Visual communication and art
Surprise, creativity, and the power of collaboration
A public installation uniting Finnish design and production
The surprising nature of the creative process
Our collaboration began with brainstorming a concept for new type of workspace, focusing on the significance of creativity, collaboration and innovative solutions. The goal was to develop ideas and solutions that would support both work and the people involved in it.
Our work in this project:
- Public art
- Spatial interaction and community
- Graphic design and illustration
- Participatory and interactive co-creation
Together with the client, we explored what sparks creativity, what encourages fresh perspectives, and what inspires people to connect with one another. During the design process, an idea emerged for a spatial element that would not only support the concept but also surprise and delight—an element that would captivate and inspire its surroundings. As the project progressed, this surprising element evolved into an independent artistic creation: Taimi the Elephant.
The vision for the elephant was a massive yet gentle figure that would invite people to approach and even offer adults a place to sit on its lap.
The vision for the elephant was a massive yet gentle figure that would invite people to approach and even offer adults a place to sit on its lap.
Standing over two meters tall, the elephant was brought to life through the technical expertise of the talented Maikki Kaikuru. She designed the patterns and structure, cut the textiles and stitched the elephant into its final form. Collaborating with Maikki, we returned to the roots of craftsmanship as we assembled the piece by hand for its temporary installation in the CityCenter shopping mall in the heart of Helsinki.
A spatial artpiece designed to withstand time and touch
In addition to conceptualizing the elephant, we designed the textile pattern. The pattern drew inspiration from the desired personality of the elephant: flowing, surprising, and positive. Over the course of the process, the pattern evolved from leopard-like spots into a form resembling the soft, cotton-candy shapes of an elephant’s molars. We experimented with various shades of violet, pink, and blue before finalizing the color palette.
The installation pays homage to Finnish craftsmanship. The textile was woven at the Annala, Finland’s only furniture textile manufacturer. Both the fabric and the filling meet fire safety standards required for public spaces. Sustainability was a key focus in the design, with the elephant’s filling composed of offcuts and foam from Finnish furniture production.
Taimi the Elephant was created to bring joy to people while withstanding the test of time and touch. The piece encapsulates the power of the creative process and the experience of encountering something new: a clear goal can be set, yet the design process still has the potential to yield something unexpected and extraordinary.
