We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Saara Korppi ("SK").
Saara Korppi is a Finnish 34-year-old enthusiastic glassblower and glass designer. She studied 3 years at the Nuutajärvi glass school in Finland and graduated as an Artisan glassblower in 2010. Then, straight after Nuutajärvi she studied one year in the glassblowing postgraduate program in the Nordic Programmer in the Riksglasskolan in Orrefors in Sweden. She continued studies in Orrefors for one year and graduated with a higher education as a Design and Art glassblower in 2013. She has also worked as a glassblower assistant in Norway and Sweden. In addition to this, she has studied at special workshops in Venice in Italy and in the USA. In her studies, she has focused on Venetian glassblowing which includes the production of goblet glasses.
Saara Korppi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Saara Korppi.
Saara Korppi Design - 30s Wine Glass
Saara Korppi Design - 30s Cognac Glass
Designer Interview of Saara Korppi:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
SK : I have always had an inner desire to create things with my hands and design my own things. I wanted a more practical approach for designing and so I educated as a glassblower. Learning new things has given me new approaches to design and better design.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
SK : I work as a glass blower in the Glass Studio in Finland. It is situated in the fortress area of Suomenlinna island in Helsinki, so it is always interesting to go there. I design and blow my own glass design. I blow custom glasswork from drinking glasses to chandleries. I will set up my own business and then get the glass available to wider customers.
DI: What is "design" for you?
SK : Design is a dance between planning and practice.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
SK : Practical design is near to my heart. I like the most to do challenging glass and use new glass blowing techniques. Goblets are one of the most challenging.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
SK : All challenging design technically, which adds to my knowledge and skills.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
SK : I look forward to it. I have now only designed for myself.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
SK : Glass and glassblowing techniques. Glass has endless possibilities.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
SK : At night just before sleeping or during glass making.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
SK : A wide range of emotions such as excitement and joy.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
SK : A wide range of emotions such as excitement and joy.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
SK : After finishing a product, I feel relief and gratefulness. I feel that I am ready for new challenges.
DI: What makes a design successful?
SK : It's easy to use. An innovation combined with good looks from every angle and situation. It helps to improve your life by improving the quality of use.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
SK : It's functionality. Whether it's easy to use and how you plan to use it.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
SK : Designing good quality products that last in use.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
SK : Organic shapes with electricity together.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
SK : My last group exhibition "Finnish Glass Lives 8" was in 2020 in the Finnish Glass Museum in Riihimäki in Finland. And my last private exhibition “Pian sataa taas” was in 2019 in the Galleria Pirkko-Liisa Topelius in HELSINKI in FINLAND. Next year I am going to have a big glass exhibition. There are going to be a couple of surprises.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
SK : My inspiration comes from Finnish nature such as northern lights, rock formations, and especially water as liquid, steam and ice. I like textures and different forms and how water elements shape and reflect light in the different seasons.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
SK : I like clear lines and softness. I want to explore new techniques. Design aspects feeling to reflect inner emotions and growth.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
SK : I live in Helsinki, Finland. I take a lot of inspiration from Finnish nature and its seasons. I think that cultural heritage affects design. Some great Finnish designers have influenced my design. We have practical design and it is a benefit. I hope we could have more works of art and designers because it would be easier for designers to get out of the crowd.
DI: How do you work with companies?
SK : I am looking forward to working with companies. I am happy to listen to a company’s needs.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
SK : The designer listens to companies and has problem-solving skills. They can create solutions for products and thus develop new technologies.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
SK : I think of designing objects in three dimensions and then sketching them on paper. Then I make the first models and improve it to get its final shape.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
SK : They are a 30s Cognac Glass, a leather jacket, a leather handbag, lighting and a pair of shoes.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
SK : First, I plan for the day. I go to the glass blowing studio to blow the glass. There is a Glass Melting Furnace. Inside the oven there is molten glass and the temperature can rise to 1210 degrees. Molten glass is like honey. After finishing the glass object, I set it to cool slowly in the cooling oven to remove the glass tension. It is ready the next day. After the working day I fill the Melting Furnace with glass.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
SK : Focus on where you are good and make it better. Believe in yourself.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
SK : I can express myself. Sometimes it is difficult to create new things.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
SK : Make art from heart and do it if it feels right.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
SK : I would like to think of this as a whole concept. It is visual, functional, practical and material knowledge. Being able to convert ideas to ready-made products and find solutions to problems and thus develop new technologies.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
SK : Sketch book, glassblowing techniques book, glassblowing tools and computer hardware.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
SK : Living a day at a time and make future plans.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
SK : It depends on what you are doing. There are many steps in designing an idea to a finished product, and it depends on your experience and how complex it is.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
SK : How it feels like to win a design contest?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
SK : The wholeness is what matters. There were jobs where I learned from master glass blower and improved myself technically and mentally. I learned glassblowing techniques and something new about myself.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
SK : Design lovers who seek for quality products with individual looks and shapes. They want a design that adds value to the use of the object with appearance, functionality and ease of use. They value handcrafted design where every piece is unique.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
SK : I can’t really name something in particular. Something that challenges me and where I can learn something new. Goblets are one of them because of the skillful techniques that are needed.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
SK : I am excited about my future. My next plan is to have an exhibition and make a new glass series for it. I’m soon opening my new webpages where you can see more of my new designs and news. I am looking forward to being a skilled designer and a glassblower.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
SK : I design and create my designs and mostly work alone except for some complicated glass making techniques that require a manufacturing team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
SK : Now I make new glass objects for the exhibition. I have some upcoming surprises.
DI: How can people contact you?
SK : I have my Instagram account where you could contact me too and now I am building new webpages. Email is the best option to contact me.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
SK : I am grateful to everyone who believed in me and supported me with my goals