Name: Vertti Kivi
Company: dSign Vertti Kivi & Co
Position within company: Head of Design
Website: www.dsign.fi
What direction do you feel design is moving towards in general terms?
Our hunger for new experiences and constant change sets new standards and challenges for the interior design. In public multifunctional spaces, where actions vary according to the time of the day, for example, the design has to be strong and flexible at the same time and even adaptable to different mood changes.
It is quite of a challenge for a designer, you don’t get through with styling only any more. (On the positive side there is a lot of potential, too). In our office we have developed a special Space Alive-concept to solve these new demands in most creative and effective way.
Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in 2015 and beyond.
1.Flexibility
2.Playfulness
3.Play of light and shadow
4.Eclectism –playing with different styles in an elegant way
5.3d-printing
And key trends that we should be aware of?
In contrast to the shiny and polished digital world people seem to appreciate in the interiors the real tactile things like timber. At the moment people seem even attracted to some kind of rawness.
What projects are you currently working on?
In dSign Vertti Kivi & Co me and my team are working on cruise ships for TUI & Royal Carribbean Cruises, Finnair A 350 aeroplanes, Finnair lounges and new Hilton Hotel in Tallinn. This will be a big year for us because of these break through projects.
If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?
Dream big, aim high and stick to your initial vision despite of the numerous compromises that are part of the design process! The role of the designer is to make sure that the end user gets the experience she/he deserves. At the end it is worth the trouble and benefits the business of the client.
A designer’s work is so diverse – how do you manage to hold down a career and a life?
Design is part of my life. It is hard to imagine life without work and design challenges. I love them both.
How important are The International Yacht and Aviation Awards as recognition of talent and achievement?
This is an honour and I’m really excited about it! I’m really happy we had a chance to design a customer journey for Finnair all the way from the lounge to the A350 XWB planes. The fact that our work has been recognized with this nomination is really encouraging and something I could have never even dreamt about as a young kid.
What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?
To explode hospitality scene with our Space Alive –concept with a client who is curious to see all its potential in action.
Final thoughts; tell us a little more about yourself…
The car you drive?
Mini Cooper & BMW X5
Your favourite place to travel to in the world?
Bora Bora, Tahiti. Over water bungalow was great!
Your favourite hotel/ restaurant/ bar?
Mandarin Oriental by Patricia Urquiola, Barcelona.
The place that gives you the most energy?
New York and Stockholm
And the place that enables you to totally relax?
As a practitioner of yoga and mindfulness the physical place doesn’t really matter to me any more…
Your favourite food and drink?
When on the air I always crave a Bloody Mary for unknown reason (never on the ground). When it comes to food I favour Thai, Italian and Japanese.
Anything else interesting?
I love new challenges and world with constant change. It creates new opportunities.