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, specialising 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. The collaboration has continued subsequently: in 2009 Kokkonen and Artek Studio designed for UPM a floor tile made of recycled material. Kokkonen’s other international projects also involve Comme des Carçons, 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 for Artek the WHITE collection of four bright-light fitting. 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.
Co-sponsored by the Department of Design, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University
