Visu Chair - Sled Base

MIKA TOLVANEN ON THE DESIGN “The task was to create a personal interpretation of the ever-relevant plywood chair.  I wanted my chair to have an unobtrusive and timeless nature that is familiar but never boring and without sacrificing function or ergonomics.  Designing a family of chairs, visually releated but for different functions, was an iterative and thorough process lasting nearly two years. In the end, I think every detail is exactly as it is supposed to be.”

MIKA TOLVANEN is part of the Finnish Rehti Design group. After graduating from the Royal College of Art with a Master in design in 2001, Mika established his own design office in Helsinki. He has since worked with some of the world’s top designers and manufacturers.

MIKA TOLVANEN ON HIS DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

The objective is not only to design products but rather look for occasions that need design. What really defines objects is how we use them not what they appear to be. Design should not be the one that requires attention by being special. 

MIKA TOLVANEN ON NEW NORDIC DESIGN

The way of doing design is always very personal for each designer. But the way we dwell up here has penetrated our lives and the way we design. Nordic design has always been here and there have been no gaps between periods. Only means of manufacturing have developed making new design more exciting.