Hanna Anonen
What’s your name and where are you from/based?
Heyy I’m Hanna Anonen designer from Finland and I’m based in New York and Helsinki.
Can you describe your practice in a few words?
I work on projects that range in scale from decorative objects to 5meter exhibition design structures. Every project and every day is different.
Working as a freelancer is the best like that.
What drew you to the world of design?
Curiosity. It’s amazing to imagine pieces in your mind, give them scale and material, go through the process, and then one day see them become real.
One summer I was obsessed with wheel silver paint so I had to have something to paint with it and just did it and then could move on.
Do you think boldness is becoming the new minimalism in Nordic design?
I think there’s room for both styles. It’s a good sign that there’s space for something more diverse. Hopefully it encourages thinking in many ways and across different fields as well.
Doodle revealed sketches and unfinished ideas as final works. What did exploring the “messy” side of creativity unlock for you?
It was such fun! It showed me that things don’t have to be so serious, clean, or finished. And I had only one
How much of your designs are about your control as a designer versus the freedom you give to users?
I give full freedom, and I don’t want to control how people use them as long as they’re durable. I’ve heard that my wooden boxes have been used as makeup boxes, bread boxes, and even pet urns. I think that’s the beauty of it. Objects can take on the life you give them in use.
Many of your pieces sit between art and design. Do you see function and expression as equal, or does one always lead for you?
My background is a designer, I’ve learned to think that an object has to have some kind of function. The challenge is combining nice function and beauty in one piece and doing it well. I’m still wondering why cleaning tools look the way they do, you know…
Is there a piece or collection that challenged you in any unexpected ways?
With the Doodle collections, the magician surprised even herself. The starting point was very loose, and I reflected on things I had already done but never shown or talked about. I wanted to work like that more openly and with this collection I used different processes. I will try it again at some point.
If you could create without any constraints, what kind of project would you imagine?
I would create a village somewhere and design all the pretty things there.
Where can people find you?
I always reply if someone contacts me, no matter the reason. Feel free to slide into my DMs on Instagram or email me at moi@hannaanonen. When I have something new, I update my website: www.hannaanonen.com.
Soon, a new exhibition will open with the Design and Architecture Museum in Helsinki and I designed the exhibition architecture. The exhibition is about Tove Jansson’s life through architecture, and design, and how these have inspired her in the Moomin stories. That theme is very close to my heart because I find a lot of inspiration in everyday life and my surroundings. 😉
