Sari Syväluoma, MA, graduated from The University of Industrial Arts of Helsinki in 1996. This was followed up with exchange periods abroad in Dublin, Ireland and Bergen, Norway.

Sari was born in Northern Finland and has been Norway-based since 1994. Nowadays she splits her time between Norway and Finland.

Sari worked for Sellgrens Veveri AS in Norway as an in-house designer during 1994-99. Her main responsibilities were initial creation and design of the contract upholstery collection and adapting the collections to the market. This involved constant co-operation with architects in long-term projects.

Sari has worked as a freelance designer ever since she established her own business in 1999. She works by commission in the Nordic countries and mainland Europe, mainly for clients requiring textile concept development and consulting.

Sari has been exhibiting in national and international arena since. She has been exhibiting regularly in London 100% Design since 2001, Milan Salone Satellite 2002, St.Etienne and ICFF in New York.

The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo have bought her textiles in their collections.

Read more about Sari's awards.

Please find further information, references and and images of Sari's work on the following sites:

www.finnishdesigners.fi
www.designbasen.no/sarisyvaluoma

Philosophy

Sari believes in design, craftmanship and products with real character. She finds inspiration from colours, light, both everyday life and holiday. "Think your home as your universe, filled with the things you love, things that tell the story of you".

Sari's brand philosophy is based to integrate a broad range of human traditions and histories and provide a source of comfort and warmth as well as luxury and décor. The essential style of Sari's textiles is rooted in the Scandinavian heritage of simplicity, combined with the bold colours and rich textures of the Indian subcontinent. As her products bridge the distance between the Far North and the Exotic East they also span the design culture of Finland and the restrained sensibilities of Norway.

Sari's background from the Nordic arts and crafts tradition functions as a strong basis when she implements ideas into industrial production. In order to experiment more freely she co-operates with industry, especially when the industry utilizes technology to ensure new challenges. She utilizes both traditional and modern techniques to give the products the desired finish.Sari works with the integration of different techniques and materials, the keyword is functionality and materialness. With the help of various weaving techniques she attains a three dimensional surface. In the same way she uses prints and embroidery to illustrate depth by the way of colour and ornamentation.

A rich variety of techniques has given her textiles lushness and a distinctive character. She focuses on organic and quirky patterns and surfaces, contrasts in materials and vibrant Nordic colours. Her fabrics are designed to be draped across chairs, sofas, beds and windows as textile art for the home.

Links:
www.norskdesign.no
www.doga.no
www.innovasjonnorge.no
www.ornamo.fi
www.kunsthandverk.no