at this year's Salone Satellite. The striking aspect of their products is the unmistakable impression they give of being the direct implementation of practical ideas.

'E.T. - Electric Table' by Christiane Hoegner
The E.T. is the perfect combination of simple and useful characteristics in one product. This oversized working desk has integrated sockets underneath the tabletop, visible and practical in use.
With so many electronic items sucking up power at our desks, surge protectors and power strips are a necessity to anyone and everyone these days. E.T. offers you a huge working area that can be used for multiple tasks simultaneously. Plug in the table and at the same time your computer, printer, mobile-charger or everything else that is on it and needed for work. It keeps you all time ready with your gadgets fully charged.

'Envelope' by Christiane Hoegner
Light as air and thin as an envelope. This laptop sleeve acts like an unbreakable and shock-resistant house. Most of the computer bags are made of neoprene, protecting but not really preventing its content from breaking. The foam used in the ENVELOPE has a high density, comparable to the same material used in the professional packaging industry. The ultra shock absorbing foam is wrapped up in textile on both sides. The sleeve is closed with velcro.

'Length' by Diane Steverlynck
A chair formed by textiles. Textiles forming a chair. The LENGTH has a double design. On the one hand there is the wooden construction. This naked frame forms the spirit of the seating element. It remembers the iconic idea of a chair. On the other hand, there is the textile. Not only is it a removable cover, giving the user the opportunity changing the upholstery with a simple zipper to various moods. It also draws the fluent form of the seat and the back of the chair. The upholstery of the 'Length' is used as the main constructive element. A chair taking the form of every body.

'Strap Stool' by Diane Steverlynck
A wooden puzzle of legs and seat kept together with a colored strap. The latest element acts not only as the finishing touch, but also as the only construction element of this wooden kit. It is necessary for keeping the taboret together.
This stool is inspired by a collection of loose elements, placed together at random to form another, temporary object. Strapping them together not only strengthens the structure, it is also a flexible solution breaking it up again and moving it easily. With a simple element as a textile strap, individual elements stick together. The only thing required is some creativity, perception and strength.