Viivi Laine Viivi Laine was born in the City of Vantaa and she is 27 years old and studying at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (UIAH). Viivi graduated in 1999 from Jyväskylä Lyseo high-school and continued her studies at the Kymenlaakso University of Applied Sciences with furniture design as her main subject. In 2001 Viivi applied for studies at UIAH at the Department of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design. She graduated BA in 2006 and continues her Masters studies. Viivi has participated in several exhibitions and she has a wide experience in arranging design projects and events. Her designs hav been presented at the Club Ambulant project in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Milan. She was also involved in planning the Fiskars Forces Exhibition and the Chairs Conference. In 2006 she planned and completed ”The Best of University of Art and Design” exhibition in connection with the Conference of European Culture Ministers in Helsinki. The comission involved the design of the whole meeting space and its environment. Viivi has worked as the assistant to Professor Yrjö Wiherheimo in 2006-2007. For the time being she works as freelance designer in the areas of furniture , apartment, exhibition and store design. I strive to create a tasteful and clear but interesting state of excitement between the space and the furniture. Faithful to my Finnish origin, I look for basic and functional, timeless and natural forms which include ecological values in the furniture. At the same time these forms reflect my cheerful mind. My inspiration and ideas come from contrasts, the sensitive shapes of nature and from the vividness of European metropols. This variety shows also in my hobbies. I am an enthusiastic hiker, motorbiker and rock’n roller. I am drawn to the excitement of speed and new, unexpected situations.