Emerging Finnish designer Anton Mikkonen has unveiled a striking collection of sculptural lighting and furniture pieces at the prestigious Habitare fair during Helsinki Design Week, showcasing what he calls "the beauty in making." The designer was selected as one of four creatives for Habitare Talents, an annual exhibition that highlights rising industry figures who are beginning to establish their reputation but may not yet have widespread recognition.
Mikkonen's collection features seven handcrafted pieces made from a combination of wood and steel, including an innovative holey shelf and several deliberately ambiguous seating options. The designer's approach challenges conventional furniture forms and celebrates the design process itself. "I don't see that certain types of furniture should be a certain way," Mikkonen explained. "We have these ideas of what a chair is, what a table is. I like to at least try to see things differently."
The centerpiece of the collection is a remarkable sconce light crafted from a single piece of 0.4-millimeter-thick birch plywood that has been laser-cut and folded in half. Loosely resembling a butterfly, the timber component can be positioned in a curved formation when mounted to the wall, secured in place by steam-bent solid birch sticks. When the supporting sticks are removed, the entire fixture can be flat-packed for easy storage and transport. "I like to think of it as a butterfly pinned to the wall," Mikkonen said, noting how the lamp's lightbulb illuminates the thin timber shade from behind, creating a beautiful lighting effect.
Another standout piece in the wooden furniture category is Volymmi, an angular yet enveloping seat constructed from pieces of CNC-milled Finnish spruce wood that were manually glued together. This piece deliberately blurs the line between chair and stool, embodying Mikkonen's preference for ambiguous functionality. "I felt like it would be a good contrast here at Habitare, because there are lots of companies showing mass-produced pieces," the designer explained.
The collection also includes two additional untitled timber pieces that demonstrate Mikkonen's versatility with wood. One is a side table constructed from four interlocking pieces of ink-accented pine, while the other is a bench-cum-table crafted from black-hued pine. These pieces showcase the designer's ability to create functional furniture while maintaining his artistic vision and emphasis on the handmade process.
Mikkonen's steel furniture pieces were created using a distinctive pressing and welding technique that showcases the "raw process" of their manufacture. Void, a brutalist-style wall-mounted shelf, is constructed from a one-millimeter-thick sheet of perforated steel. This piece was specifically designed to test the boundaries of creating a rigid structure while using minimal material, demonstrating both form and function.
Silhouette, a glass-topped trestle table with striking steel legs, utilizes the same pressing and welding technique as the other metal pieces. This table was originally presented at last year's 3 Days of Design event in Copenhagen, showing Mikkonen's growing international presence. His latest metal creation is a compact, untitled stool made from curved components that have been laser-cut with distinctive pear-shaped holes, adding both visual interest and structural integrity.
Reflecting on his creative process, Mikkonen emphasized that all his works are "very much prototypes" created with complete creative freedom. "I think that's where the beauty in making is," he said. "These are all works that I've done mainly for myself, from my own vision. I think that's when the work is somehow purest. And if that resonates with someone and they like it, then it's good. Because at that point, you can stand behind your work very strongly."
Mikkonen is an active member of Minestrone Workshop, a Helsinki-based collective described as a "contemporary wood workshop" located in the city's Vallila neighborhood. The collective celebrated its first anniversary during this year's Helsinki Design Week, having made its debut at the previous year's event. Habitare Talents has a strong track record of platforming rising stars in Finnish design, including Didi Ng Wing Yin, who won the Dezeen Awards 2024 emerging designer of the year and co-founded Minestrone Workshop, appearing in the program in 2023.
Helsinki Design Week 2025 took place from September 5-14, 2025, at various venues throughout Helsinki, Finland. The event continues to serve as a crucial platform for both established and emerging designers to showcase their work and connect with international audiences, reinforcing Finland's reputation as a leader in contemporary design and craftsmanship.
