Featured Speakers

Fragments of a work in progress: On Art and Technology inside Artek

Mirkku Kullberg, CEO, Artek
Ville Kokkonen, Design Director, Artek

Mirkku Kullberg and Ville Kokkonen will share how art, design, and architecture lead discourse inside a company whose 1935 manifesto includes "a propaganda center for new housing ideology." What is the relationship between design/business and strategy in the way the organization is moving forward? And, what is the relationship between CEO and Design Director in getting there?

Biography: Mirkku Kullberg

Mirkku Kullberg (born in Loviisa in 1962), studied international business both in Finland and abroad and has a degree in International Design Business Management. She has worked in the fashion industry for 20 years and has specialized in turnarounds and re-structuring processes with small and medium size companies. She has worked as Export Manager for Turkistukku Oy, Managing Director for Grünstein Product Oy, and as Brand Director for Nanso Oy. Since 2005, Mirkku has been CEO of Artek, the internationally known and recognized quality design brand that is developing a new product portfolio and distribution with subsidiaries abroad. Artek was founded in Finland in 1935 by four young idealists who advocated a new kind of environment for everyday life, and was led by the visionary modern architect Alvar Aalto.

Biography: Ville Kokkonen

Designer Ville Kokkonen (born in Helsinki, 1975) studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto, and at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki. From 2001 to 2004, he was employed as researcher in the Smart Products Research Group at the University of Art and Design, specializing in product concepting and futures research. Kokkonen has also taught at the University of Art and Design, and has lectured at numerous international seminars and universities.

Ville Kokkonen began his career at Artek in 2006 as R&D Manager, and in 2009 he was appointed Design Director of the company. Kokkonen has initiated and conducted several international collaborative projects, such as the Artek Pavilion 2007, together with the architect Shigeru Ban and UPM. In 2009 Kokkonen and Artek Studio designed a floor tile made of recycled material for UPM. Kokkonen's other international projects involve Comme des Garçons, the Japanese-French fashion and perfume company, with whom Kokkonen developed for Artek a fragrance called Standard (Eau de Toilette), complete with bottle and packaging.

In 2010, Ville Kokkonen designed the WHITE collection of four bright-light fitting for Artek. The Bright Light 1 desk lamp is light-therapy certified. The WHITE line was launched at the Milan International Furniture Fair and Lighting Exhibition 2011.

Founded in 1935, and built on the heritage of Alvar Aalto, Artek is renowned for its innovative and lasting contribution to modern design.

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