We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Tomi Rantasaari ("TR").
Tomi Rantasaari is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Tomi Rantasaari Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Tomi Rantasaari.
Tomi Rantasaari Design - Leaf Roof Solar Panel Collection
Designer Interview of Tomi Rantasaari:
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?
TR : I have built my entire career in large construction and infrastructure companies, where operations are driven by factors such as cost efficiency and technical considerations. In this world, aesthetic evaluations of how things look are rarely given much attention. This has led me to reflect on the idea that if anyone is to transform the technical world, it must be the people from within the industry.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TR : Skyline Legal is an innovative law firm that develops new ways to integrate visuality, technology, and legal expertise. Our primary focus is traditional legal consulting for energy and construction companies, but we also work on projects such as metaverse initiatives, educational solutions, and various events. Our mission is to be a unifying force that brings people together.
DI: What is "design" for you?
TR : Design means considering not only costs and technical factors but also how solutions look and how they impact our living environment. The green transition doesn’t have to be unattractive or something no one wants in their backyard.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TR : As a lawyer, I may have technical limitations when it comes to visualization, but my imagination knows no bounds. With new technologies, I have been able to visualize ideas in ways that were never possible before.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TR : Our Leaf Roof concept has garnered a great deal of positive attention, propelling our entire design operations to take off on a global scale.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TR : The award-winning Leaf Roof concept is our first design to attract significant commercial and international interest.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TR : For me, the material doesn’t matter, but I find technical solutions problematic if their carbon footprint exceeds the problem they aim to solve. Often, durable and low-maintenance solutions are the best in this regard.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TR : In Finland, we have a tradition of taking a dip in icy-cold seawater when we want to boost our creativity. A five-minute plunge into a frozen hole in the ice can enhance anyone's creativity. I highly recommend it to everyone!
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TR : My starting point is practicality and solving multiple obvious problems simultaneously. If we can create cooling shade, harness solar energy, charge electric vehicles with the collected energy, and at the same time create a pleasant urban landscape, we have an excellent foundation for design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TR : Design isn’t my main job, so I can approach it with a relaxed attitude. That’s why designing for me involves unwinding, creativity, letting my imagination run wild, and a bit of playful experimentation. Things don’t always have to be too serious—life is too short for gloominess.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TR : My days are so busy that I usually don't have time to reflect on my feelings during different stages. Often, it's only afterward that I realize a project went pretty smoothly.
DI: What makes a design successful?
TR : Many see visual appeal as the most important value, but for me, functionality and added value for users are at least equally important.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TR : I'm not particularly harsh when judging others' or my own creations; if something evokes feelings, whether positive or negative, it has surely succeeded.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TR : It depends on the designer, but in this field too, courage often means accepting that you can't please everyone all the time.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TR : Design is largely seen as the shaping of physical objects, but in the future, virtuality and virtual objects will play a much bigger role. They aren't bound by the same constraints as the physical world, like money or size. That’s pretty exciting.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TR : For me, exhibitions mean standing on a stage in front of an audience, lecturing about legal topics or other current themes. There are indeed several public events planned for the spring, with the northernmost destination being Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland, where we’ll meet Santa Claus. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to speak to local entrepreneurs.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TR : My inspiration stems from rugged, gray infrastructure and urban landscapes where visual appeal or aesthetics haven’t been considered.
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?
TR : I want to combine practicality, aesthetics, and technical functionality into a seamless whole that works perfectly together.
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?
TR : I live in Helsinki, Finland, on a beautiful island by the sea. My place of residence matters because I want to promote the green transition while ensuring that progress happens sustainably and in a way that respects natural landscapes and values.
DI: How do you work with companies?
TR : I collaborate with companies from various industries in different partnerships. What we have in common is the desire to work together and succeed better as a team than we would alone.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TR : Trust your chemistry—good personal dynamics are the key to success. Conversation and playful experimentation always lead to good results.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TR : My design process usually begins with an idea sparked in the field or on a construction site. I start developing the thought and exploring ways to visualize my concept. The technical execution is merely a means to bring to life a vision that was already formed earlier.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TR : In our living room, we have a nearly 2-meter-tall unicorn glass sculpture, a beautiful white telescope, a piano, designer sofas, and a beautifully adorned Christmas tree.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
TR : A lawyer’s days are long but rewarding. Nobody asks a lawyer about things that are obvious or easy, so tackling various challenging questions often takes quite a bit of time. On the other hand, working in a great team makes the job both enjoyable and fulfilling.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TR : Just do what feels most true to you.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TR : Creativity, self-expression, and the use of imagination are definite positives. It's hard to see the downsides, but of course, if a designer's career really takes off, there might be a tough choice ahead - whether to pursue this or stick with law.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TR : Simple is beautiful.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TR : The ability to see an idea as a vision before you, without any drawing.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TR : I rely solely on my imagination for brainstorming, which is the most powerful and best tool a human can have. For visualization, I use a computer and AI-based software.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TR : Design is not a race, and the work is finished when the time is right. I never feel any kind of pressure regarding deadlines in that respect.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TR : It can take years to bring an idea to life, or sometimes just hours. Still, the general rule is that the faster it comes together, the better the idea usually is.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TR : "So, you were a lawyer - have you changed your career, or what's the story here?"
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TR : Starting and growing my own business has been an unparalleled experience. I highly recommend it to all brave individuals who believe in themselves and have the desire to achieve something great.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
TR : Energy companies, electricity grid operators, biogas and hydrogen producers, and companies installing solar panels.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TR : Simple and straightforward designs are the best because they often hide the cleverest insights, small ideas that improve quality of life.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TR : I’d love to put my designs into practice. Discussions with various companies are well underway, but we don’t yet have a complete concept for building the Leaf Roof project. Resolving technical and practical issues takes time, sometimes even years.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TR : I work largely on design by myself, but in everything else, of course, with the team.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TR : Right now, we’re in a very hectic season in the legal field, with all the major projects underway. At the moment, my design work is limited to jotting down good ideas for future use.
DI: How can people contact you?
TR : You can reach me through our company website at www.skylinelegal.fi as well as at trade fairs and events in Finland and Europe. Feel free to send me a message if you’d like to learn more or discuss the topic further!
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
TR : Thank you, it has been a great honor to join the esteemed ranks of designers recognized by the A' Design Award. I hope that through my example, I can inspire others, especially those primarily working outside the field, to express themselves and discover the keys to a more aesthetic and functional future.